Anyone had a full body scan when they have prostate cancer?

Posted by gkgdawg @gkgdawg, 2 days ago

Has anyone ever had a full body scan when they have prostate cancer? Would it be beneficial?

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Profile picture for mjp0512 @mjp0512

@heavyphil - ...and the music they let you pick out to comfort you is drowned out by the banging, clanging, whirring, and screeching noises, so why bother. Never had a full body but 2 pelvis, 3 lumbar, and 1 shoulder. I am not looking forward to another.

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@mjp0512 You had music?🫪🤯

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Profile picture for stepheno @stepheno

I had a PSMA PET/CT. This is an advanced imaging test that injects a radioactive tracer to target the prostate-specific membrane antigen protein, allowing doctors to detect prostate cancer growth or spread with significantly higher accuracy than traditional CT or bone scans. My test was done because my biopsy showed cribriform cells, which are often associated with metastasis. I encourage you to discuss this with your provider. Mayo Clinic has an article on their website called "PSMA PET scan for prostate cancer" which has some very good information about the test.

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@stepheno
The PSMA PET scan was approved by the FDA in 2020. Before that, it was in clinical trial and a lot of people got it. If somebody has a higher Gleason score or PSA, it’s pretty automatic to do that PET scan these days.

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My husband had MRI and his was so comfortable - no weighting, no mask or anything like that !!! He was covered with wormed up blanket and was joking that he would fall asleep if they do not hurry up lol The "operator" had occasionally to talk to him to make sure that he was not asleep lol - I will ask, but I am sure that music was involved too. I had couple of MRIs in my life, every time just boring process and zero discomfort. The only thing I worried about were "ear plugs" - I worried that I would not hear operator when he gives instructions lol.

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Thank you very much for your comment. I have had a couple of MRI's. They are definitely noisy. I am not sure how these Full Body MRI's work or if they have even been proven to be beneficial. It was just a consideration because we are going to Lithuania and often procedures are cheaper there.

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Profile picture for Jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@stepheno
The PSMA PET scan was approved by the FDA in 2020. Before that, it was in clinical trial and a lot of people got it. If somebody has a higher Gleason score or PSA, it’s pretty automatic to do that PET scan these days.

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@jeffmarc We are in Canada and when my husband's PSA went up considerably, I asked for a PSMA since he was going to be seeing a radiologist and oncologist within the next couple of weeks. Our urologist said that the only way we would get a PSMA would be if my husband was part of a clinical trial. He was not and I didn't want to waste time, so we eventually got a requisition and went to a private institution. I am thankful that we did because that gave the locations of the metastases to the radiologist and oncologist. I am frustrated that they wouldn't have just provided the PSMA for us, but, whatever the case, we got it and I am so thankful we did.

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Yes, he had a bone density test in November, 2025. I asked for it so that we had some kind of baseline, even though he had already been on ADT for 6 months. Better late than never, I suppose. He lifts weights at home two to three days per week . Golfs 2 to 3 days per week. He is finding that he doesn't have the same strength, however. His golf has deteriorated. He knows that he should be working out to the point where he can't go any further.. I just don't think it is as often as it might be.

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Thank you so much for sharing. Sometimes we can get a bit lackadaisical in routines. I appreciate your reminder.

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Profile picture for maeven17 @maeven17

I have not but used to work for a cancer drug company and the patients in the clinical trial all had full body scans as part of the prostate cancer clinical trial screening to look for both metastasis and drug/tumor update ratios, to track the disease.

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@maeven17 That is very interesting. So, maybe it would be worthwhile for us to book a full body scan in Lithuania., if it would show metastases. I will be in hospital for 5 days, so perhaps we could do both at the same time. The cost I have been given is 650 Euros.

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Profile picture for heavyphil @heavyphil

I did have a full body MRI at Sloan after my BCR in addition to a pelvic MRI.
Let me just say that I will NEVER, EVER have another one unless I am completely anesthetized (out!)!!
The techs told me nothing about what to expect - intentionally now that I think about it. I was never claustrophobic before this event, but now I totally AM!
You are weighed down with about 60 lbs of sandbags to immobilize you and a polycarbonate catcher’s mask is screwed into place over your face, crushing your nose to prohibit movement.
You are then slid into a coffin-like tube (being generous with the dimensions) and spend the next 45 minutes in total hell; banging, clanging, whirring and screeching noises assault you as you struggle to breathe and not choke to death on the post nasal drip threatening to reach your larynx.
I’m telling you man, nothing you have growing inside you can be worse than this f***ing machine!
Phil

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@heavyphil Oh my gosh, I had no idea it would be that brutal. I guess I just extrapolated from my own MRI's but those have only been partial body MRI's.

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Profile picture for stepheno @stepheno

I had a PSMA PET/CT. This is an advanced imaging test that injects a radioactive tracer to target the prostate-specific membrane antigen protein, allowing doctors to detect prostate cancer growth or spread with significantly higher accuracy than traditional CT or bone scans. My test was done because my biopsy showed cribriform cells, which are often associated with metastasis. I encourage you to discuss this with your provider. Mayo Clinic has an article on their website called "PSMA PET scan for prostate cancer" which has some very good information about the test.

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@stepheno Thank you very much , He had a PSMA in late April, 2025. I assumed that they might do another one once he had completed his radiation, or perhaps some time later, but that is not their standard procedure. They watch the PSA, which is negligible but from my understanding if the ADT has taken your testosterone down to nothing, then you won't have a PSA reading, so that doesn't really tell what is happening. I am no doctor, so I may be incorrect.

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