Re: PET scan questions

It's odd to her (my mom) that in the years she has been dealing with this,
it has never been brought up before, but now that they have the machine, its
push-push-push.

And, you are right, like Anne is, that the piece of mind is worth its weight
in gold. OTOH, she is just as afraid of her mental well being being
compromised from a false positive, or even if they find *do* find something.

As Melinda stated in her post above about having been through the mill of
testing and treatments, part of her is not sure she really wants to know if
there is anything else.

Thanks Jeannie, comments appreciated.

Michelle


"Jeannie Wilson" <jwilson421@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xns97D64FA0C5D56jwilson421comcastnet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Mishell" <mishellr71@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote here for all to
seea3Lfg.14876$U_2.9602@trnddc05:">news:a3Lfg.14876$U_2.9602@trnddc05:

My mom has been advised to have a PET scan. She is a two-time breast
cancer survivor who has had all of her checkups and has been so far
free of disease (crossing fingers) for a couple of years.

The hospital just acquired new equipment, a PET scanner, and now the
doc says he'd like her to have one "just to check that there is
nothing else anywhere". She feels exceptionally well, just had her
last check up a month ago, and has no complaints.

She's not at all crazy about having the isotope injected, and she
feels that the hospital (and her doctor) are pushing PET scans to pay
for the machine. She has never had one, and has never been recommended
to have one, even when she was receiving treatments in a larger city
that had the equipment.

I think she's probably right. Is this just them trying to recoup
their investment or is a PET actually worth it?

From what I have read, typed and remembered, a PET scan didn't provide
all that much info, what is your opinion? Is it worth the injection,
the time, the money (she has insurance, but still....) or is it just a
new gadget they need to pay for? She feels that if it could catch
something that is just beginning and it could be cured, then of course
it is worth it, but she doesn't want to do it just for kicks.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!
Michelle



Personally, I would be darned thankful that the hospital had managed to
get
the new equipment which could lead to further and/or earlier detection (
especially considering she has already had it twice) rather than just
assume that they were ordering unnecessary tests to pay for the machine.
If you or your mother for that matter think that lowly of them, why is she
still seeing them and not going to someone she thinks would be above
putting patients though any unnecessary treatment or test just to pay off
the equipment?


.

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