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Cat Scan question
Hi
Can anyone tell me how likely it would or wouldn't be to have two CT's done and not detect possible cancer that may be there? Does any one know of anyone whos Cancer was found but initially missed?
I have had classic symptoms for the past 9 months.. and they continue to worsen.. they have found small things one at a time that have popped up.. but nothing substantial.. SMALL fibroid, slightly enlarged uterus, and now a cyst on the OPOSSITE side that the most intense pain is on.. I do feel some discomfort on the right side (where the cyst is) but most discomfort on left side... left ovary pain, front and back .. pressure on back.. also in side and lower abdomen.. even into the groin and down leg.. fatigue and shortness of breathe..they did also find blood in my urine.. but don't seem very concerned about that or anything since the CT has not seemed to reveal anything.. I do have an upcoming appointment with a new OB.. (my primary is the one who has ordered the tests.). but she seems to be "done with me"... not sure where to go from there if nothing else is found..
thanks for any info you can give!
Can anyone tell me how likely it would or wouldn't be to have two CT's done and not detect possible cancer that may be there? Does any one know of anyone whos Cancer was found but initially missed?
I have had classic symptoms for the past 9 months.. and they continue to worsen.. they have found small things one at a time that have popped up.. but nothing substantial.. SMALL fibroid, slightly enlarged uterus, and now a cyst on the OPOSSITE side that the most intense pain is on.. I do feel some discomfort on the right side (where the cyst is) but most discomfort on left side... left ovary pain, front and back .. pressure on back.. also in side and lower abdomen.. even into the groin and down leg.. fatigue and shortness of breathe..they did also find blood in my urine.. but don't seem very concerned about that or anything since the CT has not seemed to reveal anything.. I do have an upcoming appointment with a new OB.. (my primary is the one who has ordered the tests.). but she seems to be "done with me"... not sure where to go from there if nothing else is found..
thanks for any info you can give!
You will always know your body better than anyone else. There are great tests available to help Practioners diagnose but should not be relied upon for absolute diagnosis. There is such a thing as "clinical correlation". I went to see my Primary in September 2007 with complaints of abdominal pains. I was sent for a CT which was negative. Had follow-up with surgeon who said probably neurological. A few weeks ago, the pain got much worse, went back to Primary and was pretty insistent that "something is wrong". Was sent for a transvaginal US and found a fibroid ans well as an adnexal mass. Scheduled for Hysterectomy 2/8. GYN states my chances of having Cancer are slim and I remain hopeful.
Be persistent. Find a doctor who will listen to your symtoms. I wish you the best of luck.
Be persistent. Find a doctor who will listen to your symtoms. I wish you the best of luck.
CT-Scan is important, but also have them consider ultrasound and yes the CA-125 (which yous aid they didn't want to do? ). Not sure if you are in an HMO or whatever, but go elsewhere...now. Worst case scenario...go to emergency and get it all done there in a few hours. And yes that is true what was said about the PET scan. Basically they inject you with, to dumb it down, radiocative sugar LOL. The theorey is that malignant tumors 'suck' up sugar more rapidly than normal tissue. It works great that way at identifying issues that CT scan wouldn't even be able to detect. It's insanely expensive though so insurance is a must and only if your dr's approve it to (which can be harder than you think in some cases)
Hello, I found this forum because I was looking up my symptoms on the web.
In the last 5 months I have lost almost 20lbs unintentionally, I get full very fast when I try to eat and don't have much of an appetite, and I have developed this sharp pain in my lower right side in my pelvis that I thought was just a pulled muscle a few months ago, but it has not gone away. It feels like a big pebble stuck behind my right ovari or kidney and it is a constant discomfort. Not pain as much as just discomfort. Getting concerned about the pain and the weight loss I scheduled a visit to the gyno. I had my first ever pap smear done. Which I'm embarrased I had not had one before now. But I was feeling good because the doctor said she did not see anything during the exam to alarm her. So I chaulked it all up to just being in my head, maybe. You do feel silly when you know something just does not seem right and yet the doctor says they don't find anything. But the pain is still there. About a week ago the gyno office called and said some abnormal cells were found in my pap smear and they want me to come in for a coloscopy and biopsy. In the mean time my family doctor also concerned about the weight loss and ache in my lower back ran a series of blood tests, x-rays, and a CTscan. He found nothing alarming was his words. This was a relief to me...however I still have the sharp pain and can't explain it or the weight loss. So I was afraid if maybe there is something going on and for some odd reason blood tests and a CTscan could miss it some how. I am waiting yet to have the coloscopy next week. If the doctors aren't too worried I guess I should not be either...but I am a little nervous and would like to know why I have the pain and weight loss. So i was looking up on the net to see if it were at all possible that after all the blood work and a CTscan something could still be missed. Do you think this is possible?
In the last 5 months I have lost almost 20lbs unintentionally, I get full very fast when I try to eat and don't have much of an appetite, and I have developed this sharp pain in my lower right side in my pelvis that I thought was just a pulled muscle a few months ago, but it has not gone away. It feels like a big pebble stuck behind my right ovari or kidney and it is a constant discomfort. Not pain as much as just discomfort. Getting concerned about the pain and the weight loss I scheduled a visit to the gyno. I had my first ever pap smear done. Which I'm embarrased I had not had one before now. But I was feeling good because the doctor said she did not see anything during the exam to alarm her. So I chaulked it all up to just being in my head, maybe. You do feel silly when you know something just does not seem right and yet the doctor says they don't find anything. But the pain is still there. About a week ago the gyno office called and said some abnormal cells were found in my pap smear and they want me to come in for a coloscopy and biopsy. In the mean time my family doctor also concerned about the weight loss and ache in my lower back ran a series of blood tests, x-rays, and a CTscan. He found nothing alarming was his words. This was a relief to me...however I still have the sharp pain and can't explain it or the weight loss. So I was afraid if maybe there is something going on and for some odd reason blood tests and a CTscan could miss it some how. I am waiting yet to have the coloscopy next week. If the doctors aren't too worried I guess I should not be either...but I am a little nervous and would like to know why I have the pain and weight loss. So i was looking up on the net to see if it were at all possible that after all the blood work and a CTscan something could still be missed. Do you think this is possible?
Thank you Gail.. yes I agree.. for sure
that is a good point about the PET detecting smaller masses.. which is a conflict for me at this point since what I think I feel woudl have to be of decent size for me to feel it this way.. that is why I was wondering if it could be hiding behind the ovary or something else.. very baffled.. but will pick myself up brush myself off and try try again.. just have to regroup from time to time.. I am so exhausted and discouraged at times..
thanks Carol
that is a good point about the PET detecting smaller masses.. which is a conflict for me at this point since what I think I feel woudl have to be of decent size for me to feel it this way.. that is why I was wondering if it could be hiding behind the ovary or something else.. very baffled.. but will pick myself up brush myself off and try try again.. just have to regroup from time to time.. I am so exhausted and discouraged at times..
thanks Carol
COMMUNITY LEADER
As much technology as there is in this day and age, neither CT scans nor PET scan are completely accurate. They are both great diagnostic tools, but both are slightly limited in that anything under about 1 cm might not be detected. My recurrence was missed by at CT scan, but found a month later during gallbladder surgery. PET scans can be affected by blood sugar levels, so you are tested before they administer the radioactive substance used for the test. Typically, a doctor won't order a PET scan unless they have a pretty good reason to....such as an already diagnosed case of cancer. A CA125 won't rule out cancer, nor will it diagnose it. There are so many other things that can affect it. The only real way to diagnose ovarian cancer is to do a biopsy during surgery. I agree that perhaps your next move it to do a transvaginal ultrasound. If you are not satisfied with your doctor, it might be time to look for a Gynecological Oncologist...if you can get in without a referral. You want to be in the best hands in which you can possibly be, whether you have cancer or not.
Best wishes to you. Keep looking until you find a doctor who will listen!!
Gail
Best wishes to you. Keep looking until you find a doctor who will listen!!
Gail
Wow.. thank you for sharing that with me.. gives me new hope to continue to look...
you must have been very sure of your illness to threaten to sue.. I'm not sure I could do that.. just keep hoping the next test will reveal whats there.. I waited several days before calling for my last results , I was afraid to hear the same old answers... and now am wondering what this cyst is on the right side.. I have never had trouble with these things.. had fibroids or any of this stuff before..
Your Mass was on your ovaries ?? are you cancer free at this point?
you must have been very sure of your illness to threaten to sue.. I'm not sure I could do that.. just keep hoping the next test will reveal whats there.. I waited several days before calling for my last results , I was afraid to hear the same old answers... and now am wondering what this cyst is on the right side.. I have never had trouble with these things.. had fibroids or any of this stuff before..
Your Mass was on your ovaries ?? are you cancer free at this point?
it was 6 cm and only because I insisted and promised to sue the doctors they ordered the test. Be persistent! Petscan is ordered to detect very tiny cancerous cells and I have no idea why xrays and ctscans were not able to detect anything. I was bleading and had a terrible pain and could not sit strait because something was bothering me and my bladder could not control the urine. those were my symptoms and for the past year I heard all the possible excuses that all this will go away and it never did. My symptoms worsened and finally after the surgery they said--cancer
Really ??? what is a Petscan?? what is the difference between that and a CT? I have heard of them but don't know what they are and no one has offered that at all.. even though I have said repeatedly that I can FEEL something there.. how long after your previous scans did you have the PetScan.. and how large was the Mass? was it on the Ovaries? Sorry for all the questions.. I have been searching hard to find someone who this has happened to. When I ask Dr's. Nurses what the chances are that something could be missed they just say.. "oh.. these are very accurate"...
thanks
Carol
thanks
Carol
why do not you ask for Petscan. I had two ct scans and xrays and nothing showed. Petscan was able to detect the mass
Thank you so much for the encouragement.. I know I am doing the right thing.. but still can't help feeling like a whiner at times or wondering if there really is something wrong.. but it isn't too long before I am reminded that something is not right...
I have had a transvaginal done.. and it actually hurt quite a bit when tilted toward the left side.. I asked my OB if that was normal.. she said 'no".. but offered no other suggestions she really was annoyed by my presence I could tell.. after reading the notes from her on my medical records I found some halve truths and exaggerations.. some things I never said and some things she never asked.. that she put that she had .I was pretty peived.. but not surprised.. she didn't want to even consider that I may have legitmate concerns since I do not fit the picture.. and didn't even try to put my mind at ease.. if anything she made me feel worse! And.. yes.. I did ask for the CA 125.. she refused.. she said.. even if it were elevated.. what then??? Laposcopy??.. very condescending...
anyway.. thanks again..!
Carol
I have had a transvaginal done.. and it actually hurt quite a bit when tilted toward the left side.. I asked my OB if that was normal.. she said 'no".. but offered no other suggestions she really was annoyed by my presence I could tell.. after reading the notes from her on my medical records I found some halve truths and exaggerations.. some things I never said and some things she never asked.. that she put that she had .I was pretty peived.. but not surprised.. she didn't want to even consider that I may have legitmate concerns since I do not fit the picture.. and didn't even try to put my mind at ease.. if anything she made me feel worse! And.. yes.. I did ask for the CA 125.. she refused.. she said.. even if it were elevated.. what then??? Laposcopy??.. very condescending...
anyway.. thanks again..!
Carol
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