Timing of scans?

[Miliwife]

How often are people having scans after chemo? I last had a scan in August 22 when I finished front line chemo. I have since started maintenance then stopped to have a lymph node removed and restarted again. I was of the understanding I would get one every 3 months for at least a year but this doesn't seem to have transpired. I know the NHS is cash strapped but should I query this?

[Lyndy2]

If they promised frequent scans then yes query it. I had no scan for a year after chemo for recurrence but more frequent now my levels are rising x

[delia2]

I don’t think they do surveillance scans because of the radiation. They do them if you have symptoms or your CA125 starts going up. The science apparently tells them that waiting to start chemo for a recurrence makes no difference to outcomes. In my case, CA125 is not expressed by my cancer so I have a scan every six months.

[Differentforgirls in reply to delia2]

This is what I heard too.

The amazing Prof CF said we don’t want to wake up any possible cancer cells lurking. X

[kadabra12]

I had 3 ct scans in 18 months due to me having cysts in my abdomin they were monitoring. Then I had one due to being symptomatic and my ca125 had risen. They mainly look at your ca125 levels and ct scan if necessary. I was on 3 monthly bloods for the 1st 2 years then 6 monthly.

[Goodgirl98]

here in India, protocol is ca125 every 1 month initially moving to every 3 months, meet doc with the results and get a clinical check done. Only if anything looks suspect, they recommend a scan.

[Newstart22]

I’ve been told they don’t scan unless something doesn’t seem right. Bloods are monitored though including CA125. I’m just starting Niparib. Certainly times are changing… they told me to buy a blood pressure monitor. Talk about DIY

[Differentforgirls]

I had my last scan on 2nd Dec ( as I was aware of a few symptoms ). The previous scan was July 2020 after 2nd line chemo.

Prof CF advised not to have a scan unless you feel like you have symptoms or CA125 goes up a lot.

Hope this is reassuring for you xx

[SopSinger]

I never had any further scans after finishing treatment, other than one occasion when I had some troubling symptoms and my GP sent me for an ultrasound to rule out recurrence of cancer. Still here 16 years later.

[Miliwife in reply to SopSinger]

That’s really encouraging ! Thank you

[Miliwife]

Thanks everyone