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Scan timing

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:48 am
by heiders33
My chemo ends in February and my oncologist told me that my first follow-up scan won’t be for three months after that. Is this normal? I feel like I’ve read of others on here having their first follow-up scan about a month after treatment. I actually haven’t been scanned at all since last May when I was first diagnosed (had a CT and PET scan). Both my surgeon and my onc seem to be anti-too much scanning. I’m OK with this as it reduces my exposure to radiation, but at the same time I feel pretty in the dark about what’s going on inside me. All I know is my pathology report which showed clear margins and one involved lymph node, and my CEA markers have been normal all along (last one was 2.9). I’m OK with waiting three months for a scan, but just want to know if this is normal. Thanks.

Re: Scan timing

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 9:22 am
by susie0915
I had my first scan a month after finishing treatment. I didn't have another for a year, then 6 months after that which was Oct. 2017. I saw my oncologist in November and graduated to 6 month visits. I will see her again in May. I'm not sure when she will do the next scan, I was assuming 6 months from the last but not sure. She told me we would schedule when I see her in May. My pulmonologist said she didn't want to do another chest scan for a year(which would be Jan, 2019) since my nodule has not changed and is so small, unless oncologist wanted to do earlier. But I did have one a month after treatment ended which was a year from diagnosis. Had a pet scan after chemo/radiation and before surgery, and a ct scan of abdomen/pelvis 4 weeks after surgery only because of a bowel blockage.

Re: Scan timing

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:14 pm
by Lee
I know the medical people are wanting us to get less scans than in the past. Since it sounds like you will be scan around May, that will be a yr since your last scan which is what I believe they are recommending now.

Butt if you want to be scanned earlier, I'm sure you can push for it.

Good luck,

Lee

Re: Scan timing

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:47 pm
by thubler
I was done with chemo in November 2016 and had my first scan in February 2017. I had an enlarged lymph node so I had a PET scan a week later to make sure it was ok. I had my next scan in June then another in October. My Oncologist bumped me to 6 months so my next is in April. I assume I will be on 6 month scans for a long time. I also do yearly colonoscopy/endoscopy.

Re: Scan timing

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:32 pm
by Aqx99
My first scan was within days of finishing chemo. I guess it is just what your oncologist prefers. She has me down for another scan around April, which would be 4 months after finishing chemo.

Re: Scan timing

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 9:32 pm
by Basil
Scan intervals depend on your chances of recurrence. It’s a good thing to have them spread out. It means your docs don’t think you’ll have a recurrence. If you were more at risk they would see you more often. Take solace in that.

Re: Scan timing

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 1:05 pm
by heiders33
Thanks everyone for your replies. It makes me feel better about the timing. I’m planning to take a little trip in April and don’t want a scan to disrupt it!