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Pet scan

Forums General Melanoma Community Pet scan

  • Post
    akkcak
    Participant
      I had a pet scan this morning. The technician asked me as we were walking in if i had any metal and i said no. It dawned on me after i left that i had forgotten about the underwire in my bra. Is this going to cause a problem?
      I also had a mri of my brain last week that showed a 4 mm spot. This may be a stupid question, but how do they determine it is melanoma from just pictures(mri/pet)? Now the waiting game. Hoping it’s just because i’m super smart and my brain is growing.
      I’m currently in my 7th month of low dose interferon.

      Thanks!
      Amy

      I had a pet scan this morning. The technician asked me as we were walking in if i had any metal and i said no. It dawned on me after i left that i had forgotten about the underwire in my bra. Is this going to cause a problem?
      I also had a mri of my brain last week that showed a 4 mm spot. This may be a stupid question, but how do they determine it is melanoma from just pictures(mri/pet)? Now the waiting game. Hoping it’s just because i’m super smart and my brain is growing.
      I’m currently in my 7th month of low dose interferon.

      Thanks!
      Amy

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        awillett1991
        Participant
          I don’t think your choice of undergarment should affect a PET. More so with the MRI they don’t want any metal.

          They are making an educated guess that it’s melanoma in your brain based on your history and a comparison to any prior brain MRI. The good thing is they found it very early and there is only one spot. Melanoma loves to go to the brain unfortunately. Fortunately it can be easily zapped with SRS.

          Unfortunately though you are probably now stage 4 so time to start educating yourself and examining options for another therapy.

          awillett1991
          Participant
            I don’t think your choice of undergarment should affect a PET. More so with the MRI they don’t want any metal.

            They are making an educated guess that it’s melanoma in your brain based on your history and a comparison to any prior brain MRI. The good thing is they found it very early and there is only one spot. Melanoma loves to go to the brain unfortunately. Fortunately it can be easily zapped with SRS.

            Unfortunately though you are probably now stage 4 so time to start educating yourself and examining options for another therapy.

            awillett1991
            Participant
              I don’t think your choice of undergarment should affect a PET. More so with the MRI they don’t want any metal.

              They are making an educated guess that it’s melanoma in your brain based on your history and a comparison to any prior brain MRI. The good thing is they found it very early and there is only one spot. Melanoma loves to go to the brain unfortunately. Fortunately it can be easily zapped with SRS.

              Unfortunately though you are probably now stage 4 so time to start educating yourself and examining options for another therapy.

              JerryfromFauq
              Participant

                They always ask about the metal.  I told them last time that I had removed it all.  During the scan the tech came in and asked if I was sure I had removed it all because there was a shadow they saw on the scan.  She told me where and I patted my chest and said "OOPS, I forgot about my Bolo tie." It was under my undershirt.  They should have seen your underwire and followed up with you during the scan.  Send an email to your Onc telling him about the wires so he will know what to look for and think about the radiology report.  Get a copy of the disc and look at it yourself.  Should be interesting to look for the wire.

                A PET nor CT is not of much use in the case of brain tumors.  Usually for a single anomaly seen on a MRI they will take a follow up to check for change.  If you have a copy of the actual MRI report, it probably says something about an anomaly that is "consistant with a melanoma tumor, etc."  This is valid to indicate further followup is needed since in 40 to 50% of stage IV melanopma patients the melanoma does go to the brain.  An unchanginging anomaly by itself does not prove anything.

                Let us know what the followup says!

                 

                 

                JerryfromFauq
                Participant

                  They always ask about the metal.  I told them last time that I had removed it all.  During the scan the tech came in and asked if I was sure I had removed it all because there was a shadow they saw on the scan.  She told me where and I patted my chest and said "OOPS, I forgot about my Bolo tie." It was under my undershirt.  They should have seen your underwire and followed up with you during the scan.  Send an email to your Onc telling him about the wires so he will know what to look for and think about the radiology report.  Get a copy of the disc and look at it yourself.  Should be interesting to look for the wire.

                  A PET nor CT is not of much use in the case of brain tumors.  Usually for a single anomaly seen on a MRI they will take a follow up to check for change.  If you have a copy of the actual MRI report, it probably says something about an anomaly that is "consistant with a melanoma tumor, etc."  This is valid to indicate further followup is needed since in 40 to 50% of stage IV melanopma patients the melanoma does go to the brain.  An unchanginging anomaly by itself does not prove anything.

                  Let us know what the followup says!

                   

                   

                  JerryfromFauq
                  Participant

                    They always ask about the metal.  I told them last time that I had removed it all.  During the scan the tech came in and asked if I was sure I had removed it all because there was a shadow they saw on the scan.  She told me where and I patted my chest and said "OOPS, I forgot about my Bolo tie." It was under my undershirt.  They should have seen your underwire and followed up with you during the scan.  Send an email to your Onc telling him about the wires so he will know what to look for and think about the radiology report.  Get a copy of the disc and look at it yourself.  Should be interesting to look for the wire.

                    A PET nor CT is not of much use in the case of brain tumors.  Usually for a single anomaly seen on a MRI they will take a follow up to check for change.  If you have a copy of the actual MRI report, it probably says something about an anomaly that is "consistant with a melanoma tumor, etc."  This is valid to indicate further followup is needed since in 40 to 50% of stage IV melanopma patients the melanoma does go to the brain.  An unchanginging anomaly by itself does not prove anything.

                    Let us know what the followup says!

                     

                     

                    Ali
                    Participant

                      7 months!  Good work!  That is about when things got really hard for me on interferon.  Stay strong!

                      They can see changes in your previous MRI and PET scans to look for differences and growth (don't worry about the metal).  Have you talked to your dr. about the results?  Do they just want to wait till the next scans to see if it is growing?

                      Ali
                      Participant

                        7 months!  Good work!  That is about when things got really hard for me on interferon.  Stay strong!

                        They can see changes in your previous MRI and PET scans to look for differences and growth (don't worry about the metal).  Have you talked to your dr. about the results?  Do they just want to wait till the next scans to see if it is growing?

                        Ali
                        Participant

                          7 months!  Good work!  That is about when things got really hard for me on interferon.  Stay strong!

                          They can see changes in your previous MRI and PET scans to look for differences and growth (don't worry about the metal).  Have you talked to your dr. about the results?  Do they just want to wait till the next scans to see if it is growing?

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