FOLLOW UP TESTS

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nastazia_s
nastazia_s Member Posts: 57
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi all...

What follow up tests do you have after therapy and how often do you have them?

Do you have PET CT once a year for the first 3 years?

My mum's oncologist recommended to have PET CT once a year as a follow up after TNBC therapy just for the first 3 years.

She is thinking to have an MRI insted because of the increased radiation and she is trying to find out if it can be accurate for the whole body as the PET CT it is.

She had last year her first PET CT and now the second is coming up and she is thinking what to do.

I can see her that she is hesitating and don't know what is best to advise her.

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited June 2011

    Finally at my insistence I had a PET & CT scans about one year out.  I had bloodwork every 3 months for 2 years & I had a chest xray every 6 months. 

    Now I have a chest xray & blood work every 6 months.  I don't have mammagrams since I had a bi-lateral mastectomy.  NJ

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  • ebann
    ebann Member Posts: 3,026
    edited June 2011

    I have PET Scans every quarter. Blood work every 3 weeks....when I was NED did blood work every quarter along with the scans.

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  • nastazia_s
    nastazia_s Member Posts: 57
    edited June 2011

    ebann: why do you you have PET Scans every quarter? Is not very dangerous for radiation exposure?

    do you know if PET Scan can detect malignancy in breast and brain?

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  • nastazia_s
    nastazia_s Member Posts: 57
    edited June 2011

    mrsnjband: do you have any liver ultrasound also or just a chest x ray?

    you will not have any other PET CT?

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited June 2011

    Well, out here in San Diego, most of us are in HMO's.  I had no follow-up testing except a mammo every 6 months for 5 years and now once a year.  Just depends on your insurance and ability to pay.

    Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

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  • Suze35
    Suze35 Member Posts: 1,045
    edited June 2011

    nastazia - ebann has Stage IV disease, and the quarterly PETs are necessary to monitor the cancer's response to chemo.  The benefits outweigh the risks in that case.

    I am very high risk for mets, and will be having my third PET in a year this July.  If that is clear, then I will likely have one every 6 months for a few years unless symptoms indicate a recurrence.  Again, benefits will outweigh the risks.

    PETs do not include the brain.  They are often referred to as "eyes to thighs" or "nose to knees."  But they will monitor anything in her breast as well as other organs.

    Best of luck to your mom.

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  • nastazia_s
    nastazia_s Member Posts: 57
    edited June 2011

    suze35: how your doctor indicates that your very high risk for mets? is it due to your nodes status?

    my mum had lumpectomy with full axillary nodes dissection and 7/34 were affected.

    trying to find out which follow up method is best for triple neagtive.

    how often do you have PET CT?Does PET CT detects bone cancer and breast cancer?

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  • Suze35
    Suze35 Member Posts: 1,045
    edited June 2011

    nastazia - I am high risk because I became chemo-resistant at the end of my neoadjuvant chemo, and my cancer spread.  After surgery, when I started radiation, we found supraclavicular nodes (at the collar bone), and I'm still dealing with them.  I will be doing more chemo starting in two weeks. 

    If that had not happened, my doctor would have given me a PET between 9-12 months after surgery to check, as that is probably the highest risk time.  If that had been clear, we would have gone by symptoms for any further scans.

    PETs can find bone/tissue cancer if the lesion is big enough - I believe it has to be over 8mms.  But they can also give false readings and can cause anxiety for no reason. 

    With 7 positive nodes, I would say your mom's doctor would probably be justified in ordering a PET around the one year mark, but not every doctor feels that it is necessary.  Many women also don't like getting scans due to the potential for false readings.

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  • nastazia_s
    nastazia_s Member Posts: 57
    edited June 2011

    suze35 i wish everything going well with you and i wish you also clear scans!!!

    my mum's first PET CT was 7 minths after chem and it was clear.

    now her oncologist is thinking to order another one adn after from the 3rd year to have a full body MRI Once a year until 5 year.

    PET CT is not good experience and my mum is thinking if it is necessary to have it.......or having MRI instead.....

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