How to get a doctor to order PET scan

Hi!

Why do you want a PET scan? I've had three PET scans and they're nothing special. Plus, PET scans often produce false positives that require...further scans. My PET scans showed "something" on my left hip. But, neither a CT nor an MRI showed anything there. So, MO decided it was a false positive.

In any case, if your MO won't order a PET scan, you can always switch to another MO. But, often MOs deem them unnecessary for breast cancer patients with small, early stage tumors.

I am having the opposite concern. When I was diagnosed with stage IIA IDC, my MO ordered a CT without explaining why or giving me the option not to do it. I only found out recently that most oncology guidelines say no CT testing for stage 1 or 2 cancer. I am very unhappy that she ordered it. Only 1.3 % of these patients will have lung mets, for example, but 30% will have false positives. My first CT showed areas of interest in my lungs and liver but these are often found in older patients like me and are benign. Still because I have cancer, a followup was ordered. The one at 6 months (my MO wanted it at 3 months but I refused) showed stable liver but a 1 mm increase in the lungs which the radiologist thinks may only be because of a different angle of the "camera" so to speak. Nevertheless I am supposed to have another one at 6 months which would be this August. I think I am going to refuse. From my research so far I have the understanding that survival is not improved by finding mets early. So there is no point but risk from the radiation. The proper use of CTs as I understand it now is for stage IV patients to see whether treatment is working. So I wish you could have my aggressive MO. I fired her and got an MO who will probably agree that I do not need this CT. If he has information that early detection of mets affects survival then I will do it. Polly

Hi Mommck! You have certainly been through a lot in the past few months. Hoping that your surgical recovery is going well. It might help some of us to understand the situation better if you could update your profile in order to show diagnosis, etc.

I took a look at a few of your other posts and see that you had an unremarkable bone scan for arm pain, probably due to sports injury. So, your doctor did investigate symptoms which is usually the prerequisite in searching for metastatic disease.

Did you have genetic counseling? Perhaps there is family history of cancer which is underlying your concern. Go ahead with chemo then focus on becoming healthy: exercise/eat sensibly (all the things you already know to do) and save the worry for another day. Easier said than done but an excellent coping skill to pursue...