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Does a PET scan do your head as well?


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Hey, everyone - Dave posted something in GENERAL last night, he's getting a bone scan today of his head because he has severe head bonking disease (see General post for explanation). He had a PET scan about a month ago and we were told it was ALL CLEAR. But he's not sure if that PET scan covered his noggin' or not. We could call his oncologist's office and ask but that place is a madhouse. Of course, we could do what we're doing anyway, and that is just wait for the results of today's bone scan. but I'm wondering if a PET scan generally scans your head, too. I know this is a really general question but thought I'd throw it out there in case someone knows.

Thanks,

Karen C.

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thanks, Margaret. Geez, sure wish the oncologist had ordered one when he got the PET scan done. (our primary care doc ordered the brain bone scan thing). I'm wondering if the oncologist just assumed he didn't need one because he had the PCI last September and the brain scan he had before that was clear. oh well, guess we'll wait to find out.

You are right, Jamie - find out alot more stuff here than at the oncologist's office!

Thanks,

Karen C.

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From what I understand, PET Scan's work in picking up glucose activity in cancer cells -- and there is apparently a lot of glucose activity in our brains, naturally so a PET would not be a very effective tool. A Brain MRI is apparently the way to go!

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Good question Karen. I am going to expand it a little further if you don't mind.

Of all the tests we go through with lung cancer, do we need seperate test for things like prostate, colon and others. For you ladies, breast and female cancer. If we are told NED does that mean "lung only" or does that include all types.

Again good question. Now I hope I did not create a mad rush if someones tummy growles. We already know what it is like to hear the least little thing that doesn't sound normal. My wife called my pulm dr one night cause I had a fever and coughing. He was not on call but his on call doctor said "well a person with one lung can catch a cold too." Point here is here don't start panick and say "oh I need this done or that done.

I will try to ask my onc this but don't see him for 4 more months so if anyone knows the answer , please post it. :):):)

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PET scans can be used to find brain metastasis.

I am not sure though if they have to do something special as far as setting up the scanner

http://tjsamson.client.web-health.com/w ... _SxDx.html

This article says a PET scan found a brain met that a CT scan missed

http://www.ctclconsult.com/Clinical%20O ... 12000d.htm

http://www.aiclancaster.com/p_pet.htm

http://journals.ons.org/xp6/ONS/Library ... ix.xml#pos

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I never had a PET scan &don't know the answer,however to answer Bruces question I was told that some areas require different dyes etc for them to lite up or show.Prostate still largely monitored by bloodwork(PSA) and is highly recomended as early detection has very high sucess stats.

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