PSMA pet scan as SOC in US??

[Chugach]

I had heard from a Rad Onc that the PSMA Pet scan was within a few months of being approved as SOC in the US. That was several months ago.

Does anyone have update or information on this?

[Tall_Allen]

Not approved yet.

[tango65]

It has not been approved yet. I heard that UCLA and UCSF are involved in the process of getting the approval. Even when approved I do not know if it will be the SOC. All the data to treat PC are based on bone and CT scans.

[noahware]

Curious... SOC at what level of diagnosis or disease progression? Because unless it has gotten a lot cheaper in the US, insurers won't want to pay for it. (A few years ago I think even after the cost of travel, it would have been cheaper to fly to Australia to get one.)

If it was SOC I feel like I could have skipped biopsy, bone scan, MRI and CT and gone directly to PET. Is that completely unrealistic?

[addicted2cycling in reply to noahware]

noahware wrote--- " ... SOC at what level of diagnosis or disease progression?........ "

Excellent question with PARAMETERS that with can be EASILY SET from the results that have been seen.

noahware wrote--- " ... Is that completely unrealistic? "

Apparently the answer is YES since the walls preventing SOC access remain too high to overcome.

[Max135]

Chugach

seems SOC does not apply at some of the major cancer centers. over the past two years I have had three PET scans at MDA in Houston all paid by my insurance company. recently in my home town I have tried once and turned down by BCBS appealed once and turned down for a PET scan. seems no one understands that at later stages in the disease better scans helps guide treatment choices and can in fact save the bloody insurance companies a tone of money plus not waste a dang 3rd of my life on treatments that will not work. go figure - a call to action - if everyone here writes letter after letter to our insurance companies requesting and demanding coverage maybe that will help!

Max

[Chugach in reply to Max135]

Was it a PSMA PET scan in Houston? I thought they were only available at UCLA and Ann Arbor MI.

[Max135 in reply to Chugach]

Chugach

sorry the PMSA PET was not for me at MDA.... they offer a PET scan but not PMSA.

Max

[Max135]

thanks for the reply Nalakrats,

after the post I realized such an effort would be without results. time to schedule a trip to Houston or just get the bloody CT scan local as my MO wants here in Phoenix. the CT seems like such a wasted effort.......

Max

[garyi]

Hey Chugach....please tell us who told you this, and what, if any, details they supplied.

[Max135]

many thanks will send him a note!

Max