Today's CT Scan/1 Year from Resection

[CAGirl]

Hi All,

Just had my CT scan and was given the "all clear" for one year.

Boy, what a trying year it's been. My husband and I are cautiously celebrating.

Had my resection a year ago. Stage 3C. Kinda gut-punched by the whole thing. Then, 3 months into chemo, had another scan which showed some tiny nodules in lungs and liver. Waited 2 months after chemo (so 5 from last scan) and saw that one of the lung nodules had increased by 1 or 2 mm. Today was my 4-month follow-up to that, and NOTHING looks suspicious. No changes to liver nodules, and lung spots look the same or SMALLER!

I can't believe I don't have another scan for a year. CEA in 6 months (though not a marker for me originally). Colonoscopy in 2-3 years.

Newcomers -- you will get through day by day. I never thought I'd be here. So relieved.

Oldtimers -- I've already had 4 scans now. So worried that a year is too long to wait for another, though. Advice? Trust my oncologist (whom I love) and Nat'l Standard?

Anyway, so grateful for this site.

[DarknessEmbraced]

I'm glad you had clear scans!*hugs*

[Beckster]

Hi All,

Just had my CT scan and was given the "all clear" for one year.

Boy, what a trying year it's been. My husband and I are cautiously celebrating.

Had my resection a year ago. Stage 3C. Kinda gut-punched by the whole thing. Then, 3 months into chemo, had another scan which showed some tiny nodules in lungs and liver. Waited 2 months after chemo (so 5 from last scan) and saw that one of the lung nodules had increased by 1 or 2 mm. Today was my 4-month follow-up to that, and NOTHING looks suspicious. No changes to liver nodules, and lung spots look the same or SMALLER!

I can't believe I don't have another scan for a year. CEA in 6 months (though not a marker for me originally). Colonoscopy in 2-3 years.

Newcomers -- you will get through day by day. I never thought I'd be here. So relieved.

Oldtimers -- I've already had 4 scans now. So worried that a year is too long to wait for another, though. Advice? Trust my oncologist (whom I love) and Nat'l Standard?

Anyway, so grateful for this site.

Great news on your 1 year scan... But in comparison, I had stage IIA colon cancer with no node involvement and get scans every 6 months and bloodwork every 3 months for the next 3 years. I just went to my onc today (bloodwork only), I am almost 1 1/2 years out and get my next scan with bloodwork in June. I had my one year colonoscopy in Oct and get my next one in 2 years.

[lovelife789]

Congrats! All the hard work is paid off!

So I'm Stage IV and I have completed chemo in Dec 2017. For post chemo scanning, I was originally scheduled for CT scans every 3 months, but the Dr felt it's too much radiation given my age, he lets me do CT and MRI taking turn every 3 months and blood test every 2 months, for the first 2 years.

[menreeq]

Congrats CAgirl!! So happy for you.

I haven’t had any imaging since before surgery. I’m nervous. I get my first post chemo scan tomorrow.

Onc wants me to do 12-month intervals also. I am a lower stage and I understand per NCCN. But I also feel unsettled about it. If all clear tomorrow, I may still get next imaging at 6 months...

Also, it’s not required or recommended by Radiology, but any of you ever do fleets enema or other prep for your surveillance CTs? Just wondering...

[michelle c]

I had annual CT scans and bloods every three months. My onc/surgeon didn't recommend that I have scans more frequently.

[Deb m]

So happy for your good news. As far as the scans go, I would push for an earlier scan. My husband was a stage IIb and he had scans every 3 months for the first year and a half, then every six months for the next two years, then once a year till 5 and a half years passed and was pronounced cured. He had cea level every 3 months throughout the 5 years of surveillance. Colonoscopy 2 months after completing chemo, then a year after that and then every 3 years. This was all done at MDA.

Wishing you continued success,

Deb

[jayb]

I am confused on followup for Stage 1, T2 colon cancer. I had a doctor who was ordering scans every six months and blood work every 3 months for my first year out and then I went to get another opinion at a major cancer research center (UCLA) top colon oncologist and head of GI. They told me that Stage 1 colon caner only needs colonoscopies 1 year out and if all good repeat in 3 years. No scans and no CEA or blood every 3 months and no need for an oncologist! This is based off the NCCN guidelines. The frequent testing and scans are just too much and my GP told me so many times that I am getting followed as if I had Stage 2 and that Stage 1 does not need the same followup as Stage 2. All the scans and blood work cause a lot of stress and the the scans have a lot of radiation. My Gp told me that he could follow me and do blood work every 6 months and CT scan once a year. So as of now I am 18 months out from resection, I just had blood work and last CT was in September ( 1year) and my colonoscopy was last July which was 91/2 months pass surgery. I guess I wont be getting the scan this month and waiting until September which will be 2 year and then my surgeon told me he could do anther colonoscopy in July, if its good then repeat in 3 years. All this is still going beyond the NCCN guidelines. It's just confusing and concerning on Stage 1 on how it is followed and I don't understand why some doctors order scans every 6 months for Stage 1.

[CAGirl]

Yep. Seems there are different theories and protocols for follow-up care, depending on doc and hospital/medical team. I'm thinking I might do an eight-month scan follow-up, so that I'll have 3 in a 2-year period. Compromise between the year and 6-month scans. That way, less radiation, but less time for anything to "grow" undetected.
There's a post on here called "Scan Timing". Might be worth re-opening, if anyone that commented here wants more guidance. I'm thinking about not obsessing about my cancer for just a few months!