LaciK wrote:I want to keep my port for as long as I can. I am a difficult blood draw and the IV contrast for the CT scans is even more difficult due to the larger needle. For me it's well worth the hassle of the port flushes.
My oncologist gave me the same speech about scans and radiation but I'd rather be proactive and catch cancer early than worry about what could happen from having a CT scan or 2 or 3. I switched oncologists and I have 1 CT scan per year for three years. This gives me piece of mind.
Advocate for yourself and trust your gut. The doctor can lay out your options but it's your body and your choice.
My onc gave me the same speech, too. He wanted annual CTs, but I had read on here someone who went a year without a scan and the cancer was everywhere. I don't want to be that worst case scenario. I told him that it is a joke among cancer patients that we want to live long enough to get cancer from our scans. We came up with a compromise, and I get Pelvic MRIs and a chest CT every year and a full CT every year six months later, so alternating.
80% of recurrences are found the first two years, so if you are going to wait, that would be a good time to shoot for. I still have mine in. I'm just not thrilled with having another surgery, so each scan I tell myself I will take it out after the next clear scan... so... this October?