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Why Are Scans Not Done Post Breast Cancer Treatment?
Question: After breast cancer treatment, most woman get bone scans, Pet scans, MRI's and Cat scans. I got none of the above after finishing my treatments. After asking my oncologist about it, his answer was that The XXXXXXX associate does not recommend them anymore because they do not prolong live. I didn't think that was the reason we got them, only to be sure all the cancer was gone. And what about our peace of mind, I guess that don't count. You get cancer and the Doctors take over your live, don't we have no say in nothing? I am grateful still to be alive, but I also want to know if all the cancer is gone.
Brief Answer:
You will need to get PET scan done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, your doctor is correct.
Studies of large number of cases revealed that immediately post treatment or regular follow up investigations which may help detect residual cancer or even early recurrence actually dont drastically change treatment options, outcome of treatments or prolong the life.
Reasons to avoid such investigations are recurrent hospital visits, economic burden, over used resources and important of all is side effects/hazards from such scans.
These are the reasons for not getting investigations done.
But in my view investigations combined with clinical evaluation should be undertaken, so that frequency and number of investigations are reduced.
If I were your treating doctor, I would order a PET scan done, this will help evaluate entire body. Then follow up with ultrasounds and clinical examination.
A PET scan can be repeated in cases of any suspicious symptom appears.
Hope this helps.
Regards
You will need to get PET scan done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, your doctor is correct.
Studies of large number of cases revealed that immediately post treatment or regular follow up investigations which may help detect residual cancer or even early recurrence actually dont drastically change treatment options, outcome of treatments or prolong the life.
Reasons to avoid such investigations are recurrent hospital visits, economic burden, over used resources and important of all is side effects/hazards from such scans.
These are the reasons for not getting investigations done.
But in my view investigations combined with clinical evaluation should be undertaken, so that frequency and number of investigations are reduced.
If I were your treating doctor, I would order a PET scan done, this will help evaluate entire body. Then follow up with ultrasounds and clinical examination.
A PET scan can be repeated in cases of any suspicious symptom appears.
Hope this helps.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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