Should I have had scans by now??
Should I have had scans by now?? Hi All
Hope everyone is having a good day today.
I’ve read a couple of other posts and I’m starting to get a bit concerned. I’m due second surgery to remove lymph nodes from my left armpit and another layer of boob tissue removed on 5 July. Bone, heart, liver and lung scans haven’t been mentioned to me. Does than mean based on the fact I feel fit and healthy at the moment and displaying no ther symptoms and based on my test results so far I’m in the clear?
Will they do these scans as a matter of course after the second surgery/before they decide what chemo they are going to do and what’s actually involved with the scans?
Er was feeling quite positive and in control of things up until reading some other posts about scans, now starting to think hmm what’s going on?
I am compiling a chemo survival kit based on what I have learnt from all of you undergoing treatment, I am very grateful for you all sharing your experiences on this forum as it will help me enormously.
Keep the faith and may the force be with you all
GS
Hi GS
Not every health authority does them as a matter of course you have to ask and when I did I was told that they were not nescessary as you say based on what they find when they remove the offending cancer they base other tests on that…
Hope this helps. but sk your dr or onc if you are worried
Lucy
XX
Hello GS,
When I have asked onc/chemo nurses and bcns, they have all told me it’s pointless doing any scans as just routine.
They reckon that even if there was something there it would be so tiny it would’nt show up on any scans that you might have.
Scans are usually only done if you have symptons else where in your body.
Pretty scary eh?
Almost wish I could get scanned every other week but it ain’t gonna happen!
Best Wishes
Linda xx
An oncologist friend told me that cancer cells are too tiny to be picked up on a scan. I was told they only do them if they think there is a chance it has spread to another part of the body.
Hi GS
I’m in exactly the same position as you - initial lumpectomy and sentinal lymph node biopsy and then needed a re-excision and axillary clearance due to unclear margin and node involvement. No one has mentioned scans to me, but I am with a great unit with excellent results and feel I am getting best care/treatment possible. Hope you find this reassuring.
Sunny x
Hi GS
I had large lump and loads of nodes involved and I haven’t had any scans.
When I requested scans after my path report was read to me, like above post I was told run away cells would not be picked up, they at least have to have had time to multiply to the size of your small finger nail and therefore would just give false hope. I have had regular Onc appt’s due to 8 chemos and 18 herceptin’s and she nearly always gives me a good check all over (arm pit, neck, collar bone and even my liver gets a good old poke) plus my bloods have remained stable.
I too was worried at first especially after reading some of the posts on this forum and thought it was to do with cuts etc in my health auth, but I have trust in my Onc (she got me taxotere and herceptin before they were officially licensed via NICE for primary) she has made no secret in my high risk of recurrance but insists that treatment is by far better than scans unless I start getting niggles or symptons and I have been told that I can just turn up at her clinic if I feel the need.
Personally for me now I dont want any more treatments or tests I just want some time to myself to try and get back some of the old me, I have just finished 17 months of treatment, every 3 weeks back and forth to the chemo suite, I really don’t think I could face the worry of further tests and waiting for the results. I feel that I need to put some faith in all that treatment and am now looking forward to my recon.
Good Luck
Debbie X
Hi Ginger S
You should get an ECG prior to starting chemo to make sure your heart is fit enough to take it. I got mine on the morning of my first chemo cycle. I also got a chest X ray which, if I remember correctly, was also related to fitness for chemo.
Any other scans I had were for specific reasons rather than simply ‘looking for mets’.
I had 3 MRI scans to monitor the size of my tumour as I was doing chemo to shrink my lump in preparation for surgery. The first MRI showed up two suspicous areas on my liver so they ordered a liver scan.(Fortunately they turned out to be just cysts.) I’ve never had a bone scan.
The others are right in that most doctors these days won’t do scans unless they are necessary as they are simply too distressing and not terribly accurate.
Unfortunately the only way to know if the cancer has spread is to wait and see if we develop symptoms. Horrible as that may sound I still prefer that to the stress of being scanned and waiting for results.
Good luck with your surgery and chemo.
Love
Lola x
bloods and scans hi Gingersmurf
as the others say scans are not very accurate and will only locate already developed tumours. Each time you have chemo you should have blood tests done. These will check your cell counts and platlets (clotting) in addition you will have tests for kidney, liver and bone chemistry - these are very accurate and will usually alert the oncologist to any problems long before a scan will.
I remember have the same concern as you re: scans.
RE: chemo survival - my daughter bought me some ice-lolly moulds. Great for sore/dry mouths and you make a flavour to suit your taste buds at the moment. I have had lots of fun creating different flavours. Think you would enjoy them.
Love Swanie.
Thanks girls/ice lolly moulds Hi All
Thanks for responding to my question I’ll stop jumping to conclusions and wait and see what 2nd op results bring back.
In the mean time I’m off to get ice lolly moulds thanks to Swanie for excellent suggestion…but when you say get different flavours are you allowed alcohol as tequila sunrise flavour would be very appealing he he
Thanks again
GS