How often do you get scanned after treatment?

[Mugenabe]

Hey everyone, just curious how often you get scanned. I asked my oncologist what happens after treatment (I go to MSK), and he told me that I well get a CEA check every 6 months and a CT scan yearly. Seems a bit lax to me. His rational was scans causes more anxiety and radiation exposure so he likes to do it once a year. Am I over worrying about this?

[4us4]

CT every three months for me for the first two years

[beach sunrise]

Mine is a bit unusual. I am experimenting with xeloda for a while longer but plan is at my insistence CT (chest abdomen pelvis) every 3 months, MRI once a yr, CEA every 3 weeks. Onc agreed. If you feel CEA needs checked more often you can get it done yourself thru lab corp. I believe it is $21.00 but they run sales on it every now and then.

[Mugenabe]

My CEA levels have never been high so I'm not even sure if it's a good test for me. I heard about possibly CtDNA tests, like Signatera, which I heard was pretty good with testing for recurrence, but I believe it's still in trials so some oncologists do not recommend it. I was thinking of asking the oncologist to at least have CT scans every 6 months or something for the first 2 years. Yearly just seems like so much time between scans.

[CRguy]

The full schedule record of all my tests and follow ups are in the topic post, listed in my signature,
Review of my Journey so far
which should give you some idea of a moderately aggressive regimen.

Anytime I had concerns or received equivocal information I PUSHED for more info and more imaging / testing.

Cheers and best wishes
CRguy

[beach sunrise]

Since CEA isn't a good marker for you I would insist on CA19-9, AFP and LDH for sure. Like CRguy said PUSH for what you feel you need. Be your own advocate!
Let us know and good luck!

[Mugenabe]

Since CEA isn't a good marker for you I would insist on CA19-9, AFP and LDH for sure. Like CRguy said PUSH for what you feel you need. Be your own advocate!
Let us know and good luck!

I’ve never heard of those. Thanks, I’ll read up on them. Another thing I was told by another CRC patient, even if I take all these different tests, if they don’t find anything on a scan, there are no treatment options?

[beach sunrise]

Valuable information if you search past posts by rp1954 and also read CRguy.

[Mugenabe]

Valuable information if you search past posts by rp1954 and also read CRguy.

Thanks. I’ll read up on them.

[NHMike]

I'm two years out from treatment. Bloodwork every three months 7 times and then switch to every six months.

Chemo finished June 2018, CT June 2018, MRI July 2018, Reversal July 2018. I think CTs annually - didn't have them every six months.

[Deep]

Mine have been 6 months apart for the first year, then I think they go to once a year for a couple more years. My Oncologist told me that once you make it out of the three year window, your chances for survival skyrocket.

[michelle c]

Stage III - I had a CT every 12 months