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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Symptoms Of Cancer?

Hi, may I answer your health queries right now ? Please type your query here...My wife is a 8 year cancer survivor. Her most recent PET Scan showed a suspicious area near her pectoral muscle region which lit up on the PET Scan. She has 1 small cluster 3.4cm. How can this be determined if this is cancer or not? What would the treatment options be if it was confirmed to be cancer? Can it be surgically removed?
Mon, 29 Jun 2015
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

There are many signs and symptoms of cancer depending on the organ involved. In your wife there is a bright spot in the pectoral region therefore for it to be a cancer it should have grown aggressively over last 6 months with or without development of pain and. Most cancer appears like a lump in the chest and will be fixed to the chest wall.

If it is bright on PET scan then it is not confirmed to be a cancer and biopsy is to be done to confirm it. There are other acute and chronic inflammatory conditions which might cause bright area on PET scan. PET scan is a technique by which the glucose metabolism is studied. Cancer cells and non cancer inflammatory cells might be seen on PET scan. It is suggested that in a 3.4 cm area the doctor does a CT guided biopsy and then the diagnosis is confirmed. If confirmed to be cancer then surgery is possible. Please do not worry.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Cancer?

Hi, Thanks for writing in. There are many signs and symptoms of cancer depending on the organ involved. In your wife there is a bright spot in the pectoral region therefore for it to be a cancer it should have grown aggressively over last 6 months with or without development of pain and. Most cancer appears like a lump in the chest and will be fixed to the chest wall. If it is bright on PET scan then it is not confirmed to be a cancer and biopsy is to be done to confirm it. There are other acute and chronic inflammatory conditions which might cause bright area on PET scan. PET scan is a technique by which the glucose metabolism is studied. Cancer cells and non cancer inflammatory cells might be seen on PET scan. It is suggested that in a 3.4 cm area the doctor does a CT guided biopsy and then the diagnosis is confirmed. If confirmed to be cancer then surgery is possible. Please do not worry.