Scans after treatment

Hi Shar- it’s really difficult as I’m finding. There is no consensus between practice and even in our case 2 consultants in sane hospital have said 2 different things re on going management. The implications of this inconsistency equate to the difference between what is a fair quote & outrageousness one. 
OH finished chemo and has had an end of treatment scan that shows nothing- not even any scaring where the cancer was supposed to have been. This made me question whether it was really there in the first place. - they weren’t sure either ! He’s being treated as palliative rather than curative despite this and it being contained.

in answer to your question what we have done is exclude PC from insurance for now. I would though try phoning some companies to try to get a quote - sometimes I’m advised that it’s better to speak than do an on line quote. I don’t know if I’m allowed to mention any companies but there are some who are better than others and deal with cancer travel. 

Hope chemo is going ok. OH ended end July and he’s doing Ok so all the very best x

I contacted the insurance company we are with a few weeks after my husband’s surgery as they had initially insured him on the basis that he needed treatment but it hadn't started. I told them that he'd had his first follow up PSA test and with PC things can change but I will let them know of any changes.They just changed the medical declaration to treatment completed and there was no extra premium.

Surely if the oncologist says that no further scans are needed, just PSA tests you are in the same situation as us ie treatment completed. 

Hi Shar

Yes, not usual to get any scans after treatment, one reason I think that not much would show especially after Radiotherapy.

PSA is the normal way forward after treatment.

Surprised it's affecting travel insurance, obviously pay to shop around.

Good luck

Steve 

Hi All

There is a "Travel Insurance for cancer patients" thread you can all join which has some great advice. As you are aware I am in Turkey on holiday with Mrs Millibob at present and we have annual worldwide insurance (we are in the "Asian" part of Turkey).Lorraine has issues (medical!!!) and our annual policy is £1600.

I did get individual quotes and it's the Cancer that keeps it high although I was told when we renew later this year there will be a substantial reduction as I have completed RT with a view to it being curative treatment.

All insurance companies use the same type of programme to give you the quote and after you have spent yonks filling out the form it's going to say "Give us a ring". I stopped filling the forms out and started ringing up - and in the end used our local broker.

I hope the above helps.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks everyone. The problem is with the question asking what is the result from your last scan. There are a number of options to tick eg no increase in tumours, decrease in tumors, rumours remained the same, I am waiting for results, I have had no further scans since baseline one. As soon as you tick the last 2 options they either won't quote or the premium shoots up massively. Looks like it will be a case of ringing round 

I would email your insurers and explain everything in detail to them so you have a record that you've not withheld any information. This is what I did and they rang me to ask a couple of questions.

Thank you good advice 

Hubby has just had a MRI and CT scan after 3 chemo sessions. In his case it was worth the reassurance as it showed a reduction of 15-60% in the size of the lymph nodes plus the primary mass associated with the prostate as well as the secondary mass by the pancreas remain fibrous. It looks like he will continue for the full 6 sessions of chemo and because there is sufficient shrinkage he will probably be eligible for SBRT to zap the lymph nodes. This links into another thread relating to treatment for lymph nodes. He has been told he will have an additional PET PSMA scan at the end of the chemo. The take home is that it probably depends on your oncologist and the area that you live in. The caveat is that my husband's cancer is rare and PSA tests would not pick changes fast enough and does not conform to normal rules.

Alwayshope.Thank you. I am going to ask the oncologist why he has said no scans when it appears some hospitals do it. Can i ask you another question. Was your hubby put in a course of antibiotics to take daily whilst he was having chemo. My hubby was given them after the first session but after session number 2 yesterday he wasn't given them. We queried it with the chemo nurse and she said she would e mail our oncologist but there would be a delay given the bank holiday. Thank you 

Hello Shar. The only reason I can think your husband was put on antibiotics would be as a precaution if he has an underlying health issue such as a gastric problem or if he has had a recent infection of some type. With my microbiologist hat on I would not recommend repeated use of antibiotics due to the resistance that can build up, meaning that stronger ones with more side effects may be necessary if you have an infection further down the line. Were you given any dietary advice whilst he was on antibiotics? Like chemotherapy, antibiotics tend to act to kill a broad spectrum of bugs in the gut, as well as what they are initially prescribed for. Normally it is recommended that a probiotic is taken alongside antibiotics but I don't think this is advisable when having chemotherapy as it can produce an overgrowth of a limited type of bugs in the gut flora. It is important to restore the gut flora by giving your husband as wide a range of fruit and vegetables as you can, particularly brightly coloured ones as they are also high in antioxidants. Protein is essential for maintaining muscles but keep an eye on carbohydrate consumption. A good rule of thumb is to divide the plate into 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbohydrate, 1/2 vegetables. Also little and often is gentler on the gut than 3 meals a day whilst having chemo and radiotherapy. A question back to you. Was your husband advised to take a steroid a few hours before his chemotherapy, then given it by IV immediately prior to the chemo being infused, followed by steroid the next morning?. This mitigates some of the side effects of the chemo and reduce the risk of developing oedema. Sometimes this is given as a single IV dose 30 minutes prior the chemo IV. In addition my husband was given Domperidone 10mg to take for 4 days to protect the gut and to act as a precautionary anti-emetic.  I have heard of antibiotics being given with chemotherapy, but not routinely. Please come back if you have any more questions.