Hi
anyone had a PET scan
Is it advisable to have one after treatment or wait awhile

Would have to go private
Are they a good idea

Any info would be appriciated

David and Sue

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Hi, I had a PET scan to see where my primary tumour was. I had to have the agreement of the NHS trust for permission to have it- they are so expensive!
I asked if I would have one after treatment to see if the cancer had gone but they said that with all the surgery ,scar tissue etc and the cost it wouldn't be worth it.
Why are you considering having one?
Anne

I just had a PET scan. It was done 3 months after the end of treatment. They normally wait that long for everything to settle down. It's my understanding I will be getting another after 6 more months and then yearly, (for 5 years), to see if the cancer reoccurs. But the tumors have to be 6 mm or larger to be detected by the scan, so they are not perfect. The equipment must be very specialized. The Cancer Center does not have their own. It's towed from hospital to hospital on a trailer, and is there one or two days a week.

A PET scan discovered the source of my cancer back in 2005. Once I'd had all of my treatment done, I requested another one and I was also told to wait for 3 months. This one confirmed that they were successful inasmuch as nothing was shown when comparing the 2 scans. I also had another one this year which once again confirmed that nothing has crept back.

I'm not sure whether they will do this for me for the next 3 years - but it has given me "peace of mind".

It's expensive, but my insurance covers that, luckily. I think it cost the equivalent of 750 pounds here.

Are they a good idea? For me, Yes.

Cheers - Pete

Thanks Pete
They said ct scans would be no good but after researching i found PET/CT scan

We only have 6 in the uk and some private

the hospital as never mentioned it

would have to pay around £800 to £1000 but it may be worth it plus the travel

Thanks Dave and Sue

Anne W

Hi the pet scan can detect and differentuate between scar tissue ,tissue fibroids and tumours

CT scans can not

They say they can not tell me if its gone only by feeling my neck and any sytoms i have would they know its back

i see a Pet scan as letting me know how the treatments worked

Regards
David

David,
go for it- peace of mind is everything!
Anne

Thanks Anne
Regards

Dave and Sue

Hi Dave

How are you?
Had a MRI this week on the neck.
PET scan sounds good, have you found one local?
I am not 100% sure but I beleive that there is one at at Castlehill in Hull, (could be wrong).

I was thinking about having a PET myself perhaps we should all block book and see if there any discount (I doubt it.

Take care

Regards


Tony

I had a ct/pet scan last september after a fairly major scare. My neck glands on the lhs of my neck ached badly and glands underneath my tongue too. I had had this discomfort before on the rhs of my neck and I know what it led to!!
To his great credit my consultant saw me that week and booked me into Mount Vernon Hospital (west london on the way to heathrow).
I was scanned 2 weeks later. I was still clear - what a huge relief.
I didn't realise that a tumour needed to be 6mm in size to be spotted by this technique.
I got the impression it was a lot more sensitive than that.
cheers Tony K

Hi Tony K
Pleased to here everthing was ok

I was wondering if this was maybe a much better way of checking than just feeling my neck

Regards
Dave and Sue

Hello David and Susan
I would say so. I would trust the head neck consultants if they had a "feel" - but not an SRO.
Glands can swell etc but it may or may not be due to cancer cells. I was told that the ct/pet scan would show up any cancer activity. As my whole torso was scanned it was a huge relief because it allayed my fears of any spread in other parts of the body (as well as my head/neck area).

cheers Tony K

I have hAD ABOUT 4 pet scans I THINK MAINLY WHEN THEY FIND SOMETHING WRONG , IT OK BUT THEY DO THE WHOLE BODY AND YOU MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY MIGHT FIND WHERE AND TO BE HONEST I DONT WANT TO KNOW.

pAUL

Paul
I know the feeling

Me and Sue will need to talk this over prior to a decision being made

Regards

Dave and Sue

Pet scans seem to be the norm in the states. Over here the c.t & MRI are more common place.
I wonder why this is?