Cancer

[barb t]

i have a long family history of cancer, I am a 52 yr old female and have never had cancer, I have researched a new test PET Scan, I would like to have a full body scan instead of all the other diagnostic testing ie colonoscopy, mammogram, etc as it appears this test will cover everything, will oncologist do this test for me just as a health precaution.

[hanaguchi]

There are centers that are dedicated to performing PET scans. Getting one is usually not an issue what may be tough is getting your insurance to cover it.
Good luck.

[Amy1973]

I agree with the comment above.  I just had the test done.  I had a CT scan and they found  lumps.  Did a PET scan to see if lumps were hot.  The PET scan didn’t light up hot on lumps.   They said smaller lumps that might be cancer may not show up on the PET scan.  They are not 100% accurate.  I will need more CT scans to watch to see if the lumps grow.
They found a lymph node that was hot.  The PET scan might also show infections.  I have needed a serious of tests to look for fungal and baterial infections.  So far all are negative.   This could be cancer but the PET scan only looks for one thing and that is present in infections and cancer.  The PET scan can miss some pre-cancer or small cancer.  
I still like having both test.  The CT shows me the areas I need to watch.  The PET scan will just conferm or not confirm cancer.  Since I can’t have monthly PET scans, cost factor, I will have monthly CT scans to check for changes in the spots.  Then if they change the wrong way we will remove the spots and test for cancer.  I will ask for another PET scan this summer.  I will ask for them yearly if I can.  I don’t mind going through all the test.  I need to be proactive about my body.
What they did was use the CT scans and PET scan to compare spots in both tests. The test is $5,000 in Iowa.  My insurance covered most of it, because my doctor ordered it. I think it is a good test and if you can get one you should.  Just wanted to prepare you with a few things I have delt with having the test.  Good luck!

[Enoch Choi]

An oncologist will not order a PET scan as a preventative health test within a routine health maintenance visit.  In fact, oncologists don't see patients for preventative health, your primary care physician does, and decides what diagnostic tests are appropriate.  It is not appropriate to substitute routine screening mammograms and colonoscopy and other tests with a PET scan which does not screen reliably.

Without any symptoms it's not advisable to get whole body scanning, it's not a powerful enough test to screen for the occult malignancies (cancers) you'd like to look for.

Enoch Choi, MD