Routine ct scans

Hi papermoon,

Treatment seems to be very patchy from what I can tell during this pandemic.

My grand daughter (aged 5) had an appointment at the hospital 2 weeks ago to see a consultant about blood in her urine. We thought it would be cancelled, but it wasn't. She had to give another sample and then perhaps have a scan. So, we will see!! Her mother had a crown drop off her tooth, and the dentist won't treat her, in spite of the fact that she is on Denplan! Fortunately she isn't in pain.

In spite of ministers saying seek help if needs be it isn't always working!   xxxxxx

Hi papermoon, good to hear from you and I hope you are ok during this difficult. I had my three month check a few weeks ago. I luckily had had the scan the week before lockdown but I was given the consultation on the phone. I have had another appointment made by e letter but the oncologist told me this may be face to face of by telephone depending on where we are at virus wise. I'm due to have another scan before this appointment but as yet haven't been given a date so I am in limbo too. To be honest if I don't have the scan I can't see the point of the consultation because I didn't have an internal exam either at the last one so apart from asking me if I've had any symptoms...I don't know. It's a worry isn't it. If I hear anything I'll let you know. Take care, .Love lamb.xx

Hi papermoon. I was due my 6 month check up on Tuesday in a London hospital, with blood tests and chest x-ray.  I had a phone call a week before saying not to go and I would get a phone consultation on the day which I did.  She asked the usual questions (I had had radiotherapy and brachytherapy a couple of years ago) and said it would be OK not to have the bloods and x-ray done (they are in fact reviewing the usefulness of these apparently anyway).  My next appointment is November at a local hospital just for examinations which she said she hoped I would be able to go to by then, and she will see me again next May!  So I haven't been examined since last November but unless I have any problems in which case I can ring at any time, she said it will be ok for me to wait.  

Hugs, Lesley xx

I was lucky enough to have had a scan just before lockdown - in fact they did it earlier in the week than my original appointment. I had a telephone consultation with my oncologist the following week.  He says that the blood tests are actually more important and that before my next consultation those would be done even if we were still in lockdown.  It may be worth asking if they can give you a blood test to stop you worrying.

Thank you very much for your replies. The only blood tests i have is before scan to make sure my kidney functioh is ok. I think it depends on the type of cancer you have i have type 1 the more common type ive been told its type 2 which is more like ovarian where they measure the ca. I had no idea that I had a recurrence last year I felt really well so if I hadnt had the scan I would never have known till I got symptoms thats what I find a bit troubling.

I hadn't realised that the blood test only worked for some types.  Mine is a mix of2 types of endometrial - I never could do things straightforwardly! It's good that your scan caught it last year.

Hi Endo3,

I have blood tests before each check-up at UCLH.  Part of it seems to be to keep an eye on things like kidney and liver function.   I was very scared on two occasions when the test showed I had raised levels of a protein.  Fortunately a repeat test was normal but  had that not been the case they would have done a scan to see if  "something" was interfering with the function of my kidney.   They also check the CA125 level but have said this is not really relevant for my cancer.