No end of treatment PET

Hi Jo,

PET scans do carry a good bit more radiation than even CT scans so if they feel it’s not needed then they are thinking of your long term future. And as clear a partway scan as you have truly means they don’t feel it’s going to be needed. 

If you’re unsure as to their reasoning then please do discuss it with your specialist nurse, who will explain and also ask at the MDT if that’s their reasoning.

i would take it as reassuring to be honest....

hugs xxx

Hi

My son is in exactly the same position.

This is my understanding.

He also a Negative interim-PET scan with Deauville 2 score for his Stage 3B HL.

My understanding is that Deauville 1-2 at interim-PET are classed as Complete Metabolic Response (no sign of FDG-avid cancer/disease). So he too was told will not have radiotherapy or a final PET scan. End of treatment he just had a CT scan.

They do seem to be confident that if people have Deauville 1-3 interim scan (or interim PET Negative), they will have had a Complete Metabolic Response. Deauville 1 being best of course. In the past only Deauville 1-2 used to be classed as negative, but now 3 too is widely considered as negative. But there is little difference between them, as various studies show that 90-95% of anyone having Negative interim PET scan Deauville 1-3 have 3-4 year Progression Free Survival (the term they use to assess freedom from disease). After that time, it is considered unlikely to com back, though not impossible of course.