Pet SCAN

[Wishing1969]

My ct scan shows changes from my last, they found nodule on my last, had a phone call stating they will be booking me in for a pet scan, try not to worry she said and goodbye. No good news comes from this

[skischool]

Wishing,the last thing you really want to hear from somebody in the medical profession is try not to worry,so being a none medical person i can afford to say it, most nodules turn out to be benign and often completely disappear over time and i imagine in this case they are just being ultra cautious and the pet scan will give them a better idea as to the nature of the nodule and how to proceed with the management of your condition.

Best wishes of the worry free kind.

Ski's and Scruff's x

[Wishing1969 in reply to skischool]

I was worrying over ct scan, but to now need pet scan, that's more serious isn't it?

[skischool in reply to Wishing1969]

Not necessarily more serious but very much worthwhile to determine the nature of the nodule and rule out anything that needs more urgent attention.so i think your consultant just wants more confirmation of its nature?

[Wishing1969 in reply to skischool]

Thanks x

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

1,000's of people have lung nodules without even knowing they have them. As Skis has pointed out the vast amount are benign, some can grow quite large and still be benign. They are usually the result of damage caused by infections. A CT Scan whilst it shows more than an X-Ray can, a CT Scan cannot distinguish the difference between benign or malignant. I have a dozen of the things, one grew to 27 mm before it stopped growing, it is benign and still there today. A PET Scan though can tell the difference.

I have had 3 PET Scans, there is nothing to worry about other than it can take up to about an hour, most of that is spent as resting time, waiting for an injection to be taken up by your body first, the scan itself takes around 20 mins.

If you have a solitary nodule then this risk calculator may help calm your fears:

reference.medscape.com/calc...

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

When they first found it, it was 1.5 cm, they haven't told me what changes, if its bigger etc, just a significant change

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

What I can tell you, from personal experience, is that if it is malignant then it has been found early and there is an excellent prospect that they will be able to cure you. There really is no need to worry.

[Viamar204B in reply to skischool]

My friend has nodules on lungs and they scan regularly to check no changes in size. She has had them for years, just benign and cause no trouble.

[Oshgosh]

I just hate it when they ring you and tell you not to worry.

[Shazrab]

Hi wishing I was told after many different kind of scans I had 2 nodules that was the end of it the consultant didn’t ever discuss them with me properly. I worried for a while and even put up a post Reg it . The only thing iv now been told by my GP is probably caused by constant bad infection and if it were anything to worry about they would have investigated sooner and it all seems fine so I don’t worry about them but sometimes scared they’ve missed something by not investigating more . It’s terrible they’ve left you in the dark like this whoever called you could have explained what they were doing it for and what are these changes. I’m not going to say don’t worry as I would be worried sick but as others has pointed out it’s a better scan to look at nodules so at least your constant is covering everything. Do you have an appointment date of when youv to go back , do you have any pain related to them ? I’m sorry I don’t know much at all about your lung illnesses but iv read of many people talking about them . I’m a person who would worry about the least wee thing I hope you’re not like me. I wish you the very best of luck for your scan and hope all is well with it . Please let us know how you get on take care try and relax 🌹🌹🙏

[Wishing1969]

I have no follow up appointment yet, still waiting for call to go for pet scan.

Have you had pet scan, I'm worried because of the need for a more in depth scan.

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

The results from my PET Scans only took a week to come through. They were performed via a private company, Allied Medical, situated on the hospital site. It used to be in some mobile units, but now they have their own dedicated building. Please don't worry, it does not help, as I said if (a big if) the nodule has become malignant, then it has been caught early with very good prospects.

I have been through all of this 3 times. Yes I did develop one cancerous tumour 18 months ago, but out of a dozen nodules. I have had radiotherapy and all is good. It has shrunk and the Oncologist is pleased and said he thinks I have been cured. Obviously, I am still here alive and kicking.

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

Allied medical is who rang me yesterday, glad all is going well for you, it's a battle with my mind I have to win

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

Also it's a full body scan that's been ordered, that's worrying, as I thought it would just be lungs

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

They are just being thorough. All 3 of mine were whole body scans. Which is why it takes around 20 mins.

Think of it as say, a bit like checking a squeaking car brake, they don't just check the offending one, they check them all. In reality you should feel pleased that you are getting a thorough checkup all over

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

Thankyou so much, easing my racing thoughts

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

Just had call, it's a pet/ct scan I'm booked for on Monday morning, is that pet/ct together normal

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

Same difference It is Just called a PET Scan for short and also reduces confusion. They are all PET/CT Scans.

"A PET-CT scan is a combination of a PET (positive emissions tomography) scan and a CT (computerised tomography) scan. Cancer cells are usually more active than other cells, so they show up on the scan. The PET scan shows how active cells are in different parts of the body. The CT scan takes a series of pictures (x-rays) to build this information into 3D pictures of the inside of body."

macmillan.org.uk/informatio...

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

May I ask how you got your results, do they contact you? I'm worried that I haven't heard anything

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

I have always received the results via an appointment with a respiratory consultant, usually after a week or two. Relax, if there was anything at all untoward you would have been contacted immediately, no news is good news.

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

Thankyou, I'm just panicking, common sense thinking goes out of the window, it's the waiting

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

Panic and anxiety is to be expected. I still get very "twitchy" a week before going to see the oncologist, at the latest which was last Friday, I was told that there were no changes and it was still stable, which being realistic is the best I can expect.

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

When my cancer was showing up they phoned me to make an urgent appointment.

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

Sorry to ask but, how soon after your scan?

[2greys in reply to Wishing1969]

It was exactly 5 days for the phone call and 7 days to see the consultant, the same day a team of respiratory consultant, radiologist and surgeon reviewed my case. Surgery was chosen as the primary treatment but I failed the fitness for surgery tests because of a combination of other health conditions, which meant abysmal mortality odds . So I elected to be treated with radiotherapy.

[Alfiebax2]

Please don't worry I had the same in April of this year .My nodule was thought to be cancerous so pet scan then monitor for a further 3 months . I went back for another CT scan in july this year and miracles do happen as it has completely gone .The pet scan is fine ,nothing to worry about.Good luck and keep us informed .

Best wishes Babs x

[2greys]

You should think a little more on the positive side, there is a good chance that you will still get the all clear. I have had three PET Scans and twice it was all clear. Just because I did end up with a malignant tumour does not mean you will too. I am at a very high risk for cancer including mesothelioma. I am fully expecting that I will develop more cancer in the future, but I will still continue to live my life as normally and active as I can, whilst I can, I am not one for giving up.

[Wishing1969 in reply to 2greys]

Sorry, of course your right, I should know attitude goes along way, thanks again

[patj]

I too have had a pet scan cause of lung nodule they found on CT scan. They said pet scan needed to make sure it’s not cancerous which a pet scan will tell you. Mine was all ok a benign nodule that now over time has got smaller.

Try not to worry easier said than done I know of course you will worry, but I’m sure with us Copd people it is more or less just a nodule. Think positive. My thoughts are with you.