My mom

AJW67

Hi , feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment my mom was just Diagnosed with Breast cancer they want to do a mastectomy but I asked for a PET scan don to her age ( 86) and other health conditions. Is a PET usually performed prior or is jut depending on the surgeon?

ElaineTherese

Hi!

PET scans are usually only performed on BC patients whose cancer is locally advanced and may have spread beyond the breast/axiliary node area. Since you don't tell us anything about your Mom's cancer, it is hard to know whether a PET scan would be appropriate in her case. How big is her lump? How fast are her cancer cells dividing (grade)? What kind of cancer is it? Have any nodes tested positive for cancer? Why do her doctors want to do a mastectomy?

((Hugs))

NancyD

It depends on the doctor. What tests have been done already?

At your mother's age, it might be due to other health conditions that would make it too stressful. Can your mother tolerate the radioactive material? Can she sit quietly before the scan to allow the isotope to distribute through her body? Can she lie still while the scan is done?

The other thing to consider is the expense of a PET scan. Insurance companies might not approve the procedure based on your mother's age an/or the doctor's recommendation.

I found all the tests and surgery quite stressful and I was in my 50's.

pupmom

Nobody can intelligently discuss this unless you provide more information about her diagnosis. Hope she does fine, though.

Kicks

You gave no information about her BC type (DCIS/IDC/ILC/IBC) or Stage. ER/PR +/- or HER2+/- status. All are just part of what her Team (and the Tumor Board at her Facility) uses to developed her TX (treatment) plan for the best prognosis. The best option is not always surgery first any more.

You said she has "other health conditions" - depending on what the conditions are (and we erity/e the t), it would probably be a good idea to have her GP/PCP and any Specialists she sees involved in her BC TX plan as the entire body is involved/effected by whatever TX plan is deemed best for her.

PET Scans are done to check for possible metastis to other parts of the body - based on DX, not age.

So many unanswered questions that need answers. What will her QOL be with or without different TX plans? How long will the different plans prolong a good QOL?

Is there a BC Nurse Navigator at her Facility? They are a wealth of info and would be good for her (and you) to talk to about 'anything'.

In many ways - there are no 'usuals' for all. There are so many variables with each of us.

Denise-G

My mom was 80 when diagnosed and ended up needing Lumpectomy only.

She was Stage 1 - 1.4 cm tumor ER+ PR+ Her2-

Radiation and chemo would not have been much benefit to her.

She is now 3 years out and doing well.

Hoping this goes for your mom as well.