Follow up CT scans after lung cancer: How often is your followup?

@akfishinmom1, Your comfort level with scan frequency is important. Some people get anxious before scans and prefer a longer time between scans, while others get anxious if the scans are spread apart more. Sadly the moral of the story is that we're all anxious and concerned about recurrence. We all need to find that sweet spot that works for us and our doctors. One consideration is that with new and better treatments we are living longer, and the CT scans do expose us to radiation. Generally, the risk from the radiation far out weights the risks involved with a lung cancer recurrence. I've pushed my scans from 3 months to 4 months.
Maybe one more at the 6 month interval would help to ease your mind. I would likely feel the same way and would want to keep an eye on that nodule.

Hi Lisa- I'm a 25 lung cancer survivor. I have multi-focal adenocarcinoma lung cancer. There is limited data showing the dangers of mortality from radiation exposure. There is also a difference between the sexes. Not one doctor in my many years of lung cancer has ever mentioned any danger from CT scans. There are, however, side effects from the contrast and if you or anyone here have them there are medications to help. I have to take Zofran because I have a tendency to feel very nauseous. And I'd rather not feel that way, especially if I might hear bad news after the scan is finished.

The longer that I am a patient the more screwy I find the time in between scans. Yes, insurance companies are one reason for possible delays but also the type of cancer and the hospital's recommendations, and the doctor's experience. But there is one other source for that decision and that is the radiologist who reads the scan and who writes up a report.

I'm seven years into multi-focal lung cancer, I had two tumors treated initially with SBRT. after the initial treatment I had scans every three months while we watched a second tumor grow until we treated it with SBRT two years in. After two years of 3 month scans, we moved to 6 month scans until we found another tumor growing and then moved to 3 month scans. The tumors are all stage 1 and I have many other ground glass areas.

My experience has been the the Mayo team figures out the scan schedule based on the patients situation, it's difficult to predict. I had hoped I passed my 5 year get outta jail card until the new tumors and now realize this is just something thats part of my life forever.