Need an MRI after PET/CT

wifeandmom
wifeandmom Member Posts: 31
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
After finishing adjuvant chemo a week ago, I had my PET/CT yesterday. The oncologist called today to say the scan was clean, but there was an area that they either couldn't see well or they saw something and needed to see it better. The area is near my stoma and/or surgical site. Could just be scar tissue or ......... ? In your experience(s), how typical is it to need additional scanning after the PET/CT? Thanks!
--Dorothy

Comments

  • thready
    thready Member Posts: 474
    #2
    Curious lot
    Dorothy,
    Oncologists are a curious lot. If they have questions they continue to check until the questions are answered. I had Ct's then PET, then U/S and will probably have an MRI. I am also convinced if you tell them something is unusual they will want to biopsy it.

    I suggest you have your MRI even to just extra info.
    Best wishes,
    Jan
  • wifeandmom
    wifeandmom Member Posts: 31
    #3
    thready said:

    Curious lot
    Dorothy,
    Oncologists are a curious lot. If they have questions they continue to check until the questions are answered. I had Ct's then PET, then U/S and will probably have an MRI. I am also convinced if you tell them something is unusual they will want to biopsy it.

    I suggest you have your MRI even to just extra info.
    Best wishes,
    Jan

    Thanks, Jan
    Thanks, Jan. I'm definitely having the MRI on Sunday, then am meeting with the oncologist on Tuesday. I guess I'm just a little (okay, alot) "scanxious".
    Regards,
    Dorothy
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #4
    MRI can give high-resolution
    MRI can give high-resolution images, and doesn't involve any extra radiation exposure. I know (all too well!) that another scan can add anxiety. But I agree that it may be helpful to think of it as gathering additional information -- and helping your medical team to rule out all possibilities that there is anything nasty/questionable -- so that you and they can relax, enjoy and be 100% comfortable....

    Tara
  • wifeandmom
    wifeandmom Member Posts: 31
    #5
    taraHK said:

    MRI can give high-resolution
    MRI can give high-resolution images, and doesn't involve any extra radiation exposure. I know (all too well!) that another scan can add anxiety. But I agree that it may be helpful to think of it as gathering additional information -- and helping your medical team to rule out all possibilities that there is anything nasty/questionable -- so that you and they can relax, enjoy and be 100% comfortable....

    Tara

    Thanks, Tara
    Thanks, Tara. That's really reassuring. After 3 surgeries, I don't doubt that there's plenty of scar tissue for them to try to "see through". Can't wait for that "relax and enjoy" phase ;-)
    Regards,
    Dorothy
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #6
    wifeandmom said:

    Thanks, Tara
    Thanks, Tara. That's really reassuring. After 3 surgeries, I don't doubt that there's plenty of scar tissue for them to try to "see through". Can't wait for that "relax and enjoy" phase ;-)
    Regards,
    Dorothy

    I had an MRI after a CT too.
    I had an MRI after a CT too. The colorectal surgeon requested it for a base-line.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #7
    Sounds good
    Hey, Dorothy.

    Sounds like you have a very thorough oncologist, and I think that's the only kind to have!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • wifeandmom
    wifeandmom Member Posts: 31
    #8
    tootsie1 said:

    Sounds good
    Hey, Dorothy.

    Sounds like you have a very thorough oncologist, and I think that's the only kind to have!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Thanks, Lizzy and Gail
    Thanks, Lizzy and Gail! I appreciate both of your comments. Here's hoping she's just dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's, and it's nothing more than that.
    Best to both of you,
    Dorothy
  • EJmauldin
    EJmauldin Member Posts: 12
    #9
    wifeandmom said:

    Thanks, Lizzy and Gail
    Thanks, Lizzy and Gail! I appreciate both of your comments. Here's hoping she's just dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's, and it's nothing more than that.
    Best to both of you,
    Dorothy

    CT scan
    After my pet scan they couldn't see something clearly, so of course they want another picture of it. the CT is different than the pet, Docs always want something, lucky for me they found a small 1/2 inch lump, I had it removed, cancer again. It was small and didn't do much damage. I thought good thing they did that or it could've been worse.
    Get to know your doc, I love my guy, he is a great Doc. Now my last surgen I wasn't to pleased with. I won't be using him again. But you should get to know the Docs, they really are an amasing group of people. Or coruse, they just order tests after tests, think you should drop everything, go in the hospital. like I said I love my Doc, I'm still here. 3 years after "you only have a year to live" speech.
    CT MRI PET Xrays seems like alot, but you get use to it. I can't count how many I have had.
    All can tell you is If they are scaning you they are helping you.

    God bless,
    Eileen
  • wifeandmom
    wifeandmom Member Posts: 31
    #10
    EJmauldin said:

    CT scan
    After my pet scan they couldn't see something clearly, so of course they want another picture of it. the CT is different than the pet, Docs always want something, lucky for me they found a small 1/2 inch lump, I had it removed, cancer again. It was small and didn't do much damage. I thought good thing they did that or it could've been worse.
    Get to know your doc, I love my guy, he is a great Doc. Now my last surgen I wasn't to pleased with. I won't be using him again. But you should get to know the Docs, they really are an amasing group of people. Or coruse, they just order tests after tests, think you should drop everything, go in the hospital. like I said I love my Doc, I'm still here. 3 years after "you only have a year to live" speech.
    CT MRI PET Xrays seems like alot, but you get use to it. I can't count how many I have had.
    All can tell you is If they are scaning you they are helping you.

    God bless,
    Eileen

    So glad they caught it!
    So glad they caught the lump in time! So glad to hear that you're doing so well. I like your comment that as long as they are scanning you they are treating you. I think my oncologist really is very thorough. It's amazing how many of us don't get a definitive answer in one scan or test, but end up needing more information. Thanks, Eileen.
    Best wishes,
    Dorothy
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #11
    wifeandmom said:

    Thanks, Jan
    Thanks, Jan. I'm definitely having the MRI on Sunday, then am meeting with the oncologist on Tuesday. I guess I'm just a little (okay, alot) "scanxious".
    Regards,
    Dorothy

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