Questions about follow up

daisybud
daisybud Member Posts: 541 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

I had my first 6 month followup for stage one grade 2, partial nephrectomy.

Had mri and chest xray. Ned!

Question is my neXT appt in Feb he wants a ct scan, I thought OK. He said abdomen  and chest because xray not as good for chest. OK. I go to check out and get the papers.  I'm having a ct w/wo of chest, abdomen and pelvis.  He did the say anything about pelvis.  Anyone else have all 3 areas done at a followup? 

Is the typical?

Kim

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Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2

    Kim,

     

    Your protocol is within the range of normal. No 2 doctors do things exactly the same. Do not be surprised if a chest CT shows small lung nodules which are common for both those inside or outside the club. A chest CT only picks up nodules over 8mm. A chest CT picks up nodules much smaller most of which are harmless unless they grow. Give the size of your little bugger, Uncle NED shoul be paying frequent visits.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • sblairc
    sblairc Member Posts: 585 Member
    edited August 2016 #3
    I think they do it all.

    I know my husband's reports reference his bladder. Isn't that in the pelvis? Seems reasonable to me. I wouldn't worry about it. 

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    #4
    That's not unusual Kim

    My docs always order Chest x-ray and abd/pelvis ct w&w/o contrast.  Next time I plan to push for CT of all three areas.  And Iceman is correctamundo about better detection with the chest CT vs. x-ray. 

    Glad to hear you were paid a visit by Uncle NED, time to pass that torch on.  Go celebrate.

    Donna~

  • medic1971
    medic1971 Member Posts: 225 Member
    #5
    CT Scans

    My doctor, and most doctors, will almost always order a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with/without contrast.  Not only seeing the kidneys, but the ureters, bladder, sacrum, and regional nymph nodes as well.  I suspect that your original CT scan was of the abd & pelvis.    

    I asked my urologist at MD Anderson about a chest CT and he said since I was only stage I that a simple chest x-ray would be just fine.  He also said that due to my age and stage he wanted to expose me to as little radiation as possible.  Radiation safety is becoming more of a concern in healthcare so I suspect that over the next few years you will see new guidelines for how and when CT scans are used, but that’s just my humble opinion.  I am only getting one CT scan a year and chest x-ray every 6 months for the next 2 years.   

    As far as your question, yes those tests are the standard of care.  

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