PET scan review with oncologist today

Background activity is the metabolic activity of a normal cell. They look at cells nearby that would behave about the same. I believe they look at the SUV of blood and nearby tissue, but I am still trying to understand that.

The uptake of the radioactive glucose into your lymph nodes is indistinguishable from a normal cell right now. I would be very interested in knowing whether the your oncologist still thinks you have cancer in your lymph nodes. Are they normal cells or cancer cells that have gone dormant? I've been puzzling over this question in my own pet scan results.

Thank you so much for sharing this. And congratulations. Ibrance/letrozol is really working for you. I've also had a fast response to ibrance/letrozol. My pet scan was not as over the top fabulous as this one, but I started with more tumors and bigger tumors and I had my pet scan after two months not three. I am hoping for the best in my next scan.

I am very curious about what happens next for you ... do you continue on the same protocol. I am also curious as to how your oncologist reads this scan. If you feel like talking about these things, you have an audience. Tribe Ibrance hangs out on the ibrance 2015 thread. I am sure that other people would be interested in how this goes.

And I am just so very happy for you. Congratulations on finishing school as well. I am inspired by the lives that people on this thread pursue while following treatment.

>Z<

Congratulations!!! That's one h--- of a report/response.

Lymph nodes can be reactive in general -- they are the first responders to infection. I would assume "background" is what zarovka says -- namely that they expect a certain level of "background noise", and remark upon anything above that level.

Erin, A big WOOHOO to you for those great results. Actually, here is another one, WOOHOO for finishing your first year of nursing school. That is such a big accomplishment, especially with everything else you have had going on in your life. Didn't you even have surgery recently?I am very happy that you are continuing to really live life, finish your education, and start a brand new career. You have not let cancer take over your life. Oh, that deserves another huge WOOHOO! Keep doing what you are doing, and make sure you check in with us from time to time. We are interested in know how you are doing.

Lynne

I believe background activity is just the uptake in surrounding tissues .....normal metabolism. So if the background is say 2.3, and then there is an area that jumps up to say 4.0 or higher, that might indicate cancer is present since it has a higher suv uptake. Hope that makes sense!