TNBC Polls & Surveys - A couple questions...

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A couple questions...

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Category: TNBC Forums
Forum Name: TNBC Polls & Surveys
Forum Description: A place to ask questions and survey the community
URL: http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=8103
Printed Date: Mar 26 2026 at 11:24pm
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Topic: A couple questions...

Posted By: Melissakae
Subject: A couple questions...
Date Posted: Mar 05 2011 at 3:35pm

Hello All~

I am sure this question has been asked before but I can not seem to find it when I do a search of these forums. After radiation, how long should you wait until you get a Pet Scan? Also, for those who have had spots on the lung and or the spinal cord...what sort of chemo were you guys put on and how effective was it? I have scanned the internet and there are so many answers to these questions...I figured I had better just ask the experts. :)

I had radiation to my right side...I had cancer cells in the skin...on the chest wall...and in a couple of lymph nodes...oh and a mammary node...the radiated area for the most part is clear now so the radiation was very effective...the mammary node was also clear but I am going to have surgury to remove it still....but bad news came with the good news which seems to be the norm with my fight...I still have a couple spots on my chest wall...and now I have a couple spots on a lung and on my spinal cord. I guess I am hoping the spots on the lung and spinal cord are false positives since they were very close or in the radiated area. Going to visit my onc this Wednesday to see what she says and I am also going to go to a hospital that seems to have a good reputation with cancer to get their opinion...really, really scared especially now that it very well could be on my lung but I am not giving up...I know I can beat this.

Replies:

Posted By: ann u
Date Posted: Mar 05 2011 at 7:37pm

Sorry I don't have an answer for you - but I know they wait at least 6 weeks after a surgery before doing a PET scan because it gives the area time to heal and not light up on the scan as a false negative - not sure if this is the same for radiation. You might want to try posting this on the TNBC Talk forum - it tends to get more views.

Ann

Posted By: 123Donna
Date Posted: Mar 05 2011 at 8:10pm

I found this link that might help answer your question:

http://www.oncolink.org/experts/article.cfm?c=4&s=36&ss=116&id=2416 - http://www.oncolink.org/experts/article.cfm?c=4&s=36&ss=116&id=2416

A PET scan should be performed at least 4-6 weeks after surgery and 4-6 months after radiation therapy. If performed earlier, inflammation secondary to surgery and radiation can be seen as false positive findings on the PET scan as these are FDG avid or tend to "light up" on the scan.

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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15

Posted By: Melissakae
Date Posted: Mar 06 2011 at 8:25pm

Thank you Donna...I found that link to be quite helpful. I hope I do have some false positives...it is hard for me to believe that this cancer made a jump like that from being localized to being on my lungs and back...but this stuff does not play around and can pop up anywhere. I will keep you posted.

Posted By: williams22
Date Posted: Jun 21 2011 at 2:51am

Your information made me cheer! opinions to see so accurate!

Posted By: TNBC_in_NS
Date Posted: Jun 21 2011 at 4:32pm

Welcome Melissa!

Sorry you are having some false positives showing up, but Donna has passed on some great information regarding PET/Scans before our six weeks so keep the faith and know that you are not alone in this fight! We are right beside you!

Helen in NS

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Diag@57TNBC04/092.5cm Lquad 05/09 TCx4Radsx30CT03/01/10 FU03/31/10ClearBRCA- 01/2011 RTNBC BMX 06/14/2011~2013 clear