Cat scans vs no cat scans

[Litchfield]

My ovarian cancer was found at stage 2B, I had surgery and then chemo and I have been in remission since November. I’m wondering what others oncologists recommend after completing chemotherapy. CA 125 test every three months and a CAT scan every six months for the first two years or just CA 125 tests. I had a second opinion and one oncologist recommends the cat scans every six months for the first two years and the other oncologist doesn’t recommend CAT scans at all. Trying to decide what’s right and what’s best. I would really appreciate any information. Thank you.

[SurvivorSusan]

Don't know. I was in remission for 5 years after stage 4 ovarian cancer. We discovered it came back from the CA 125. Nothing showed up on the CT scan.

[Litchfield in reply to SurvivorSusan]

Thank you

[Litchfield in reply to Litchfield]

I hope you are doing well. Are you back in remission?

[SurvivorSusan in reply to Litchfield]

Not sure yet. I'm on a clinical trial for a parp-inhibitor and that seems to be doing well. I have a CT scan scheduled for next week. Not sure when they will consider me in remission.

[Hidden]

In my own experience (12 years ago), it was CA125 tests only every 3 months for the first two years. I then argued to keep the three monthly tests going, which they agreed to (a cheap test, after all, and a small price to pay for patient well-being and peace of mind). CT scans were only done when there was a clinical reason (in my case rising CA125 levels). The logic being why expose the patient to "unnecessary" radiation. I am currently on a clinical trial and have 6 monthly CT scans, irrespective of my CA125 levels. I have also had additional ones in between when the main scan has thrown up something iffy. In my experience, while a clear CT scan gives extra reassurance, the regular scanning leads to "scanxiety", and those occasional false positives, things that show up and need extra investigation but which turn out to be nothing sinister, add to that. So, there are a few things to weigh up.

[Litchfield in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the information. Are you in remission? Why are you on a clinical trial? I hope you are doing well.

[Cbyrdie]

Stage 2b, finished chemo 3/2015. I had a ct scan in April 2015, CA 125 every three months for 3 years then every 6 months.

[22Angel]

My oncologist doesn't recommend CT Scans. He doesn't want me to get unnecessary radiation. I finished chemo 8/18 and have done 2 CA125 tests since then. I will be seeing the oncologist every three months.