CT scan

My Opinion....do the scan
When my CEA rose they scanned me and yes found a growth but mine went from 2 to 9.7 then to 10.4. The scan very well may save me by detected lung growth so early...time will tell, but given the fact that the ONC wants it done, nothing lost but a little time, and everything to gain ...Peace of mind being one of them. Your choice, but if your asking me what I would do, well I did do the scan, and it may very well save my life.......Love and Hope to you and yours in whatever decision you make........Buzz

abmb said:

I read
Buzz, I read a lot of your posts, so I am going to ask you this. Do you normally have ct scans done or pet scans? His onc. really wanted him to have a pet scan last dec. but he declined and asked for a ct scan, i think that is why his doc ordered a ct for oct. of this year. Now my husband has changed his mind and wants a pet scan. I am told that pet scans and ct scans are used together to make comparisons. If this was you would you ask for the pet or stay with the ct. I do value your opinion. I really do know that my husband is one of the lucky ones, he doesn't even know that his cea went up a hair. sometimes the less he knows the better he feels. i would definitely tell him if it were something to worry about. keep in touch. God Bless you. Margaret

I have had neither...for 2 years...he simply ......
watched my blood counts and enzyme levels and determined when my CEA started to elevate that we had activity after checking it twice in one week, he then and then only ordered a PET scan to see if there was indeed activity. I am pretty sure that if he didn't see anything lite up that he would have never ordered a CT. I wouldn't think there would have been a need....PET scans in my opinion show miniscule cell activity and CTs show more tumor or mass and when they are held side by side the ONC or surgeon gets a much more detailed idea on what they are dealing with. In my mind it would let them know whether it was a metastasis or a primary cancer by the amount of "scattered" activity that lights up on a PET or if it shows no scattered cells then along with a CT they may determine the route to take be it a primary where they may opt to simply remove for best end result or if metastasis they may make other plans to do maintenance chemo instead of surgery and still not remove all cancer. It is a gamble in any event but I myself always like playing the safe bet (if there is ever one in this game) and opt for the scans, or if just one take the PET scan, and then you will have done everything in your arsenal..and if all comes back clear, then you have as much peace of mind as possible...Remember, its never 100% but I am hedging all my bets by doing both. I want you and him to decide, but not for any reasons that I have, all people are different and have different opinions on scans and radiation exposures and such.Simply use this as a tool to help you make the best choices for your husbands health....Love and Hope to you and yours, Buzz

Crow71 said:

Hey Margaret - Thanks for
Hey Margaret - Thanks for asking this question. I learned a lot from Buzz and Ed.
I just wanted to jump in and say that I think you last idea is very sound. It's easy to take a CEA and the results will help you make a decision. Don't wish for it. Insist on it. There is no reason for the doctor to say no.
Take care. Talk to you soon. Many sparks.
Roger

If I might butt in
Hank had PET/CT scans. This was both a Pet and a CT done at the same time and then each test was read separately and then overlaid together and read again. The CT shows mass and the PET shows metabolic activity, or how active the cells are. Then overlaid the docs get a full picture. The only drawback you might have is that if he's never had a PET before than there is no baseline to compare to. In any event our onc believes the PET/CT to be the way to go. Whatever decision you make, as Roger said, insist on it, don't let the Drs or an insu co for that matter influence what you want. He is the patient and it is his life in the balance...not theirs.

Good Luck


K