My partner was diagnosed last November 2011 with the above, he has mets to the parotid and has recently completed radiotherapy to the parotid gland.He had a PET scan recently and this was what the letter to the GP stated:
Diagnosis: Primary - C34.1 - adenocarcinoma left upper lobe lung, metastasis L parotid, Diagnosed Nov 14, 2011 (Active) Stage IV, T2b, N2, M1b
I reviewed in clinic today with a recent PET scan which shows no increased uptake in the left parotid. There is increased uptake in the left lung nodule, left hilum and lower left pre-tracheal region (the last 2 SUV 6.1 and 3.9 respectively). This should all be technically treatable with radical radiotherapy though agreement has to be obtained for this.
Can anyone tell me what this means in plain english?
Thanks
Reply # - December 8, 2012, 09:30 AM
Reply To: NSCLC Adeno Stage IV PET Scab
Hello annieosb, I'm so sorry your partner is going through this. I understand how difficult it is for the partner and can only imagine how your partner must feel.
We really can't expect to decipher a scan report. The scan is only a piece of the picture. Scan reports don't have a standard vocabulary and often treating oncs must confer with the radiologist who has written the report and most importantly oncologists must use the multitude of other information he or she has on the patient to complete the understanding. Please let us know his treatment and response history to date.
I think you may be helped by reading a bit from our archives. I'll get you started but you also can find info by clicking on the "General" and "Focused" cancer info links in the larger green rectangles at the top of the pages. After you choose from the drop down menu you will have the opportunity to search from menus that will be on the right column of those pages.
There is also the FAQ, and the search feature is very good (though for searches you may need to log off depending on your browser).
The latest new addition is a growing set of short videos by Dr. West. This is a very good basic one on stage 4 nsclc (including adeno) that describes treatment and when radiation is appropriate. http://cancergrace.org/lung/2012/12/06/get-the-lead-runner-local-rx-for…
Note that there are links to further reading/listening at the end of all blog/video posts.
this explains the standard practice of assessing response to treatment, http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2010/09/16/cancer-101-faq-assessment-…
Also it will help our doctors help you if you give us a history of treatment and responses then use some of your new knowledge to ask a more specific question for our doctors.
Thanks and your a good mate,
Janine
forum moderator
Reply # - December 8, 2012, 08:44 PM
Reply To: NSCLC Adeno Stage IV PET Scab
Janine's quite right that we can't offer the service of interpreting scan reports. That needs to be something that is done by the doctor(s) directly involved, since there is an important element of putting it into context based on other details.
If you have other, more specific questions, we'd be happy to try to address them.
Good luck!
-Dr. West