Is PET scan a must?

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bala07
bala07 Member Posts: 25
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Is PET scan a must at the end of t the end of adjuvant chemo therapy treatment for rectal cancer stage IIIc? My mother had surgery and then chemo + rad. She hasnt been thro PET scan till now. chest x-ray + CT - abdomen was taken before to confirm no metastasis.

Will it show up some false positives? will it have any problems/side effects?

Thanks a lot, for your help.
Bala

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  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #2
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    Bala -
    Yes, PET scans can show false positives.

    A PET works by the use of radioactive glucose.

    Theoretically, rapidly growing cancer cells use more glucose
    than normal cells. Of course a normal cell that is in the healing
    process will use as much glucose as a cancer cell.... that's where
    the problem is with PET scans.

    A PET is good for a specific area of concern, that's what it was
    designed for. It can help determine if a suspicious mass is cancer,
    without having to surgically dig into it.

    Lately, there have been many Surgeons and Oncologists speaking
    out against the arbitrary use of PET scans as some sort of cancer
    seeking instrument. The patient ends up on chemotherapy when
    none is actually needed.

    Yes, there are unscrupulous physicians out there! In fact, our
    local major health care provider was fined by the FDA for using
    radiation therapy when it was not needed. (it's all about the $$)

    If there's reason for the PET scan, and the reason was well
    explained, I would allow it. If the reason is to "find cancer cells",
    I would tell them where to stick their probe.

    That's MY personal opinion.

    Best of health to you and yours,

    John
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #3
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    my understanding
    Some doctors/practices will do CT-scan, chest x-ray etc. If anything suspicious shows up (a spot, which they are not sure if it is malignant or not), they will follow up with PET to confirm.

    As with any test, there can be false positives. I think the accuracy is pretty good though. For me personally, no problems or side effects (other than cost!).

    Good luck to you and to your mom. I was Stage II rectal cancer when I was diagnosed. That was almost 9 years ago.

    Tara

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