why no tumor markers and pet scan

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bedo
bedo Member Posts: 1,866
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

I saw my MO last week and told him that I have had pain in my shin for 5 months.  He said, "that would be an unusual place to get mets, we can do it if you want.

I see others with Pet scans and tumore markers,  I don't see any of these done.

Does anyone know is this is usual or what the standard of care is for my status?

Thanks you

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  • changes
    changes Member Posts: 622
    edited July 2011

    For those of us with Stage 1, PET Scans are NOT standard of care. They are usually only done for us if a problem crops up. Tumor marker tests are very unreliable, and many oncologists do not use them (mine does not). You might want to check the National Cancer Institute webpage - I think that is where I found the guidelines on standards of care.

     Like you, I have had pain in my right shin, that started after diagnosis, but prior to radiation. It kept hurting and the surgeon ordered a bone scan, but it found nothing. The shin STILL hurts. I also was told it would be uncommon to have metastasis there. I've had some other pains crop up and ended up getting a chest/abdominal CT Scan, but have never had a PET scan.

    Karen

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited July 2011

    "changes" is correct.  Blood tests for "tumor markers," and scans like PET, CT, and bone scans (other than scans for bone density), are not recommended for women with early-stage BC who do not have symptoms suggestive of metastases.  That's true according to guidelines published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.  (See http://www.nccn.org/ but you'll have to register to access the "Guidelines" section.)

    If you do have symptoms that seem suspicious, though, docs generally would order those tests.

    otter

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    I never got tumor markers. My onc and BS feel they are unreliable. I did get scans before surgery but  they wanted to rule out mets since they thought I would be stage IIIA and have micromets in my nodes. If I had mets the treatment would have been a bit different.

    My onc told me when I met her that she doesn't do periodic scans or blood tests unless there is an persistent symptom. Only rescan I got was liver because they thought there might be something but so far looks like benign cysts.

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