Pet scan question please

[Concerned2021]

Hello

I posted the the other day to say my dad has been diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer , he has been referred to the surgeon regarding next steps . Now during the process of being diagnosed he had walking test, breathing test , echo as well as the needle biopsy. He also had a pet scan as well . His consultant believes it’s been ‘ caught in time ‘ obviously still praying it’s the case .

With the pet scan they completed as part of his tests , would they have just scanned the chest / lungs or would they have scanned the whole body as a matter of course?

Thanks as always x

[Cmtd]

They would scan all of the body - with a pet scan.It would show any other areas of concern.

Good luck to your dad - so hard for men with all these tests, there just not used to hospitals etc. Xx

[Concerned2021 in reply to Cmtd]

Thanks very much for your reply , my dad doesn’t allow anyone to go to appointments with him! He’s so stubborn , which I guess isn’t a bad thing . Just that he said when I asked him about the scan he said oh they would have just scanned the chest as this was before biopsy etc . I did think at the time surely they would have scanned the whole body ? As these scans cost money and therefore why repeat etc xx

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hello Conerned 2021

A pet scan is used as part of the diagnostic process, it is used as a tool to stage the cancer, by scanning the whole of the body it highlights any areas within the body where cancer is active.

Below I have added a link to CRUK which explains PET scanning.

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

If you would like to discuss anything at [e-mail], our free phone nurse led helpline number is 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

Kindest regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Concerned2021 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thankyou so very much xx

[packla]

When I had my PET scan it was a whole body scan. The only place that a PET scan can not show up any cancer cells is in the head therefore I had a separate MRI scan.

Good luck to your dad.

[Concerned2021 in reply to packla]

Thankyou so much , hope you’re doing well xx

[Janey_H]

When I have had PET scans it has always been ‘eyes to thighs’ 😊

[Concerned2021 in reply to Janey_H]

Thankyou so much xxx

[Daisybarnes]

My Pet Ct scan was certainly head to knees and I have a sense that is the normal but don't know for sure. All the best for your precious Dad

[Concerned2021]

Thankyou so much xxx

[JanetteR57]

although these things cost money as you say, when something is suspected in an area, they don't necessarily go looking for other things - just as if you broke your arm, they don't x-ray the whole body but usually the whole torso/abdomen area is scanned.

patients can often protect their loved ones from what's going on but you can often ask the nurses if they can explain anything. good luck to you both.

[Concerned2021 in reply to JanetteR57]

Thanks Janette , I was hoping they would have scanned the whole body as when he received his official diagnosis last week the consultant said they believed they’ve caught it in time ( god willing ) he has his surgeon appointment today so hoping that will be a good outcome xx

[JanetteR57]

Everything crossed for today's appointment... I've had PET and various CT scans over the years - and sometimes the CT scans themselves are for the thoracic area but when they've suspected recurrence, they've added 'chest and abdomen' to cover more organs.

The lung screening health checks being done in the UK in some areas are a low dose CT covering the chest area only so always worth asking.

I agree if he can have surgery that should be a good outcome. thinking of you both.

[Concerned2021]

Thanks again , you’re all very kind taking the time to reply xx

[Concerned2021]

My dad saw the surgeon today and he has been declared fit for surgery , which is good news . I really feel for him as it’s only 5 months since his heart bypass . But equally if he hadn’t have had the bypass he wouldn’t have had the CT scan which discovered all of this xx

[JanetteR57]

They're often stronger than we think - especially if they're determined - my dad had bowel cancer twice in his 50s and we didn't think he'd get to 60 but was 92 in February - when he had another primary bowel cancer found in 2016 when he was 86, they didn't think he was up to major surgery as his heart stent needed replacing but they decided that although he only weighed about 8stone he could have it. His CT then revealed a pulmonary nodule which I only learnt about last year so he's had annual scans on that as well. He never did have the stent replaced as medication was given to improve his heart/blood flow instead. So many are detected whilst investigating for other causes and conditions and with very few being detected early enough for surgery to be a possibility it's really good he has been. good luck to you both.

[Concerned2021 in reply to JanetteR57]

You’re right , without the bypass we wouldn’t have known about the nodule , I’m glad your dad is doing so well xx

[JanetteR57]

Thanks - me too, he looks after my mum (90 this month) who has alzheimers, at home

[Concerned2021 in reply to JanetteR57]

Your dad is amazing to be looking after your mum at that age , just shows you what a strong man he is xx

[JanetteR57 in reply to Concerned2021]

too true - he's quite inspirational.