Does everyone get intitial PET scans, etc?

Straitlover · August 2014

Mods, please feel free to move this if it's in the wrong place!

I've had my BMX w/ TE placement. I do know for sure there was no node involvement. Don't know staging and all since they still had not completed all the path results when I last saw my MO or BS. BS did finally call me and tell me that they got the results and that no further cancer surgery would be needed (forgot to ask the size of the tumor, but will get a copy of path from the MO), so i don't go back to him for 3 months. I see the MO on 9/11, so she should have all the results then.

My question is does everyone automatically get PET and/or CT scans? My sis was barely stage 1a IDC , had lump and rads, and her MO did some kind of scan (sis doesn't know which kind because she doesn't ask many questions). I do know my MO said awhile back that if my tumor was as small as they thought (.5 cm), I would not need chemo, and I am hoping the location of the tumor (right behind nipple) and lack of node involvement will mean no rads. Right now, I'm just wondering if I will have to do scans. TIA!

edwards750 · August 2014

No everyone does not get scans. I didn't. I have IDC Stage 2, Grade 1. I had a lumpectomy and 33 RADS treatments. Currently taking Tamoxifen. 3 1/2 years out from DX. Had micromet in SN. Also had Oncotype test which determined treatment. Low score which was good.

Your Path report isn't back so what happens next depends on the results of that report. Mine revealed the micromet. BS was surprised; I was too of course.

Your sister should ask questions. Do your homework. After all it's your body and your life. Trust your doctors but don't be afraid to disagree with them - they are good but not infallible. My BS said the micromet would get me chemo. My ONC was ambivalent and ordered the Oncotype test. Glad she did it allowed me to dodge chemo.

My sister has BC and scans routinely but she has ILC. Different kind of BC - her type travels a lot.

Good luck - keep the faith and keep us posted.

Diane

Anonymous · August 2014

My dx was very similar to edwards750. I did not have scans immediately but then did have them after my next mammogram showed more IDC. Do what makes you comfortable.

Straitlover · August 2014

Forgot to say - I won't have an Oncotype test done because of my diagnosis - low grade adenosquamous carcinoma, ER-,/PR-, HER2-.

Nancy2581 · August 2014

I had a pet/ct scan and bone scan after my pathology report came back. A friend of mine whose diagnosis is similar to mine did not.

Anonymous · August 2014

I think a lot of medical practices have different protocols, even for similar diagnoses. I myself have never had any type of PET scan (stage 1, 9.5 years NED).

Hopeful82014 · September 2014

Straitlover - don't worry if you do have to do scans. I did two yesterday and, while they were time consuming, they were not uncomfortable, annoying or particularly invasive. I'll have another CT scan in 3 months and the worst of it will be waiting for the results. Honestly.

ruthbru · September 2014

No scans for me either. My oncologist didn't do scans unless there was lymph node involvement.

SelenaWolf · September 2014

It, sometimes, depends - as well - on the institution. Each treatment centre has different protocols that they follow, but many of them do them as part of the diagnostic process. Prior to starting treatment, I had a chest x-ray, an abdominal ultrasound, a bone scan, and a complete blood panel including tumour markers. All these tests were standard procedure at my treatment centre and part of their staging protocol.

ruthbru · September 2014

The way I understood it was that if your nodes are clear, even if any micro-cells had sneaked out and traveled elsewhere, they would be too small to be picked up on the scans (but that was almost 8 years ago, so maybe technology is a lot better now).

Does everyone get intitial PET scans, etc?

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