Cat scan ?

[appleton]

Each time I have gone for check-up, I had a cat scan, at Dr. request. I go to see him again Jan. but will not be getting a cat scan.

From what I have read, a cat scan is done every 3 months for at least a year.

Do all of you get one, every 3 months?

Thanks, Karen

[luvmydog2]

I saw my doctor every 3 months after surgery. I got a CT 1 three months and a X-ray the next time. I am now seeing my onc every 6 months and if all is well this time, I will see him in a year.

[Shirl]

I am only having X rays for the first year too. I am concerned about not having a CT scan as I feel they detect problems sooner than x rays and have asked my surgeon why I will not be having any. He said they treat the symptoms when they arise rather than detect them on a CT scan. It's just the way they do it here. I must add though that there are only 3 PET scans in the whole of the country, so possibly lack of money may have something to do with it. This is only my opinion though.

[Snowflake]

Karen,

Right out of surgery, I received a CT every other month and x-rays every month between. Six months out I went to a CT every three months and monthly x-rays when I didn't have a CT. A year out, it was alternating CTs and x-rays every three months (that's every six months for a CT). Starting in January, it will be alternating every six months and after year five, it will be an annual test.

My tumor was found on an x-ray as a "suspicious area". I had an x-ray eight months before of my chest to check out my heart (long story) and there was no suspicious cloud on the x-ray... I don't know if it would have shown up at that time on a CT or if it had, if anyone would have paid any attention to it. I DO know that my oncologist dated the cancer as being 3-5 years old. It wasn't visible on x-ray prior to December 2002...

I have noticed as I have gone through the journey with x-rays, that x-rays have come a LONG WAY in the last two years. The new digital film is far more detailed than the previous vinegar-stench operation...far more detailed...almost x-rated!

It all seems to be a crap shoot at times, ya know?

By all means, if you have questions, ASK them. It's not a free service, you're paying for it, get your money's worth!

Take care,

Becky

[Andrea]

My mom seems to be getting hers every 4 months.

In August she had a PET, Brain MRI, chest and abdominal CT scan. Next Monday she will be getting just a chest ct scan. I asked about another PET, he said if they did those every 4 months she'd glow in the dark

[Hebbie]

I am approacing the 2-year mark since surgery and I have had 3-month CT Scan's the entire two years. I had a scan this week, that was actually at the 4 month mark. I see my doc tomorrow, and have a feeling he is going to attempt to bump me to 6 month scans now.....but I will resist and stick with 4 months. I like being closely monitored.

[Justakid]

I'm not far enough out from treatment and surgery. I will say that my old doctor was only going to do a CAT Scan at one year.

My new doctor immediately ordered a PET Scan (which I had been begging my old doctor for since June) and I will have another PET Scan in 3mths. Don't know what type of scan I will have after that BUT I do feel better being watched so closely!

[cindi o'h]

chest, abdomen, pelvis spiral CT with contrast every three months...i am post two years now. Fine by me.

cindi o'h

[Nushka]

I started out with PET and CT and then surgery. After treatments, I was given another CT, Brain MRI and PET as "base line". Since then I have alternated CT's with Xrays. I did have a brain MRI in July and a PET/CT in October. Now I am scheduled for a chest xray in Jan. I will be two years from surgery in March 2005.

Nina

[MurielK]

I had a CT scan every 3 months since surgery, except during chemo.CT scan 4 following chemo showed a 5 mm. "something" to watch. 3 Mo. later it was 1.7 x1.3 squamous cell tumor - a new primary tumor! You just can't have those scans too often!

Muriel