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Trying to understand diagnostic imaging report

Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: Oct 8 7:24pm | Replies (10)

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Radiology reports are often very difficult for non-doctors to understand….sometimes they are scary, as radiologists don’t want to miss possible cancer….the words on this seem to indicate a mass and possible liver mets….ask your doc to explain it to be sure…sometimes what looks like a mass is either non-cancerous or something else, and many people over a lifetime have small non-cancerous lesions on their liver, which are sometimes watched unless quite large.sometimes, a biopsy is needed to be sure..they can get that in a colonoscopy or other procedures. Don’t be afraid to ask docs for clear explanations ! Wishing you good luck.

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Replies to "Radiology reports are often very difficult for non-doctors to understand….sometimes they are scary, as radiologists don’t..."

I’m in total agreement, I too find it difficult to understand what the radiologist is saying, I was given a Patient Portal when I first had cancer and I remember thinking what an advantage it was to see my results before I spoke with the doctor. I’m not so sure anymore because the comments are often very confusing or too much speculation that I pick up on too much. I know that some people find it a good way to formulate their questions in advance of speaking with the doctor but the conversation rarely goes the way that you wanted it to be, someone referred to it as a gift and a curse.