PET Scan

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Charliestweetie
Charliestweetie Member Posts: 29
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Who of you sisters had one before starting chemo?

Thanks!!!!

Charliestweetie 

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  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited November 2018

    Not me. Not typically done at the big hospitals in Boston (Mass General, Dana Farber, etc.)

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited September 2012

    I did. my local MO didn't seem to want to schedule it. said the sx would make things light up. but went up to sloan kettering for one of my second opinions and they got me in the next day for pet. I can't remember how many weeks I was out of sx. maybe it was four, but I really am not sure. you had sx first right?

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  • many
    many Member Posts: 254
    edited September 2012

    I got a PET-CT scan done for my wife prior to surgery

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited September 2012

    I did.  Biopsy, breast MRI and then PET.  I think it depends on what your insurance will cover.

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2012

    I did.  I think I had every type of scan prior to chemo.

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited September 2012

    my surgeon was the quarterback initially after initital diagnosis.  he ordered a PET scan before i had surgery and lymph node surgery.  wanted to take a look at whole body in case there was cancer in other places, which may have influenced treatment.

    hang in there. this is the rough time.

    diana50

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  • ohio4me
    ohio4me Member Posts: 491
    edited September 2012

    I had a PET/CT after surgery and before chemo. I had ILC, MX and positive nodes so a PET/CT was a good option. While everyone is different, if you have surgery with clear margins and negative nodes you may not be a candidate for a PET/CT. Depends on how closely your doc, facility, and insurance follow appropriateness guidelines.

    My thot at the time was to get all the pre-testing possible. I made me feel better just knowing we wer covering all the basis.

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  • Elizabeth1959
    Elizabeth1959 Member Posts: 346
    edited September 2012

    I had ct and bone scan I think. I actually can't remember if I had bone scan or not. Waiting for results was VERY frightening. Since it was neg, I'm glad I did it. Since that time, I've avoided additional scans except breast mri on remaining breast

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  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited September 2012

    I had one after surgery but before chemo.  My insurance wouldn't pay for it until my path report was back on my nodes.  I started chemo less than 3 weeks after surgery, and the PET was probably a week before that.  I know I still had drains in - didn't matter.  They can tell a drain's a drain, what they're looking for are things in the lungs, liver, bones.  

    If you have a PET, my recommendation is to take some Ativan beforehand.  It was a horrible experience for me, solely because of my anxiety level at the time.  After the injection of tracer, you have to sit as still as a rock alone in a room for a long time, like an hour.  

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  • MaxineO
    MaxineO Member Posts: 555
    edited September 2012

    I had PET scan, bone scan, CT scan, and breast MRI (actually 2). I think it so much depends on your bs or mo. Waiting for the PET results was the worst part of the diagnosis experience. You can do this!

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited September 2012

    I had  PET/CT scan before I started my neoadjuvant chemo, then another one after four rounds of TAC and on to surgery (BMX). Based on that scan and the pathology report, I had another two rounds of chemo after surgery.

    I had a third PET/CT three years ago as I prepped for my DIEP recon. I would not have gone forward with the recon if there had been any signs of mets.

    Since it's been a while now, I might ask my onc if I should have another this Fall. I've been having issues which may be nothing more than gallstones, but as someone I know so insensitively pointed out, it could be some other cancer.

    PS: I didn't mind sitting quietly for a while before the scans. What I didn't like was the drink they make you ingest. Very thick like mucous. I tried to imagine it had a little umbrella in it, and I was lying on a beach, lol.

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited September 2012

    had a PET after tx and the every yr after ward for 5 yrs.

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  • Ihopeg
    Ihopeg Member Posts: 399
    edited September 2012

    I had PET right after surgery. They also did Mugascan for my heart, bone scan. Dont get worried if the PET lights up in different places!

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2012

    Ativan is good idea! Seriously, as if you aren't already stressed enough and you're told to sit in a dark empty room and do nothing.  No reading, no listening to music.  No distractions allowed.

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