Pet scan for anal cancer

The CT scan takes a series of x-rays from all around your body. The PET scan uses a mildly radioactive drug to show up areas of your body where cells are more active than normal. So you might have to travel to another hospital to have one. A radiographer operates the scanner.

Axumin is an FDA-approved, Medicare-covered scan that can achieve early detection of recurrent prostate cancer after surgery or radiation. Being able to detect early metastatic disease with a scan offers two important therapeutic advantages. First, the knowledge of where the cancer is located can help guide effective therapy to that specific area of the body and limit damage to other areas of the body. The scan detects where the cancer is not present and where treatment is not needed. Recurrent cancer signaled by a rising PSA is not always due to metastases. Sometimes the cancer remains near or in where the prostate used to be, so PSA is coming from cancer recurring in the prostate gland after radiation or in the prostate fossa after surgery the fossa is the area of the body where the prostate was located prior to surgical removal , which is known as a "local recurrence.

A good friend of mine was recently diagnosed. The doctor is recommending a CT scan and not a pet scan. I am an eight year survivor of stage 4 anal cancer. Is it normal for a CT scan instead of a pet scan to stage her?

PET stands for positron emission tomography. The PET scan uses a mildly radioactive drug to show up areas of your body where cells are more active than normal. It can also help to find out where and whether cancer has spread.