PET SCAN

[Onedayatatime60]

I have never had a PET scan. Onc just says it is not necessary

Any Canadians with same experience?

[awesome4ever]

Hi there. I'm Canadian as well and have never had a PET scan either. I get CT(CAP) and bone scans every 3 months since 2018 and am perfectly happy with that. Personally I don't think that PET scans are required by most patients for metastatic surveillance particularly if your cancer is ductal. I agree with your oncologist. If there is ever a reason they will be able to order one. Take care.

[Kerryd22 in reply to awesome4ever]

💯I’m not Canadian but that’s my experience in Australia too.

When I asked about a PET scan I was told it was wrong for my situation

[Timtam56 in reply to Kerryd22]

Same. I’m in melb. Australia.

[Laskia in reply to awesome4ever]

I'm in the UK and was told they don't generally do PET scans for breast cancer. I think because of the likelihood of false positives resulting in changing the treatment too soon and that CT scans are more reliable in out situation.

[Andersl]

I'm not a Canadian. I live in the UK.I have PET scans because I had a reaction to a scan with contrast.

Perhaps the fact that you're not intolerant to contrast is what your consultant was referring to.

L x

[Dragonfighter]

I haven't had one either, I am Canadian, in NB. I am stable after 3.5 years on ibrance and letrazole. I feel like I am doing well. I have had bone scans and ct scans.

[Totheriver]

I have never had a pet scan either. My oncologist feels the same way.

[Gingerann1]

Same here. In US. CT and bone scan every 6 months as I am NED for the last 17 months. I have wondered though as I have been told that the Pet Scans can pick up activity in soft tissue better than CT. Seems like it wouldn’t hurt to have one once a year.

[diamags]

I'm almost 10 years into thus MBC trip. Never had one either. Bone and CTs 3x per year.

[Lakincaid]

Not Canadian, but no PET scan for me either I get CT and NM Bose scans every 4 months.

[Eliactida1955]

It depends on your onc I guess. I live in Texas and have pet scans every 4-6 months . I have a friend who gets only c t a so I can’t figure why all treatments are different even for stage 4 breast cancer met to bone like I have since 2018. Ask your onc why -I would like to hear the answer. I wish you the best🙏✝️

[Aprilfoolz1]

With stage IV, I have always had pet/Ct scans . I do not have bone Mets. My onc likes that Pet imaging picks up metabolic activity with the FDG reading . I have been NEAD for 3 yrs . I am in Seattle Wa so not in Canada

[love2golfwell]

I live in the US and have been having PET/CT scans every 4 months at the beginning and now every 6 months. I had a CT and Bone scan when first diagnosed MBC but asked if a PET/CT would be equal to doing both of those. My doc said it was okay to do that. I was hoping the PET/CT would be less radiation than having a CT and a Bone Scan but I am not sure about that.

[atoth17]

Hello,

I’m not Canadian but I’ve only had one PET scan and that was the month I was diagnosed, almost three years ago. My current Oncologist prefers CT Scans and we don’t have to jump through hoops to get insurance to pay.

[Smokeyd]

I am Canadian and I have only had CT Scans and bone scans.

[Hazelgreen]

I am a Canadian living in Saskatchewan. When I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2019 (after 13 years since stage 2/3 in 2006), all tests were done: May 22nd bone scan (indicated extensive metastases in spine, ribs, sternum, pelvis, scapula, skull), May 30th PET confirmed "widespread FDG avid osseous, nodal and splenic metastases", MRI June 21st explored reasons for "right upper extremity edema", CT June 23rd "multiple lesions in the spleen, left adrenal gland node and multiple small nodules in the lungs", "patchy sclerosis in the bones", "prominent lymph nodes in the gastroheptic location".

Four months later, the bone scan and CT were repeated to check on stability vs increase. Five months thereafter, another CT and bone scan were done again as a check. This brings us to March 2020. Since then, I have had 11 CT's, one bone scan (Sept.2021), and one MRI (April 2021) of the liver which found several lesions so a CT-guided biopsy was done the following month.

Since November 2021, my treatment has been ribociclib (now 600 mg), and letrozole. It seems to me that CT scans keep track of cancer spreads well. The first MRI I had was to look closely at the tissue of my right arm which still continues to be very swollen after cancer destroyed the lymph nodes there. I assume that was to simply confirm that was all that had happened. I'm no expert in this field, but it seems to me that CT scans are all that is really needed to track where the cancer is and continues to be, but MRIs are good for closer looks at specific tissues (such as my right arm and liver). I really can't see that my 2019 PET had any value in my case.

[Onedayatatime60 in reply to Hazelgreen]

Thx for the details of your own journey. I do trust my Onc., and should find peace in being stable for over 3 years. Best to you ♥️

[Mumberly]

I am Canadian as well and I haven’t been offered a PET scan. Only regular CT scans.

I’m quite confident in my oncologist as she has years of experience coupled with involvement in current research.

If she felt a PET was beneficial I know she’d ask for one.

All the best with your journey.

Kim

[Nocillo]

Not in Canada, but I’ve only had two pet scans in 8 1/2 years. First one was at diagnosis and second one last week when the previous bone scan showed some progression. I’m assuming that CT and bone scans are good enough to keep an eye on things, but when something seems amiss, then they do a PET or MRI.

[ba5083]

My understanding is insurance companies don't like to pay for a PET with BC patients without doing a CT scan 1st. If the CT is not consistent with previous scans many Onc will then order a PET. Having said that many Onc will order a FESPET (if their facility has the equipment) if you have ER+/PR+ profile. The FESPET has the ability to show estrogen uptake.

[SoulJourney]

Hi

I am in Manitoba, Canada in over 9 years I have had 2 PET Scans both were following a CT soft tissue to check on my liver. My oncologist said she wanted more details as I was originally diagnosed with tumours on my liver that have shrunk to nil with the various treatments. I am now considered to have bone Mets only.

Hope that helps,

Tammie

[Onedayatatime60 in reply to SoulJourney]

That is grear - sounds very similar to me. I especially like hearing that it has been over 9 years..Gives me hope