GENERAL CONSENSUS FOR SCAN SCHEDULE

Hey Brian,

I believe that the PET scan would show up almost anything, including the brain.

Hey Brian,

I believe that the PET scan would show up almost anything, including the brain.

Hey Brian,

I believe that the PET scan would show up almost anything, including the brain.

Consensus?  I've been here for over 10 years and the one thing I've learned regarding scans, there isn't any consensus.  Many won't do any scans at all while on Interferon.  I seen some notes that Interferon could produce more false positives.  (I have no reference for this at my fingertips, however).  Many don't do any scans at all for stage III unless there are symptoms.  (This also applies to stage IV at many places). Scans are expensive and big business and some insurance companies won't pay for periodic scans either without symptoms.   It might also help if you would specify you exact staging.  Stage IIIC might have scans where stage IIIA might not.  I will say that I don't think brain MRI's are common scans for stage III without symptoms – the PET/CT is certainly the standard.  You'll find the whole gamut on scan frequency here.  Studies have indicated that scans don't improve overall survival which is why many institutions don't regularly scan. 

Good luck in finding what works for you.

Janner

Consensus?  I've been here for over 10 years and the one thing I've learned regarding scans, there isn't any consensus.  Many won't do any scans at all while on Interferon.  I seen some notes that Interferon could produce more false positives.  (I have no reference for this at my fingertips, however).  Many don't do any scans at all for stage III unless there are symptoms.  (This also applies to stage IV at many places). Scans are expensive and big business and some insurance companies won't pay for periodic scans either without symptoms.   It might also help if you would specify you exact staging.  Stage IIIC might have scans where stage IIIA might not.  I will say that I don't think brain MRI's are common scans for stage III without symptoms – the PET/CT is certainly the standard.  You'll find the whole gamut on scan frequency here.  Studies have indicated that scans don't improve overall survival which is why many institutions don't regularly scan. 

Good luck in finding what works for you.

Janner

Consensus?  I've been here for over 10 years and the one thing I've learned regarding scans, there isn't any consensus.  Many won't do any scans at all while on Interferon.  I seen some notes that Interferon could produce more false positives.  (I have no reference for this at my fingertips, however).  Many don't do any scans at all for stage III unless there are symptoms.  (This also applies to stage IV at many places). Scans are expensive and big business and some insurance companies won't pay for periodic scans either without symptoms.   It might also help if you would specify you exact staging.  Stage IIIC might have scans where stage IIIA might not.  I will say that I don't think brain MRI's are common scans for stage III without symptoms – the PET/CT is certainly the standard.  You'll find the whole gamut on scan frequency here.  Studies have indicated that scans don't improve overall survival which is why many institutions don't regularly scan. 

Good luck in finding what works for you.

Janner

I have PET scans every six months. I had head CT's with the last two (my last scan was today). I am stage four and am am NED since 04/10 and hope that tomorrow I will find out that I am still NED when I meat with the Melanoma Clinic in Grand Rapids, MI for the first time. I will post their recommendations for further scans.

I have PET scans every six months. I had head CT's with the last two (my last scan was today). I am stage four and am am NED since 04/10 and hope that tomorrow I will find out that I am still NED when I meat with the Melanoma Clinic in Grand Rapids, MI for the first time. I will post their recommendations for further scans.

I have PET scans every six months. I had head CT's with the last two (my last scan was today). I am stage four and am am NED since 04/10 and hope that tomorrow I will find out that I am still NED when I meat with the Melanoma Clinic in Grand Rapids, MI for the first time. I will post their recommendations for further scans.

Brian, PET scans and CT scans do not by themselves say cancer.  They show locations of high glucose high concentrationsn for furhter examination..  Guess what the brian will show in all PET/CT scans?  MRI's are much more definitive for the brain.  I have been stage IV since Feb 2007.  My first and last brain MRI for Oncology purposes was in early 2007.  If I were to push for one, my Oncologist would so request.  He has seen no symptions that makes either of us feel a need.  If I had headaches or other brain related type problems he would be glad to check.  (Glad it's his definition of symptoms, not my kids!)   Due to a horse accident there was one brain MRI done by the Denver Neuological Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Aug 2010 which showed intensive trauma to my head/brain and many broken facial/head bones as well as damage to my body, but nothing to make them look hard for brain tumors.  They did see my many lung tumors on the accompaning CT's. 

   PET scans are used more to highlite locations for further examonation.  They are also  famous for having fase positives and false negatives.  (Yes, I knkow my knee was mangled in a car wreck in 1980, but I don't think the Oncologist needs to do extensive followup on that knee for melanoma in 2007.  I also know of the many other injuries that the PET report told the Oncologist to follow closely. (Even on my dental work!)   PET scans expose one to higher radiation dosages than  CT's and are less definitive of changes with time.

    Even with stable tumors I now get Ct's every 6 months.   Dependig on what was going on I have received CT's at monthly, every two months, every three months and ever 6 months.

   By only asking for a PET scn now I would think that your Oncologist is not really expecting to find tumors, but is playing it safe to see if any new locations light up for further examination.

Brian, PET scans and CT scans do not by themselves say cancer.  They show locations of high glucose high concentrationsn for furhter examination..  Guess what the brian will show in all PET/CT scans?  MRI's are much more definitive for the brain.  I have been stage IV since Feb 2007.  My first and last brain MRI for Oncology purposes was in early 2007.  If I were to push for one, my Oncologist would so request.  He has seen no symptions that makes either of us feel a need.  If I had headaches or other brain related type problems he would be glad to check.  (Glad it's his definition of symptoms, not my kids!)   Due to a horse accident there was one brain MRI done by the Denver Neuological Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Aug 2010 which showed intensive trauma to my head/brain and many broken facial/head bones as well as damage to my body, but nothing to make them look hard for brain tumors.  They did see my many lung tumors on the accompaning CT's. 

   PET scans are used more to highlite locations for further examonation.  They are also  famous for having fase positives and false negatives.  (Yes, I knkow my knee was mangled in a car wreck in 1980, but I don't think the Oncologist needs to do extensive followup on that knee for melanoma in 2007.  I also know of the many other injuries that the PET report told the Oncologist to follow closely. (Even on my dental work!)   PET scans expose one to higher radiation dosages than  CT's and are less definitive of changes with time.

    Even with stable tumors I now get Ct's every 6 months.   Dependig on what was going on I have received CT's at monthly, every two months, every three months and ever 6 months.

   By only asking for a PET scn now I would think that your Oncologist is not really expecting to find tumors, but is playing it safe to see if any new locations light up for further examination.

Brian, PET scans and CT scans do not by themselves say cancer.  They show locations of high glucose high concentrationsn for furhter examination..  Guess what the brian will show in all PET/CT scans?  MRI's are much more definitive for the brain.  I have been stage IV since Feb 2007.  My first and last brain MRI for Oncology purposes was in early 2007.  If I were to push for one, my Oncologist would so request.  He has seen no symptions that makes either of us feel a need.  If I had headaches or other brain related type problems he would be glad to check.  (Glad it's his definition of symptoms, not my kids!)   Due to a horse accident there was one brain MRI done by the Denver Neuological Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Aug 2010 which showed intensive trauma to my head/brain and many broken facial/head bones as well as damage to my body, but nothing to make them look hard for brain tumors.  They did see my many lung tumors on the accompaning CT's. 

   PET scans are used more to highlite locations for further examonation.  They are also  famous for having fase positives and false negatives.  (Yes, I knkow my knee was mangled in a car wreck in 1980, but I don't think the Oncologist needs to do extensive followup on that knee for melanoma in 2007.  I also know of the many other injuries that the PET report told the Oncologist to follow closely. (Even on my dental work!)   PET scans expose one to higher radiation dosages than  CT's and are less definitive of changes with time.

    Even with stable tumors I now get Ct's every 6 months.   Dependig on what was going on I have received CT's at monthly, every two months, every three months and ever 6 months.

   By only asking for a PET scn now I would think that your Oncologist is not really expecting to find tumors, but is playing it safe to see if any new locations light up for further examination.

I am stage III and 6 months after interferon treatments.  I did not have any scans while on the interferon.  My scans worked like this.  I had a MRI and CT scan in the beginning before any treatments.  1 month after finishing Interferon I had a CT scan.  3 months later I had my 1st PET scan.  I am now on CT scans every 3 months.  My next one is scheduled for next month.  April.  They will not do another MRI of brain unless I have symptems.  Thats how my scan schedule works so far.  Good luck and God Bless!!

I am stage III and 6 months after interferon treatments.  I did not have any scans while on the interferon.  My scans worked like this.  I had a MRI and CT scan in the beginning before any treatments.  1 month after finishing Interferon I had a CT scan.  3 months later I had my 1st PET scan.  I am now on CT scans every 3 months.  My next one is scheduled for next month.  April.  They will not do another MRI of brain unless I have symptems.  Thats how my scan schedule works so far.  Good luck and God Bless!!

I am stage III and 6 months after interferon treatments.  I did not have any scans while on the interferon.  My scans worked like this.  I had a MRI and CT scan in the beginning before any treatments.  1 month after finishing Interferon I had a CT scan.  3 months later I had my 1st PET scan.  I am now on CT scans every 3 months.  My next one is scheduled for next month.  April.  They will not do another MRI of brain unless I have symptems.  Thats how my scan schedule works so far.  Good luck and God Bless!!