Whole body PET Scan

concernedsis · August 2009

Is a whole body PET Scan after preoperative chemo normal? Sis prob stage 3 - did chemo first for large tumor with definite shrinkage but not gone. Chemo ends next week after 4 dose dense A/C's and 12 weekly Taxols. CT Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis & bone scan on diagnosis in March 09 negative.

Doc wants whole body PET scan after chemo stops b4 surgery - is that normal? Whats the rationale? I read there are alot of false positives -is this going to help us or make us nuts?

If its standard of care shouldnt we have done it b4 the chemo?

A bit confused

spar2 · August 2009

I have had several whole body PET scans, they are just making sure the cancer has not spread anywhere else. So I would say it is normal. Hope this helps. God bless. sherry

concernedsis · August 2009

thanks spar 2 - I know - I just wonder why not b4 chemo - why after - another test is just scary

LJ13-2 · August 2009

I don't know about "whole body" PET scan, but having a chin-to-thigh PET scan after neoadjuvant chemo is pretty standard. The rationale is to see if the chemo has worked at 1) shrinking existing tumors and 2) preventing new ones.

Lhall · August 2009

I was told by a once that you could get a pet scan after you do chemo for 2 to 3 years cause the chemo interferes with it. So I'm a little confused. Cause I wanted to get one cause they never gave me one.

Lynn

Lhall · August 2009

sorry finger aren't working right

spell check Couldn't Onc

concernedsis · August 2009

I dunno. Onc said its b/c tumor is still palpable but could be just dead and we're feeling scar tissue as it was large. Also apparently if the nodes light up or not - the surgeon will use that to decide axillary dissection or not (along with sentinel node). I dunno about chemo interfering - doc said 2 weeks after treatment stops.

chinablue · August 2009

Does a PET scan really show any cancerous cells in your body or tumors?

NancyD · August 2009

concernedsis, yes, I had two PET/CT scans and neoadjuvant chemo all before surgery. One scan was done before chemo started, and the second was done after the third dose of four. Scans aren't in the Standard of Care recommendations, just the course of chemos and surgeries, so they're really up to the preference of the oncologist...and your insurance.

chineblue, no test is 100% infallable. The tumor has to be a certain size before it will show up on the CT/PET scan. A very small group or individual cells will not show up. However, if your body's immunity system is up to snuff, those individual cells will be taken care of. I've read that this happens to everyone all the time. It's when our systems are overwhelmed by other things (environment, stress, genetic predisposition, other illnesses) that cancer can get a toehold and begins to develop out of control.I don't think that explains ALL cancers, but it sounds plausible for a lot of them.

concernedsis · September 2009

Thanks Nancy D - PET was negative except for mild uptake in the breast. May I ask what you had done? Sis' chemo was preop - surgery next week. Her info seems similar to yours except we are staging clinically - sentinel node biopsy being done with surgery. ER/PR + and HER- IDC.Based on size & skin involvement they think stage 3. She needs a mastectomy and surgeon seems to be pushing for no immediate reconstruction due to likely radiation but we insisted on seeing plastic surgeon preop to cover the bases. We could use some hope - you doing ok?

Whole body PET Scan

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