What is the accuracy of PET scans?

tyche66

Have been lurking here and reading the posts, but haven't had the courage to post until now.  Desperately in need of some reassurance and hope.  

Was diagnosed in Nov 2013 with stage 2A triple negative BC with no lymph node involvement.  Before I started treatment, I had all the scans done.  CT showed a 10mm nonspecific lung nodule while the PET showed no uptake in same nodule (7x9mm) but "nodule is near size limit for PET resolution".  Everyone was ok nothing to worry about.

 Fast forward 6 months and 5.5months of chemo and the CT show the nodule is now 3mm.  Now  oncologist is concerned nodule was actually cancer and shrunk because of chemo.  He says there is also a possibility because my KI67 is 69% the nodule would have lit up on the PET scan if it was cancer.  So I have to wait 3 months till next scans.  I'm having panic attacks and throwing up because of the fear and I start radiation next week .

Sorry for such a long post, but does anyone have any experience with PET scan accuracy? 

Thanks!

shoppygirl

I am sorry you have this worry. There are many issues for the nodule to shrink that are not related to cancer. I too have a lung   that was found before I had chemo. I was told that if it was just inflammation it might shrink so don't be too alarmed. 

It sucks having to deal with this. 

Hugs!! 

tyche66

thanks shoppygirl.  I know there could be a non cancer reason-my husband remembers that I was sick right around the time of my scans.   Of course I don't remember anything 

It's just the fear of it coming back is so overwhelming and paralyzingl and it didn't help when I was told I couldn't get my port out just in case I have to start chemo in September.  This disease sinks.