Chest Xrays after chemo

[mercyriver]

Remind me...because my husband has not done a chest x-ray after chemo, though he has had a full body PET/CT and will have another of those in Oct, plus he has had a regular CT.

Should he be having monthly chest x-rays? I would like to confront the Onc on it today, if it is something that should be happening.

Thank you

Becki

[dadmo]

Becki:
Print a copy of these guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Pay particular attention to page 15 which gives follow-up information for nonseminoma. My reading of this calls for chest x-rays every 1-2 months during the first year after chemo. I'm sure if I'm reading this wrong someone will correct me.

[Fish]

Hi Becki:

If the CT scans are covering the chest, then an x-ray won't provide any additional information. For my surveillence, I have a CT of chest abdomen and pelvis. No chest x-rays at all. The problem with chest CT's is that they are so sensitive, you can get scares from false positives.

But if I were you, I would just verify with the onc that some type of routine imaging of the chest is being done and that it meets the guidelines that dadmo mentioned for how often it is performed.

best wishes.

[mercyriver]

Thanks guys! That was just the infor I was looking for.

Becki

[DAWN82]

we were told that when Brian goes back for his follow-ups in the future, he will have to have blood work, ct scan & chest X-ray.

I guess it depends on there being activity in the lungs at time of diagnosis

Dawn