Scans

[LeeannW710]

Hi ladies!

As I sit here drinking my contrast for PET, I was wondering how often everyone goes for scans? Currently, I go every 3 months. Does it change the further out from diagnosis or stay the same? Have a blessed day! Xoxo

[mariootsi]

First of all good luck. I wish good luck for good results.

I go for scans every 3 to 4mths. Been at this for a year.

Some ladies here go every six mths. Maybe it does depend on how long we have been mbc. Don't know so maybe someone here can answer that.

[Hidden]

I have only had one PET scan and that was in the beginning. I have a CT scan every three months and a bone scan every 6 months as my mets are to my bones.

[SoCalLady]

I average every six months.

[PJBinMI]

I'm at 15 years with mbc and I had scans on a regular basis the first two or three years but I have done really well and have gone years at times between scans. My original, and beloved, onc retired at the end of last year and my new onc is just getting to know me and has ordered more scans than I've had in ages but I hope she will calm down and order them less often. My first one told me that she pays most attention to how we say we are feeling, then scans and TMs a distant third. We watched my TMs rise for years at times. So I think how often we have scans varies alot and some oncs just are not comfortable unless we have them more than once or twice a year.

[Have-faith in reply to PJBinMI]

Laughed at "hope she calms down,"- your new onc with the scans. I have heard many doctors speak as I go to lectures. I feel like our docs beliefs really vary and when they received their educations play a role too. Younger doctors in my opinion treat this more as a chronic disease which feels better to me. Faith

[PJBinMI in reply to Have-faith]

My experience has been that older oncs are more relaxed about mbc and are more comfortable with a wait and see approach than the younger oncs I have seen who seem much more in a rush to order scans. But that is just my experience.

[Have-faith in reply to PJBinMI]

Interesting. Hmmm. The cancer world of treatments and tools have changed so much over the years. I guess doctors will -like us - form their own thoughts and styles etc. We just have to be our own best advocates! Faith

[Pollingxx in reply to PJBinMI]

15 years !! Amazing love to you x

[Scandia68 in reply to PJBinMI]

I love the fact that you wrote 15 years with mbc. Music to my ears and long may it continue x

[PJBinMI in reply to Scandia68]

Music to my ears, too! Within the first year or two with MBC, I heard of two 20 year survivors in Australia. Then a few years later, at an annual conference of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, there was a 30 year survivor there! More of us are living longer and longer. As long as we are feeling relatively good, there is much hope. I am tired, and I have a couple of non cancer "issues" but by and large I am doing pretty well. Wish I could have known when I was first diagnosed that I would still be here, but life just doesn't work that way, does it! lol

[Moon-and-Stars]

Like most of the ladies, I get scanned (CT and Bone) every 3 months (diagnosed Feb 2018 MBC bone and liver). I attend Oncology OPD every month.

But the plan going forward (my bloods are very stable on Ibrance), from July is that I’ll only have to have bloods and attend Onc OPD every 3 months.

[lynnhbtb in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

What's Oncology OPD? Curious.

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to lynnhbtb]

It’s just Oncology outpatients department. So I have been attending monthly for BP, weight and bloods check.

[lynnhbtb in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

Ah, got it. thanks.

[Rbeth]

My oncologist said that I don’t need to drink contrast. That is why they use a pet scan. He said the contrast upsets my stomach and causes constipation. Just the radio active infusion. Reenie

[lynnhbtb]

I've been going every 3 months. Usually a CT with/without contrast and last time a PET. Best to you.

[LeeannW710]

Thank you for all your responses! Guess the average is three months. So happy for those who have the opportunity to have them spaced out longer. And to those courageous women who are living with mbc fifteen plus years-God Bless you! Your stories provide hope! Thank you so much for sharing. Go see oncologist Thursday for results. Will keep you posted. Btw, I have to have wbc checked every week that I am on ibrance. Pain in the butt. (Chemo did a number on my veins.) 😘🙏🏻 Enjoy your day ladies!

[Sandig1948]

I have Ct scans with contrast every 3 months for below the neck and currently MRI scans due to brain mets.

GiGi

[Scandia68]

Hi I have a full body CT scan every 3 months and have just moved the MRI from 3 months to six months. I only had a PET scan in the beginning (last year) after bone mets showed on my pelvic bone. I am finding it strange that I have not had any further bone scans since then unless they believe it would show up on a CT scan.

[LeeannW710]

Hi Ladies! Results of PET scan were great! Ibrance/Letrozole combo is doing its thing ...thank GOD! I can breathe again, at least for my three month stretch :-). Wishing everyone a beautiful and blessed weekend!! Hugs!