Hi there. My dad has recently been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. He has recently started immunotherapy and I am struggling to understand how progress is monitored. He last had a PET Scan in September. Since then, he has become more symptomatic and experiencing difficulties with breathlessness. He has not been rescanned prior to starting treatment and his first follow up is in April.
I am hoping someone can explain how oncology assess whether the treatment is working? I had assumed he would be rescanned shortly before the treatment to give an up-to-date position to measure against. I am worried that any progression between diagnosis and starting treatment has not been captured.
Thanks in advance.
Hi, I was being scanned approx 3 months but last time waited 5 months for some reason. I would ask oncologist if you can contact. I find you need to be proactive to get some answers
Thank you, that has also been our experience. Initial round of treatment has triggered a major reaction of some kind so now dealing with that. Appreciate you taking time to respond.
Hi, I was diagnosed with plural mesothelioma in December 22, I was at stage two and offered an operation, this was to remove the plural from my right lung, my heart and my diaphragm along with the cancer. The operation was a success but I was told it would come back at some time.
It was nine months before it showed its ugly face again so I was put on immunotherapy last July and I have a cycle of treatment every three weeks and will be having 18 cycles. I had a scan on the 27th November 2024 and did not get any feedback for two months and had to chase the doctor who is looking after me, I finally got a phone call yesterday 21 January 2025 asking if the doctor could phone me tomorrow. Waiting for the results of a scan for two months is a little unfair I think, a lot of things go through your mind when you’re not sure what’s going on.
Lets see what happens tomorrow, hope the news is good.
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