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FULL BODY PET SCAN WHY NOT?
My mother was recently operated for mastectomy post mammography and biopsy. Histopathlogy reports post surgery indicate they got all of the tumors out in the breast with negative margins. There were 2 tumors, both pathologically considered T2 (staging), as suspected by her imaging. However, her lymph nodes are involved (5+) and there are cells outside of the lymph nodes in her axillary region (N2 stage).
Both Oncosurgeon and Oncologist confirm she requires radiation and chemotherapy as next step of treatment.
However both Oncosurgeon and Oncologist were not ready to prescribe PET SCAN pre or post surgery and pre Chemotherapy or pre Radiation.
What could be the reason? When such huge amounts are being spend on surgeries and therapy why the hesitation for PET full body scan?
Would it not had given a better picture pre surgery?
Won't it give a better picture before starting chemotherapy and radiation especially when radiation is specific and focused and not for full body?
Answers (1)
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Dr. Siddharth S
Radiation Oncologist
5 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Hello there,I hope the surgery that has been done to your mother is Modified Radical Mastectomy with Axillary lymphnode dissection and the stage as u mentioned is a T2N2
There is no wrong in doing a PET scan or there is no issue of not doing a PET scan also at this point of time.We can do low cost investigations such as CT chest ,abdomen and pelvis.Ideally to see whether the disease has spread to bones ,we can use a Bone scan which is ideal for detecting bone spread(metastases) in a breast cancer patient.Moreover PET is not a reliable investigation for brain spread since glucose uptake and metabolic activity in brain can hide the disease( U need a separate MRI Brain to confirm brain spread)
As such it is not mandatory to do a PET unless the doctor feels he/she warrants it
TRUST YOUR DOCTOR!!
Anyway for a breast cancer patient in this stage,she requires all treatment including chemotherapy , radiation and further hormonal therapy depending on ER,PR,HER2Neu status.
Health Tips
Your concern regarding doing PET is not the major issue here ...(.The steering of the car belongs to the driver not to the co passenger)
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.