Hi all,
I'm due to start chemo in the next 3 weeks (carboplatin & paclitaxel) shortly. I'm 62 with grade 3 stage 3b endometrial adenocarcinoma.
I had a CT scan 9 weeks ago and an MRI 6 weeks ago. My oncologist has said my chemo only has a 40-50% chance of being effective which was a shock but my question relates to the scan situation. I asked about redoing CT & MRI scans as a line in the sand just before I start chemo so that we have a clear baseline to measure the chemo effectiveness, however he dismissed the idea saying that unless the MRI was over 7 weeks old they wouldn't do one. I'm not happy with this given that it's a grade 3 aggressive grower and will surely have grown in the 9 weeks since the CT scan (I can feel it). If there are no pre chemo scans and there has been further growth it may appear that the chemo isn't effective and thus could be a misleading position. Any help/advice please?
Hi
I also had a grade 3 cancer. My treatment was surgery. Then chemotherapy and then 25 sessions of external beam radiotherapy. After treatment ended I went on to check ups for 2 years and was seen every 12 weeks. The regular check ups were to check for any signs of recurrence when at an early stage. I was also asked about symptoms that could suggest a recurrence.
I had no CT scans other than the diagnostic one. I never had an MRI.
I understand your concerns about having a more recent baseline CT. I was told that further scans are unnecessary unless I develop any concerning symptoms. I was also told they don't like to do too many scans unless really necessary.
My chemotherapy was adjuvant so it was to try to prevent a recurrence. If your chemotherapy is to effectively treat the cancer then there may be different criteria for scans. Sometimes chemo can be neoadjuvant- where it is given before surgery to try to reduce the cancer to make surgery an option. It may well be worth asking what the aim of the chemo is as this may have a bearing on the scans.
I know for some ladies they will have a scan part way through treatment. Also with chemo there are regular blood tests done and these include a CA125 level and it may be possible that they get information from the bloods that will suggest if the chemo is working as it should? I also had carboplatin and paclitaxel and they did so many blood tests.
I do understand though and I think I personally would find a scan reassuring.
Jane
No harm in getting a second opinion. I agree that by the time the chemo actually starts there may have been a slight change and it would be helpful to have that up to date info as by then it will be around 9 weeks? since the MRI.
I suppose that if they do a scan after cycle 3 and then again at cycle 6? then hopefully that would show the change.
Mine was an aggressive one and I had carboplatin and paclitaxel. I wish you well for your treatment
