Chris Cat Scan

[Chris'Mom]

Hi all..just had to share this....I was pretty down this morning knowing Chris had to wake up and drink two bottles of white goo for his cat scan at 11:00......I just called him making sure he was up and was going to start drinking them.....he answered and said "Mom, I' m finished....drank both right down".....I can't believe I was upset all night knowing he had those bottles to drink...guess it is harder on us...and for those out there facing cat scans for the first time.....I guess drinking those "shakes" must get easier...prayers to all today with tests...Mary Ellen

[Mom]

Hang in there, MaryEllen, he will do fine.

[Karen]

Prayers for your peace of mind and an "all clear" for Chris. He's passed the 2 year mark and his AFP is normal...all excellent indications that the CTwill be perfect!

[TCLEFT]

Sending positive thoughts for and "All Clear" and an easy time with the contrast.

[Chris'Mom]

Thanks friends...for being there...Mary Ellen

[Margaret]

Warming up my happy dance for your great news Mary Ellen

[Fed]

Mary Ellen,
My thoughts are with you and Chris today. Looking forward to hearing the news,

[Fish]

My thoughts and prayers for a big "ALL CLEAR"

[Chris'Mom]

Hi, thanks and need your two-cents...Chris had the cat scan a little while ago...and our local cancer hospital called me and asked if Chris'last cat scan was at their hospital, I said no, last July it was at Sloan. They called Sloan and requested Chris' slides..($30.00 for Sloan to send here) and they want to compare them...wouldn't it be better for the slides to go to Sloan and they read them...I am confused...and so nervous why they are requesting them....any opinions....thanks...Mary Ellen

[Karen]

Mary Ellen,

X-rays, scans, mamograms etc are always compared to previous films, if available. Not a reason to worry...although I know you are anyway! That's usually asked up front when you go in for a scan...when and where was you last one, and they request films sent.

Something to keep in mind whenever anyone gets a scan is to make sure the previous one(s) are available for comparison.

[Chris'Mom]

Thanks Karen...I should have realized that.....but wouldn't it make sense for Sloan to read slides...I worry locally they are not as experienced with TC as in NY...still remember how we were treated locally, like Chris had something they had never seen before...Mary Ellen

[Fed]

So let me get this straight: the place where Chris is getting his scans wants to see the pathology slides or the CT/radiology films? It sounds odd they would be asking for the pathology slides, if that is the case. If it is the radiology films, then that is easily remedied. Most hospitals will actually give you a CD with all of your radiology films for free (I know Brigham and DFCI do it in Boston; I don't see why Sloan wouldn't). The CD is not copy-protected so if you need to pass it on to another locale, you could avoid extra fees for that.

[Chris'Mom]

Fed - our local hospital doesn't want path slides, just his last cat scan....and yes, they said it is just a CD they want...and they were shocked Sloan Kettering said they would charge us 30.00 for it....our local hospital said when they send theirs out...they only charge 1.00, so I was shocked Sloan will charge me 30.00....M

[Already Bald]

So let me get this straight: the place where Chris is getting his scans wants to see the pathology slides or the CT/radiology films? It sounds odd they would be asking for the pathology slides, if that is the case. If it is the radiology films, then that is easily remedied. Most hospitals will actually give you a CD with all of your radiology films for free (I know Brigham and DFCI do it in Boston; I don't see why Sloan wouldn't). The CD is not copy-protected so if you need to pass it on to another locale, you could avoid extra fees for that.

Sounds to me that the current center wants the CD of the CT done at Sloan to be used, just as Karen wrote- as a baseline for comparission purposes.
It is perfectly normal, and also a good idea.
I also was charged 30some dollars for the CD of my 10/12/06 CT Scan from Sloan- to be sent to my oncologist at HUP (PENN).
I had an extra one made, which FED torched for me at Dadmo & Mommo's.

[Karen]

Mary Ellen,

There are also differences in machines and possibly techniques used at different centers. Perhaps you can ask after each CT to get it on a CD so you have it for your records.

My feeling is that even though TC may not be seen as much in your hometown, the radiologists reading the CTs in the regional cancer center you are going to look at all kinds of scans, and I would be comfortable with their assessment, especially when looking at a previous scan and report. In 2008 we need to change where we get Ray's CTs done for insurance reasons and we will be sending all this previous scans to the new hospital.

This is standard practice....not to worry about it.