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Dr. only scanning every 6 months.

Starlightsquad
0 Recommendations

Hi - so I had my surgery in Feb 09, went for my 1st 3 month check up, where I had the CAT scan and blood work up. Said I didn't need to come back for 3 months. So, the office calls to let me know my appt. date and time, and let me know that the Dr. is not requiring a CAT scan....nurse said he only wants a blood work up and CAT scans every 6 months.

Is this normal? I thought everyone was getting scans every 3 months? Should I be asking more questions on this?

Nervous, glad, hesitant, all kinds of mixed emotions. I should be happy I am not getting poked and prodded as much.

GOD BLESS - Love Janet

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Cancer Surgery Pain

23 replies

cuddles53

I got them every 3 months and now I am at every 6 months. Ask why??
god bless Sandy

Dana

Janet - please do ask why!!

My "confirmation scan" was 5 or 6 months after my surgery. It was a success, so then I did:
a scan every 3 months for the first 2 years;
a scan every 4 months for the third year;
a scan every 6 months now that I'm in my 4th year.
At year 5, I will go to once a year scans.

That schedule makes a lot of sense to me. Ask your doctor to explain the logic behind his thought process and scan schedules.

I'm sure you are thankful you are not being poked and prodded . . . but be a tad "pushy" . . . . they should poke you every once and a while just to be sure you are okay.

I'll be thinking of you. Just in case you haven't read my story - read my profile. Being "too laid back" and "not asking questions that loomed in my head" literally put me weeks or a month or two away from my death.

It's your health. It's your life! Ask every imaginable question!!

My heart is with you,
Dana

brooklynda

Janet: My schedule was/is - up to recovery in year 2 = CT scan every 3 months - (it was explained to me that if the cancer came back this time span is the most crucial). Recovery years 2 through 4 = CT scans alternated with x-rays - (it was explained to me that the reason they were "alterated" was concern over radiation). Recovery 5 years and up = CT scans every year. I understand that the thinking may be changing in this regard. Seems to me I saw something fairly recently that additional research has determined that there is no real benefit in checking that often. My first thought was who was the "research team" funded by? The insurance companies? I would check and see what my onc had to say and if I did not feel comfortable with the schedule as outlined I would ask that it be revised. If you are uncomfortable, don't let it go. Wishing you all the best. Blessing! Booklynda

Munker

Not sure what type of cancer and stage you had but mine was BAC and I go every six months for scans and every 3 months to oncologist.

Granny888

This is something relatively new. The doctor didn't do scans, I said we'd talk about it further and I had scans before we talked about it ....

Current study apparently showed that scans don't improve survivability. Some doctors don't like spending the money on scans, some believe the bottom line I guess, most will do what you want (if you don't have a doctor who listens to you you are in trouble!). You need to TALK to your doctor.

We talked about it and said I'd decide within a few months, I had them anyway because I was seeing my second opinion guy -- this was at 4 months.

The thought it they might find it early but they won't cure it early -- something like that -- with all the research they could be doing they focus on the 'eh? Lung and colon cancers. So it doesn't improve survivability according to one or two studies and yet these were done partly because we are surviving longer.

Why? A lot of it is simply interpretation by your doctor. Your doctor, who listens to YOU. Talk to him/her about it, they could be on the fence or they could just disagree with you, either way if you want your scans you get them or get a new doctor (easier said than done).

drawing3d

I recently REQUESTED PET/CTs every 6 months and I am less than 2 years post treatment.
Each CT is the equivalent of 400 x-rays. I do not want the extra radiation. You should ask your doctor why as everyone's situation is different and this disease is not "one size fits all"
God bless,
Ellen

jsergeant81

Yeah, should be 3 months. People make mistakes. Be your own advocate! Call and ask to speak with your physician.

monter

I have a PET scan every 4 months, no CT scans.
Sylvia

chessie-too

I'm 2 1/2 years out and still go every 3 months for scans and bloodwork. When my onc suggested we change to 6 months, I told him I don't think so and he agreed to keep it at 3. If something's going on, I want to know in time to fix it.

penny53

Hi
My onc told me after surgery that with the biopsy's after surgery there was no viable cancer cells alive. I was stage 3. That when I had cancer it showed up in my blood work right away so he said that I didn't have to come back for 6 months. I said no but was okay without scans. We had done some xrays. Because of the pain I was still in 8 months out we did a MRI and bone scan. Both reveled no sign of cancer. I had a PET just a month ago and I'm 15 months out. My onc stongly feels that I beat it. My pulanary and primary aren't so sure. So I see a doc about every 3 months but not always with tests. I'm okay with that, I love my onc and agree with him finally, I think I beat it. Good luck and do what your comfortable with Penny

Starlightsquad

Hi,

Thanks to everyone!!! The pathology after surgery said the tumor was low grade. I had chemo before surgery on a clinical trial. My checkup right after surgery with the oncologist - he said that everyone was surprised at the pathology report - a good surprise. But even then he said every 3 months for a checkup - (hmmmm? guess he never really said scan...)

Then at my 3 month follow up - when they tried to get the contrast IV in - my veins collapsed not once - but 4 times. My arms ached for a week - they finally got it in - in a painful area for the contrast - then pulled it as soon as they could.

I was wondering if the veins blowing out is the reason? Anyone else have veins that roll and blow after chemo?

GOD BLESS
Janet

hanmarmax

Dear Janet:

Hi, there girl!!! I was getting ct scans every 2/3 months(until 18 months out of diagnosis and surgery) and this last time we decided to go 6 months and agreed that if I was feeling antsy or worried that we could do one in between that time. Knowing me, what's the chance that I'm not going to bother him during that time really :-))My onc.(I really like him, but don't necessarily take his word as the final word on everything) originally gave me some crap about scans aren't necessary there's blood tests and physical exams. I looked at him like he had grown 2 heads and said by that time you can feel it, I'm a goner. Then he went to the let's have it every 2 months and if we find it you can have RFA(radiofreq. ablation). I'm not so worried about the radiation. Feel like if there's a problem w/the radiation from the scans that it will take many years for that to show up. I was told it is like having 1000 xrays each time you have a ct scan.

So you know what if you want it every 3 months then ask for it. I think they really worry about the first 2 years and then the chances of it coming back are much lower.(Sure hope so.)

Plus everytime we have a cough or an ache or pain we're sure it has come back so I think peace of mind is worth a lot more than a needle poke and some radiation.

ALSO, EVERYBODY on this board should read DANA's profile and ALWAYS get a 2nd opinion. If that's not scary, I don't know what is.

xoLisa

lisalulu

I go every 3 months for blood wk and 3 months for ct scan so the 1st year I had scans every 4 months though..and ct scans for 2 years, every 3 to 4 months.. as far as the viens the do blow out alot since chemo.. but they get better, lol I think mine are still scarey..
it gets better,, pray, pray pray..
my scan is next month and already freaking out..
scanxiety.. they can do a scan without out contract though ask every 3-4 months not 6 though..
Love ya ..
Lisa

Starlightsquad

Hi You guys - LuluLisa and Hans -

Gotta tell you - just thinking about going to talk to another doctor makes my stomach upset....I have the lower half exam on the 30th and 1st. I will go up a floor and talk to my onc. when I am there.

I am planning our family trip to Cali - what month is good for the two of you? How close do you two live in California? Maybe we should have a "Survivor's Day Out!" All the hubbys take the kids together somewhere for Dad and kids bonding time and us 3 go somewhere relaxing....Then we can all meet back up and give the Dad's some time to go and get to know each other. hahahaha. I don't know about your husbands - but mine is not a chatty one.

ANYONE ELSE ON THIS BOARD live in Cali? We should make a central meeting place and time and get together...can you imagine the positive energy all in one place????

Love you -
GOD Bless
Janet

Bette_Tx

I did CTscans every 3 months for 2 1/2 yrs. Last one was in January of this year, after which my oncologist said I could go 6 months which will be next month.

Bette

Bette_Tx

PS: Janet .. what was the stage of your cancer? Maybe if it is an Stage 1A, they only do ctscans every 6 months after the first one. I was a Stage 1B.

Did you have chemo treatments after your surgery?

Bette

Starlightsquad

Hi -

My stage was a 1B. I was on a clinical trial with Alimta and only had chemo for 3 rounds before the surgery.

GOD Bless
Janet

D1

Every doctor has his own plan, and you have to trust your doctor. That being said, at NYU cancer center, the protocal is to do CT scans (not Pet scans) every 3 mos. for the first 2 yrs.; then, after 2 yrs., they shift the patient to CTs every 6 mos. Along the way, if there was some kind of false positive or questionable result, they ran extra tests, like a Pet. Anyway, it's much more comforting to have the CTs every 6 mos. You can get back to living and feeling like your well as opposed to always having a scan omnipresent. We were told that most (not all) lung cancers recur in the first 2 yrs. and that is why they initially scan so diligently. Still, if you like your doctor, I would trust him. Just make sure the decisions are coming from him, not from some nurse or asst. in his ofc.

Granny888

I support talking to your doctor, heart to heart, way before you give up. Most doctors, believe it or not, are human although some are gung-ho in their routine. Going 'indefinitely' without chemo just because there were no obvious symptoms was not OK with me, no matter what the research shows, I just want to allow that some doctors take this new research differently than others will. It is out there. I think it's way too new to draw any conclusions from, personally I think I'd support something inbetween but I'm glad to have found the adrenal/liver in 4 months not when it was too late.

A lot to process -- and we have to make decisions too? Egads.

lisalulu

Hello, I am in Sacramento, I think you have to drive through here from hwy 5 from washington..so we must meet-
my husband isnt good at talking with people he doesnt know- but you can stop be here any time and we will make them talk..lol..
my kids like kids.. I would not get a second opinion -I know you love your doctors as I do.. but tell them nicley you think they have made a mistake, and every 3 months is the standard protocal.. ask your suergon and oncologist.. and your PC if you dont get anywhere with the other 2 ...as it works that--they usually work it so each one makes a apt way with each doctor, maybe for insurance.. so tell each one to schedule the 3 mo scan, (oncologist)3 mo.xray (suregon). but tell them what you want its our lives...
anyway when are you crusing down to La ? cali right.
we will meet.. bring me a minature pony..lol

xo Me

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