The Colon Club

Why can't you get MRI? I'm curious...

menreeq wrote:Why can't you get MRI? I'm curious...

Was told a CT is more effective for a large area of the body. I think MRI are for specific small areas.

Swirdfish wrote:Thanks all.

I wouldn't say I'm focused on the scans but I'm trying to establish a suitable for me method of determining if im still NED that i think is sufficient enough.

For some reason I'm not happy with what they have in place. I think it's lacking substance to say.

Also I eat very well and exercise majority of the week. Cardio and weights.

I will approach my ONC with the above knowledge or my surgeon for consideration.

Rectal cancer has a high local recurrence rate so why dont they scan for it?

Seems unsuitable to me.

Will CT scans every 6 months be too much radiation? Cant use MRI. I've already had a good fair share of radiation.

As CRguy said maybe imaging at different directions.

Stress isnt an issue with my life even as an engineer. Been in the job along time now.

Just to chime in: I had colon cancer, and at my first scan after chemo, they did a barium enema when they scanned me. I was quite surprised and didn't expect it at all. However, they stated it was their scanning protocol. it was a pretty simple procedure and I am glad they included it.

Hope your scans are ok!

All clear... yippie

Nice mate, great to hear! You’ve earned a beer or two

GREAT NEWS,
Congratulations,

Great news. I have a scan coming up Monday. Needless to say anxiety is starting.

Great news on the clear scan!

Great news!! Susie, I too have my post chemo first scan on Monday!! Good luck to both of us!!

I have a scan coming up Monday. Needless to say anxiety is starting.
Susie Good luck Monday, scananxiety sucks. You would think it gets easier the more you do it butt somehow it don't. Knock on wood I'm good until December.

Yay! Glad to hear scans were good to go!

Good luck to the up and coming scanners! Prayers all around for clean scans!!

Swirdfish wrote:All clear... yippie

WELL that's a damn straight good result !!!!!!!
Cheers homie
CR

Swirdfish wrote:

menreeq wrote:Why can't you get MRI? I'm curious...

Was told a CT is more effective for a large area of the body. I think MRI are for specific small areas.

This is true. MRI has limitations for field of view. Although it isn't standard right now, if radiation from medical imaging is an issue, it is possible to do MRI of the abdomen and pelvis, and then CT of the chest (to look at the lungs). This is because MRI is not good for evaluating lung nodules. My guess is that most Oncolgists don't order it (mine won't, even though the MRI specialists at Stanford would love it if they would order a PET/MRI for surveillance). Secondly, I have a feeling insurance companies won't pay for it.

Because I am young (like most of you), if I think im just getting too many CTs (quite a subjective opinion), I am gonna switch to MR if I can figure out the insurance logistics. I've only had 2 CTs, both in 2017. I don't mind getting one a year for 5 years. But if I start to have more, not necessarily for surveillance but perhaps complications like small bowel obstruction, I will think hard about MRI for the abdomen/pelvis, and limit CT to the chest.

This is a totally subjective opinion as a patient. I know it's not in the NCCN guidelines.

menreeq wrote:

Swirdfish wrote:

menreeq wrote:Why can't you get MRI? I'm curious...

Was told a CT is more effective for a large area of the body. I think MRI are for specific small areas.

This is true. MRI has limitations for field of view. Although it isn't standard right now, if radiation from medical imaging is an issue, it is possible to do MRI of the abdomen and pelvis, and then CT of the chest (to look at the lungs). This is because MRI is not good for evaluating lung nodules. My guess is that most Oncolgists don't order it (mine won't, even though the MRI specialists at Stanford would love it if they would order a PET/MRI for surveillance). Secondly, I have a feeling insurance companies won't pay for it.

Because I am young (like most of you), if I think im just getting too many CTs (quite a subjective opinion), I am gonna switch to MR if I can figure out the insurance logistics. I've only had 2 CTs, both in 2017. I don't mind getting one a year for 5 years. But if I start to have more, not necessarily for surveillance but perhaps complications like small bowel obstruction, I will think hard about MRI for the abdomen/pelvis, and limit CT to the chest.

This is a totally subjective opinion as a patient. I know it's not in the NCCN guidelines.

I have a scan coming up Monday. When I looked at the order I noticed it was for abdomen and pelvis only. I emailed my oncologist about the lungs
and she said since I had a repeat chest scan in July to check lung nodule found in May, there was not need to expose me to more radiation. I agree that
maybe there is a risk of took much radiation exposure.