PET scan for DCIS

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suekb
suekb Member Posts: 22
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Do they ever do this test? I am wondering whether I could have a PET scan. I want  to wait until June to have the surgery. They do not see anything more calcifications on the mammo and the MRI came back with a birad 2.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited March 2010

    No, they don't usually do PET scans for DCIS or even for early stage invasive cancer. 

    My understanding is that PET scans are less effective at 'seeing' breast tissue than MRIs.  PET scans normally are given to women who are at risk of metastisis - the PET scan is used to look at the rest of the body, not the breast.

    PET scans are very high in radiation so personally I would not want to have one unless absolutely necessary.

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited March 2010

    Hi guys - Beesie is correct of course but my physician ordered a PET scan to rule out any other cancer occurring in the body..  My insurance company did challenge it but utimately paid it (it is a very expensive test so that is another reason that many doc's won't use it).  I have a very strong family history for many cancers and a confussing on at that..  But normally they don't do the test in the coordinated package of tests for DCIS, and this probably falls under the "test you don't need" catagory.    Certainly not for DCIS since it is considered non-invasive, but when there is a strong concern of breast cancer going to met's and/or the potential of another cancer in the body it is used. 

    Now, I will answer a question you didn't asked but I remember having a strong response to.  When I received the results of the PET it was an incredible relief!  To have a good understanding that although the body failed me in one area everything else was still holding up well.. I know that I started to sleep a bit better after that test.. but please understand that the PET was done  because there was just so much confussion with my doc's because it was my FATHER who died of breast cancer and so the stat's don't really fit UNTIL - and won't until there is an understanding that breast cancer in men responds the same as it does with women.. There is very little research being done on that to-date though they are seeing strong similarities with the little research that is done.

    One more thing - I think my situation reminds us that each and every one of us are different, so if you doc's suggest something that doesn't quite sound right I would suggest you do your research and decide whether that partiular test is appropriate for you or not in consideration of your own circumstance..  Every cancer is unique in every body - so we need to remember that although the stats can show a common link that just isn't the entire truth...  Research is incredibly important, and we stake our lives on it every day, but it's just not the entire picture of YOU! 

    Best

    Deirdre

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