Did I need a PET or x ray?

Konakona

I was diagnosted while in Spain, I had my surgery here and in a couple of weeks will be moving to Brussels, I already have an appointment with an oncologist at the Bordet Institute on Feb 2.

I am sending them all the info I have and they asked me for PET scan and abdominal X ray...

My spanishoncologist based on my biopsy report did't feel the need to order all this tests, only a breast MRI.

How does it work in the Us and Canada?

Freaking out now that maybe I should have done the test before surgery

jojo9999

I don't think PET or Xrays are standard here in the USA, unless the docs suspect mets. I had only a Breast MRI and was treated at a university National Cancer Instutue hospital.

Konakona

I know in Spain they do all this test after the surgery

Kicks

I had a Bone Scan, a full body CAT and MRI (both with contrast), a PET Scan and an EKG . The 17 days between DX and starting neoadjuvant Chemo. The PET did 'light up' on an area along lower jaw and it was biopsied that afternoon with results next morning - 'nothing' there. Never had a breast only MRI.

Some will also have MUGA but was told not needed for me. Though I was 63 when DXd, I was in great health/shape - only issues were arthritis in upper back (been there for at least 10 yrs) and osteopenia (huge family HX).

It needs to be remembered that different Drs have different ideas of what should be done based on many 'things' - their education/experiences, our over all health when entering TX and the type of BC and suspected stage. Surgery is not always the best first TX plan and the Scans/Tests give the Drs better idea of what is the best TX plan. With IBC, neoadjuvant chemo is SOS, but for some with other types, neoadjuvant is becoming more common for better surgical outcomes.

Skittlegirl

I had a PET scan after my MRI. Since I am going through neoadjunct chemo, my team did a lot of scans and biopsies to stage me before chemo started.