Endometrial adenocarcinoma Stage IIIC - PET or CT scan after Chemo and Radiation Options

ketan
ketan Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
Hi - my mum, 65, was diagnosed with uterine cancer in Sept 09. She underwent a hysterectomy and the doctor's report post surgery said that the histopathology findings were - 'moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of endometrium with omental metastases with ascitic fluid positive for malignant cells'. Discussions with surgon and oncologist led us to ascertain that the cancer is - Endometrial adenocarcinoma Stage III C - and she was advised chemotherapy with Paclitaxel + Carboplatin.

She has just complted 6 rounds of chemo, with some side-effects esp. after round 5 and 6, but overall she is doing okay. Emotionally she is still in the cacner fighting mode. To determine how my mum has reacted to the chemo and determine next steps - the doctor is suggesting doing another CT scan. We asked about PET scan but the doctor was not keen. Also, at this stage she does not want to consider radiation. The doctor has said from day one, that this cancer, will not spread outside the pelvic cavity.

I would appreciate if anybody has more information of the advantages/disadvantages of CT vs. PET scan for this type of cancer. Also, if you have experience of doing both chemo and radiation or only one treatment.

Many thanks

Comments

  • kumar
    kumar Member Posts: 107
    #2
    Ca125
    Hi Ketan,

    Hey your mother were lucky and she got less aggresive cells and not aggressive cancere.Could you please tell her what was ca125 before surgery and after chemo.

    How she is doing after chemo.Try to put on more veg diet.

    How much is hemoglobin she has and she needs good red cell in her blood.

    I think Ct scan is best option and my mother had same cancer stage 3c.

    Have they tested lymph nodes for her.

    Please write her pathology report in details.##I am sure some one will help you..

    We are family here..

    Your mom in my prayers.

    Thaanks kUmar
  • ketan
    ketan Member Posts: 3
    #3
    kumar said:

    Ca125
    Hi Ketan,

    Hey your mother were lucky and she got less aggresive cells and not aggressive cancere.Could you please tell her what was ca125 before surgery and after chemo.

    How she is doing after chemo.Try to put on more veg diet.

    How much is hemoglobin she has and she needs good red cell in her blood.

    I think Ct scan is best option and my mother had same cancer stage 3c.

    Have they tested lymph nodes for her.

    Please write her pathology report in details.##I am sure some one will help you..

    We are family here..

    Your mom in my prayers.

    Thaanks kUmar

    CA125
    Hi Kumar

    Thanks for your reply and posing the questions. I will get the necessary information and share with the group. From what I know, unfortunatly CA125 was not done before the surgery. I am not sure why not, but it was missed. A CA 125 test was done after her third chemo, and at that time her results were normal (i will get the exact numbers from my family), and the oncologist said that we can use this result as baseline. I will post her histopathology report in detail as soon as I can.

    Hope your mum is doing well.

    Cheers Ketan
  • kumar
    kumar Member Posts: 107
    #4
    Please help Ketan
    Hi Everyone,

    Please help ketan for this cancer.\\

    Kumar
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #5
    Chemo, Radiation, CT v PET
    Hello Ketan:

    I hope all is well with your mother. I was diagnosed with endo adenocarcinoma in September of 2005. (At age 45) I have had a CT scan every year since diagnosis. I had the chemo. Although I was allergic to the taxol and put on Gemzar. I did not do radiation until at least six months after my chemo treatment was done (Aug 2006). Because of my scarring, I was only given three doses of bracytherapy.(Vaginal cuff area) Although the gynecologist wanted me to have Pelvic radiation, my radiation oncologist advised against it due to my scarring.

    Recently I have had two PET Scans (both were negative). A PET Scan is definitely going to show more (However it is extremely expensive). I have also had an MRI. You have to realize that when you get a PET Scan, a CT Scan is also done at that time. (That is what I was told - because they layer it to get the different views).

    I felt better getting the PET (although inflammations can "light up"). Because cancer cells are attracted to sugar, you have to have carbs the night before and stay away from sugar. For the PET Scan, they give you a drink and then give you isotopes with sugar in them. If there are cancer cells, the isotopes will "light up". But like I said, inflammation can too. Also, you have to be still because muscle movements can light up too.

    With radiation, once you get it to a certain area, that is the only time you can get it there. (ie vaginal cuff)

    I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, let me know. I will try to help.

    Kathy
  • kumar
    kumar Member Posts: 107
    #6
    Kaleena said:

    Chemo, Radiation, CT v PET
    Hello Ketan:

    I hope all is well with your mother. I was diagnosed with endo adenocarcinoma in September of 2005. (At age 45) I have had a CT scan every year since diagnosis. I had the chemo. Although I was allergic to the taxol and put on Gemzar. I did not do radiation until at least six months after my chemo treatment was done (Aug 2006). Because of my scarring, I was only given three doses of bracytherapy.(Vaginal cuff area) Although the gynecologist wanted me to have Pelvic radiation, my radiation oncologist advised against it due to my scarring.

    Recently I have had two PET Scans (both were negative). A PET Scan is definitely going to show more (However it is extremely expensive). I have also had an MRI. You have to realize that when you get a PET Scan, a CT Scan is also done at that time. (That is what I was told - because they layer it to get the different views).

    I felt better getting the PET (although inflammations can "light up"). Because cancer cells are attracted to sugar, you have to have carbs the night before and stay away from sugar. For the PET Scan, they give you a drink and then give you isotopes with sugar in them. If there are cancer cells, the isotopes will "light up". But like I said, inflammation can too. Also, you have to be still because muscle movements can light up too.

    With radiation, once you get it to a certain area, that is the only time you can get it there. (ie vaginal cuff)

    I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, let me know. I will try to help.

    Kathy

    Hi Kathy
    Hi Kathy,

    what was your stage and grade and ca125 for this cancer.

    Thanks KUmar
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #7
    kumar said:

    Hi Kathy
    Hi Kathy,

    what was your stage and grade and ca125 for this cancer.

    Thanks KUmar

    Stage
    Hi Kumar

    Originally they thought I just had endometriosis. That is why I had a total hysterectomy. It wasn't until after my hysterectomy that they found the cancer. I had a staging surgery thereafter. Finding were Grade 2 Stage 3a (originally I thought it said Stage 2 but later reports said Stage 3a)

    My CA 125 was never played a part of it. I never had it taken prior to my hysterectomy. After my hysterectomy it was in normal range. Although I had my CA125 taken monthly then every three months, it was always in the normal range.

    Hope you and your mom are having a great day today.

    Kathy
  • yoh_57
    yoh_57 Member Posts: 6
    #8
    Kaleena said:

    Stage
    Hi Kumar

    Originally they thought I just had endometriosis. That is why I had a total hysterectomy. It wasn't until after my hysterectomy that they found the cancer. I had a staging surgery thereafter. Finding were Grade 2 Stage 3a (originally I thought it said Stage 2 but later reports said Stage 3a)

    My CA 125 was never played a part of it. I never had it taken prior to my hysterectomy. After my hysterectomy it was in normal range. Although I had my CA125 taken monthly then every three months, it was always in the normal range.

    Hope you and your mom are having a great day today.

    Kathy

    same stage
    i also had a total hysterectomy last nov 24 2009 and discovered i have endometrium adenocarcinoma grade 2 stage 3A. they told me to go for 6 sessions of chemo/ paclitaxek and carboplatin. i was hesitant to go for it. however i did my first cycle last jan 12 2010 and the next will be feb 1 2010. but i decided not to continue anymore as i dont feel that sick. i didnt have c125 either. im confused.
  • yoh_57
    yoh_57 Member Posts: 6
    #9
    Kaleena said:

    Stage
    Hi Kumar

    Originally they thought I just had endometriosis. That is why I had a total hysterectomy. It wasn't until after my hysterectomy that they found the cancer. I had a staging surgery thereafter. Finding were Grade 2 Stage 3a (originally I thought it said Stage 2 but later reports said Stage 3a)

    My CA 125 was never played a part of it. I never had it taken prior to my hysterectomy. After my hysterectomy it was in normal range. Although I had my CA125 taken monthly then every three months, it was always in the normal range.

    Hope you and your mom are having a great day today.

    Kathy

    hi kaleena
    did u undergo chemo or radiation after ur total hysterectomy?
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #10
    yoh_57 said:

    hi kaleena
    did u undergo chemo or radiation after ur total hysterectomy?

    Hello Yoh:
    I did do six
    Hello Yoh:

    I did do six months of chemo. Although I was highly allergic to Taxol so they switched me to Gemzar. Then after that they wanted me to have radiation. However, my Radiation Oncologist did not advise Pelvic Radiation due to my severe scarring. Therefore, I only had three brachytherapys.
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #11
    yoh_57 said:

    hi kaleena
    did u undergo chemo or radiation after ur total hysterectomy?

    Yoh,
    It was my decision to
    Yoh,

    It was my decision to do chemo. I knew how I was and would be paranoid worry a lot. However, I now wonder why I was given a port. I still have it in. Especially since at staging everything was clear.
  • ketan
    ketan Member Posts: 3
    #12
    Kaleena said:

    Stage
    Hi Kumar

    Originally they thought I just had endometriosis. That is why I had a total hysterectomy. It wasn't until after my hysterectomy that they found the cancer. I had a staging surgery thereafter. Finding were Grade 2 Stage 3a (originally I thought it said Stage 2 but later reports said Stage 3a)

    My CA 125 was never played a part of it. I never had it taken prior to my hysterectomy. After my hysterectomy it was in normal range. Although I had my CA125 taken monthly then every three months, it was always in the normal range.

    Hope you and your mom are having a great day today.

    Kathy

    Thanks for PET/CT info
    Hi Kathy

    Hope you are keeping good health. I appreciate your detailed reply about PET and CT scans. We are now waiting for all the test results and consulting another oncologist to determine whether or not to do PET. The second CT scan after the sixth chemo, shows no signs of cancer, which I believe is a good sign. Doctor has asked my mum to come back after three months for another check-up. CA125 tests, like you were not done before the surgery, but since then they are normal I believe. I will write again once we see another oncologist about the PET, I just feel it is good to rule out any possibility of tumors growing elsewhere.

    Kumar thanks for your help in this. Hope your mum is fine.


    Ketan
  • esperanza44
    esperanza44 Member Posts: 2
    #13
    ketan said:

    Thanks for PET/CT info
    Hi Kathy

    Hope you are keeping good health. I appreciate your detailed reply about PET and CT scans. We are now waiting for all the test results and consulting another oncologist to determine whether or not to do PET. The second CT scan after the sixth chemo, shows no signs of cancer, which I believe is a good sign. Doctor has asked my mum to come back after three months for another check-up. CA125 tests, like you were not done before the surgery, but since then they are normal I believe. I will write again once we see another oncologist about the PET, I just feel it is good to rule out any possibility of tumors growing elsewhere.

    Kumar thanks for your help in this. Hope your mum is fine.


    Ketan

    Info
    Hi, I am an endometrial 3a patient that has been in remission since last december 09. There has not been a day without pain since I was diagnose. During the radiation, the things got worse but I completed the round of 28 external radiations. After my remission, I have been in alot of pain and during my first follow-up visit to my doctor he requested a ct scan for lung, stomack and pelvis. Given the results of CT Scan which I dont know, he is asking now for a PET Scan. The radiology clinic nurse told me this was necessary since my cancer is back. I called the doctor and his nurse said that the CT Scan were inconclusive. I am in the dark now waiting for the PET Scan. Has anyone out there had a situation like mine? Where is the endometrial cancer mostly recurred? Thanks again. I am doing the PET Scan next monday but it seems the waiting period is making me crazy.
  • kumar
    kumar Member Posts: 107
    #14
    esperanza44 said:

    Info
    Hi, I am an endometrial 3a patient that has been in remission since last december 09. There has not been a day without pain since I was diagnose. During the radiation, the things got worse but I completed the round of 28 external radiations. After my remission, I have been in alot of pain and during my first follow-up visit to my doctor he requested a ct scan for lung, stomack and pelvis. Given the results of CT Scan which I dont know, he is asking now for a PET Scan. The radiology clinic nurse told me this was necessary since my cancer is back. I called the doctor and his nurse said that the CT Scan were inconclusive. I am in the dark now waiting for the PET Scan. Has anyone out there had a situation like mine? Where is the endometrial cancer mostly recurred? Thanks again. I am doing the PET Scan next monday but it seems the waiting period is making me crazy.

    Please be postive
    Hi,

    Please be positive and god will help you.......Do your ca125 test please. why you are doing PET SCAN.hAVE THEY DID LYOMP BIPOSY AND WHAT WAS YOUR GRADE.PlEASE WRITE YOUR PATHOLOGY REPORT.

    Some one will help.Have you got UPSC...

    Thanks Kumar
  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #15
    esperanza44 said:

    Info
    Hi, I am an endometrial 3a patient that has been in remission since last december 09. There has not been a day without pain since I was diagnose. During the radiation, the things got worse but I completed the round of 28 external radiations. After my remission, I have been in alot of pain and during my first follow-up visit to my doctor he requested a ct scan for lung, stomack and pelvis. Given the results of CT Scan which I dont know, he is asking now for a PET Scan. The radiology clinic nurse told me this was necessary since my cancer is back. I called the doctor and his nurse said that the CT Scan were inconclusive. I am in the dark now waiting for the PET Scan. Has anyone out there had a situation like mine? Where is the endometrial cancer mostly recurred? Thanks again. I am doing the PET Scan next monday but it seems the waiting period is making me crazy.

    Esperanza
    I am sure not knowing anything is killing you...it would do the same to most of us.

    Not sure what type of pain you are having...and what it could be related to....

    Relax...no news is just that...no news.

    Go out and do something for you this weekend, anything which will take the test off your
    mind....

    Stay in touch and let us know how you do on Monday..

    Sending thoughts and good vibes!

    Laurie
  • bonniesue
    bonniesue Member Posts: 124 Member
    #16
    esperanza44 said:

    Info
    Hi, I am an endometrial 3a patient that has been in remission since last december 09. There has not been a day without pain since I was diagnose. During the radiation, the things got worse but I completed the round of 28 external radiations. After my remission, I have been in alot of pain and during my first follow-up visit to my doctor he requested a ct scan for lung, stomack and pelvis. Given the results of CT Scan which I dont know, he is asking now for a PET Scan. The radiology clinic nurse told me this was necessary since my cancer is back. I called the doctor and his nurse said that the CT Scan were inconclusive. I am in the dark now waiting for the PET Scan. Has anyone out there had a situation like mine? Where is the endometrial cancer mostly recurred? Thanks again. I am doing the PET Scan next monday but it seems the waiting period is making me crazy.

    PET/CT Fusion esperanza
    My radiology friend says that Pet/Ct fusion is more sensitive and is good for surveillance. He says it has been used for other cancers and is undergoing studies NOPR for endometrial. Please do not worry and consider it another non-invasive tests. Prayers to you. Did you have a hysterectomy and then radiation treatment? I am confused to why they would tell you something is back without a doctor calling you or a biopsy? Bonnie

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