Question about scans

I also didn't get any scans besides an MRI of my lymph nodes and I really wish they would have done the scans.  I understand about not wasting insurance $ but at this point I don't care about my insurance company and their $. 

I had a similar diagnosis but PR+ also, all I had done was a mammogram last year when I was diagnosed. Now another doctor recommends me to have an MRI of the brain and neck, and CT from the neck to the pelvis. She said a scan is needed if you have any kind of symptoms and those are the ones she recommended. She also said that the scans don't guarantee anything, the results are valuable only for a while. What treatments did you receive?

Maybe a combined PET/CT scan but I am not sure. I did receive a CT scan for staging at the beginning but I had the impression that a CT scan by itself is not very sensitive.

I unfortunately have a connective tissue disease which highly interferes with my bone scan results.  My doctor ultimately would prefer I alternate between cts, pet, and bone scans.  He said to always remember that NO test is accurate, and by doing different scans, we will have a more informed look at things.  Now, if only my new insurance agreed with this!!!!

Orange1-

when I was diagnosed stage T1mic(DCIS with a focus of less than 1mm of a microinvasion) node negative. My oncologist did do a whole body bone scan and a ct scan of my head, chest, and abdoment.   I was told that most oncologists do not do this so what my oncologist did is very uncommon.  Wishing you the very best.

Liz

I'll tell you my experience with scans.   When I was diagnosed, I automatically had a CT and bone scan.  They came across a nodule on my lung which couldn't be ruled out with out a pet scan.  My surgeon said she was certain it was focal scaring and didn't think a pet scan was necessary.  My first oncologist wanted a pet to rule out lung mets before he started chemo.   So, three weeks later I have a PET scan and it shows mets to several spots on my liver, ribs, hips, and superclav. nodes,  The nodule on my lung was indeed focal scaring.   I was told a PET scan is extremely more sensitive (obviously).   If I were to request a scan, it would be a PET scan and a brain MRI.  

Jennifer 

Well that is pretty scarey Jennifer!  I had bone, mri, and CT scans but no pet scan.  I wonder what else could be there that the CT scan didn't see?  Did you have any symptoms of all these mets?