PET/CT during lung infection

Posted by anfrench1 @anfrench1, May 14 5:52pm

I'm a former colon cancer patient, and my oncologist is monitoring nodules and ground glass granulomas in my lungs. Unfortunately, I've had chronic bronchitis for nine months, which has made it challenging for the radiologist to distinguish between infection and cancer.

I have a 6-month PET/CT scan scheduled for this Friday, and I'm concerned it will have limited value due to my infection. The alternative is to wait and hope my lungs improve, but the soonest opportunity is 3 months from now because I'll be out of the country. Also, there's the risk that my bronchitis is my "new normal" and will never entirely resolve.

Any advice or guidance on whether to have the scan or postpone?

Thanks.

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anfrench1 | @anfrench1 | May 14 5:58pm

I should clarify that my oncologist is leaving it up to me to decide whether to go through with the scan or postpone. Thus the dilemma!

amyb5 | @amyb5 | May 16 7:26am

This is a hard decision, that ultimately you will need to go with your gut. I have had lymph nodes that present as either infection, but can’t rule out disease. Without going into my history, both options could be the cause for them. I decided to go ahead with my scans, thinking that the answer if not getting worse, was acceptable to me. Good luck!

Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | May 21 1:25pm

In reply to @anfrench1 "I should clarify that my oncologist is leaving it up to me to decide whether to..." + (show)

@anfrench1, it's so hard when the doctors leave these decisions up to us. What did you decide?

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