How do they diagnose mets?

[dontwanttobehere]

After colon cancer diagnosis I have had 2 different CT scans. First one of abdomen shows a few cysts in my liver and one in my kidney. The chest CT scan shows a node in my lung. It sounds like many people can have cysts so that sounds benign. The radiologist recommendation on the report of the lung node is follow up in 6 months. I haven't talked to MD yet about these results. Surgery for colon in Tuesday. I see many people in this group very unfortunately have mets to both liver and lungs. Just wondering how they get diagnosed?

[Nik Colon]

With me, ct and pet to confirm. Also if they are growing.

[steiconi]

My CEA kept rising. I asked for a PET scan, which showed lung and thyroid tumors. The thyroid wasn't mets, and probably would never have troubled me if it hadn't shown up in the scan.

[LeonW]

Mets need lots of blood and light up quickly after the IV agent is injected just prior to the scan.
(That's the explanation I got, when discussing scan results that showed a few cycts / no mets).

[Nik Colon]

With PET scans they absorb the sugar. But only the slightly larger ones, so really small ones usually won't show. Also on small ones they usually aren't sure so it's usually the waiting game to see if they do and size plays a part too. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong anyone.

[elise]

My liver met was found when my CEA rose. On CT they thought it was a hemangioma (no action required) but PET confirmed it was a met.

[CRguy]

Surgery for colon in Tuesday. I see many people in this group very unfortunately have mets to both liver and lungs. Just wondering how they get diagnosed?

Best wishes for the surgery on Tuesday ... heal well and gently !

The other posts have hit on most "ways" ... i.e. CT, PET, blood work ... BUTT other imaging like ultrasound, MRI and good old xrays will give information that something is suspicious for metastasis
AND until they actually have the tissue sample in the pathology lab ....
NONE of the above methods are 100% diagnostic, only suspicious, suggestive or highly suspicious, as per DocTalk.

There is also another way : during surgery the docs will find something they are concerned about which has not been "suggested" by other diagnostics .. so they find it by looking directly and exploring at surgery.

Finally .... everything looks good on all tests, imaging and at surgery ..... BUTT there are microscopic cells hanging out in different locations which are NOT detectable by any of the above means, and which may later end up establishing a metastatic site at some point down the road.... = My Situation.

ALL this is not meant to confuse or upset you.
I am a vet and have done thousands of scans, xrays, blood tests, surgeries etc.etc.etc. to try to find mets in my patients.
Even knowing what I know and being a very proactive patient ..... I still ended up with a met which revealed itself later on.
Nothing is perfect in diagnostics ..... BUTT if you have good docs doing their jobs well and they KEEP looking even after surgery .... it is still possible have a good outcome to this whole CRC Journey. Let your docs know if you are concerned and ask them if there is anything else they would suggest for your own situation.

I mention my own situation and the comments above so you have the information.
I am happy to say I am still here kicking ass after 8 years, so you have the inspiration

Now it is your turn to kick ass and get to your own .. good destination !
Best wishes and positive Vibes on the Journey
CRguy

[TeamCM]

We just experienced a similar issue. My guy was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. He had an emergency colon resection due to a blockage. Immediately following surgery the surgeon said his liver was clean. However, the very first CT scan (done prior to the colon resection) indicated there were 'cysts' in his liver. We were never told about this information until he was about to be discharged after the colon resection and the oncologist ordered her own MRI. When I asked why the MRI was necessary (because I ask so many questions about everything) I learned about the 'cysts'. I then requested all his medical records and realized these 'cysts' were discussed in the records on several occasions and it was recommended the 'cysts' be evaluated for metastatic disease. I started freaking out since that is typically the path colon cancer spreads... - to the liver and lungs. A PET scan was finally ordered and sure enough, the 'cysts' were actually metastasis. - 4 of them. This was a huge blow since we were told prematurely that his liver was fine when it was not and because the mets automatically made the cancer a stage 4 and not a 3.

I am learning it is better to be safe than sorry and that education on everything about this disease is key.

Best of luck to you. I really hope yours are truly cysts!