ct or pet scan?

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fotol8y
fotol8y Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1

Last year, a month after my husband passed away I decided to get a nipple checked out that was peeling and was diagnosed with Pagets and after many biopsies and mammos was diagnosed with DCIS Her2 positive. The remanider of 2015 was spent in surgeries and chemo. I asked about a PET scan because my brother who had colon cancer, a year after finishing his treatment, had a pet scan that revealed one rogue cancer cell that they wer able to surgically remove and did another round of chemo that was less intense but as effective.

Today I got a call that cigna did not approve the pet scan because I wasn't sick. But I never was sick, until I was on chemo which practically killed me! If it hadn't been for the peeling nipple I never would have found the cancer; I never had any lumps and yet both of my breasts and most of my skin was full of cancer. Now I have no nipples! How will I know if this cancer is gone or not?

I have been approved for a CT scan and in reading the differences I still am not sold that it will be sufficient to tell if i still have this cancer...

I feel so crazed right now!

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  • cati0314
    cati0314 Member Posts: 203
    edited September 2016 #2
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    Hi

    I did have a pet during my initial diagnose.  I was not with Cigna then.  Recently Cigna also denied a pet scan for a restaging diagnose that my onco requested.  I was complaining about bloating, diarhea.  They would cover the CT scan.  If that showed any metastases then they would have approved the pet.  I'm sure you can fight the decision.  I did not.  I was just glad that the CT was normal! I  am sorry for the loss of your husband.  I too lost my husband to cancer about 10 years ago.  Best, Sharon

     

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    edited October 2016 #3
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    pet / vs ct. scan it stopped the pet scans and I am stage IV

    I quit having pet scans.  My choice, as they would do a pet, then follow it with a CT scan.  The ct scan picked up so much more than the pet.  That was my choice and my oncologist agreed.  Now I have a bone scan and ct scans.  If you feel strongly, your onco can appeal, and that usually works if they appeal based on dx.  

    I would talk to your onco.  

    Hope all ends up well.

    Carol

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    edited October 2016 #4
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    hugs and pixie dust

    hugs and pixie dust

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