The waiting begins……

hoping and wishing you get good news !

hoping and wishing you get good news !

hoping and wishing you get good news !

I walk out of radiology with a copy of my scans on disk.  Love UVA.

I walk out of radiology with a copy of my scans on disk.  Love UVA.

I walk out of radiology with a copy of my scans on disk.  Love UVA.

We also get copies of the disk when we leave the Hopkins lab where the tests are done – but not a report. And no, the technician won't tell us what s/he sees. It is indeed above their pay grade …

I think one reason is that when the studies are read, they are compared with previous ones to see what's changed – as that is the most important thing. We all have "spots" throughout our body, but whether they are anything to worry about is the question. It takes time and careful study for them to come with a "no evidence of disease" report – or one that says lesions have grown or shrunk, or weren't seen before. 

But patience is very hard … and I am already anxious, on August 1, about scans that will be done on August 20. It will be an unsettled month for us.

Good luck, Isabell – hope you get the report you want!

~Hazel

I don't have melanoma, but I have Cushing's disease (tumors on the pituitary gland).  I always leave with digital copies of my scans (CT, MRI, etc).  If you tell the technician ahead of the test and sign a release of medical records waiver, they should have no problem giving them to you on the spot.  I much prefer that as I can review the scans and am more prepared to ask the doctor questions.

Happy Dance!  That is wonderful news.  I know you are frustrated in not knowing why, but hopefully you can be content with the fact that, as of right this minute, all is well!

Isabell, so glad your scans are clear!!! That means you can concentrate on something else for a while – living life, and maybe figuring out the stroke thing …

Just so happy for you.

~Hazel

Before even the Radiologist has seen the scan!  Univ of Va schedules the scan for approximately two hours before your Onc apt so that the Pathologist can get a chance for an initial review immediately and put it on line, he provides a final review by the next day.  My Oncologist looks at the pathology initial report and at least one previous scan and the current scan himself before he sees me.  Sometimes I look at the scan before seeing the Onc, most times not, since my wife usually wants us to eat between the scan and office visit.  (Depends if I have a strong Suspicion of anything.)  They mail me the final pathalogical report a couple of days later.  Sure keeps the waiting anxiety down!

We also get copies of the disk when we leave the Hopkins lab where the tests are done – but not a report. And no, the technician won't tell us what s/he sees. It is indeed above their pay grade …

I think one reason is that when the studies are read, they are compared with previous ones to see what's changed – as that is the most important thing. We all have "spots" throughout our body, but whether they are anything to worry about is the question. It takes time and careful study for them to come with a "no evidence of disease" report – or one that says lesions have grown or shrunk, or weren't seen before. 

But patience is very hard … and I am already anxious, on August 1, about scans that will be done on August 20. It will be an unsettled month for us.

Good luck, Isabell – hope you get the report you want!

~Hazel

We also get copies of the disk when we leave the Hopkins lab where the tests are done – but not a report. And no, the technician won't tell us what s/he sees. It is indeed above their pay grade …

I think one reason is that when the studies are read, they are compared with previous ones to see what's changed – as that is the most important thing. We all have "spots" throughout our body, but whether they are anything to worry about is the question. It takes time and careful study for them to come with a "no evidence of disease" report – or one that says lesions have grown or shrunk, or weren't seen before. 

But patience is very hard … and I am already anxious, on August 1, about scans that will be done on August 20. It will be an unsettled month for us.

Good luck, Isabell – hope you get the report you want!

~Hazel

I don't have melanoma, but I have Cushing's disease (tumors on the pituitary gland).  I always leave with digital copies of my scans (CT, MRI, etc).  If you tell the technician ahead of the test and sign a release of medical records waiver, they should have no problem giving them to you on the spot.  I much prefer that as I can review the scans and am more prepared to ask the doctor questions.

I don't have melanoma, but I have Cushing's disease (tumors on the pituitary gland).  I always leave with digital copies of my scans (CT, MRI, etc).  If you tell the technician ahead of the test and sign a release of medical records waiver, they should have no problem giving them to you on the spot.  I much prefer that as I can review the scans and am more prepared to ask the doctor questions.

Happy Dance!  That is wonderful news.  I know you are frustrated in not knowing why, but hopefully you can be content with the fact that, as of right this minute, all is well!

Happy Dance!  That is wonderful news.  I know you are frustrated in not knowing why, but hopefully you can be content with the fact that, as of right this minute, all is well!

Isabell, so glad your scans are clear!!! That means you can concentrate on something else for a while – living life, and maybe figuring out the stroke thing …

Just so happy for you.

~Hazel

Isabell, so glad your scans are clear!!! That means you can concentrate on something else for a while – living life, and maybe figuring out the stroke thing …

Just so happy for you.

~Hazel

Before even the Radiologist has seen the scan!  Univ of Va schedules the scan for approximately two hours before your Onc apt so that the Pathologist can get a chance for an initial review immediately and put it on line, he provides a final review by the next day.  My Oncologist looks at the pathology initial report and at least one previous scan and the current scan himself before he sees me.  Sometimes I look at the scan before seeing the Onc, most times not, since my wife usually wants us to eat between the scan and office visit.  (Depends if I have a strong Suspicion of anything.)  They mail me the final pathalogical report a couple of days later.  Sure keeps the waiting anxiety down!

Before even the Radiologist has seen the scan!  Univ of Va schedules the scan for approximately two hours before your Onc apt so that the Pathologist can get a chance for an initial review immediately and put it on line, he provides a final review by the next day.  My Oncologist looks at the pathology initial report and at least one previous scan and the current scan himself before he sees me.  Sometimes I look at the scan before seeing the Onc, most times not, since my wife usually wants us to eat between the scan and office visit.  (Depends if I have a strong Suspicion of anything.)  They mail me the final pathalogical report a couple of days later.  Sure keeps the waiting anxiety down!