CancerCompass message board discussion started by GeorgesGirl on 1/14/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19719,0.htm Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ The dr. told us that at the end of cycle 2 and cycle 4 daddy would be evaluated to see if the cancer had shrunk. She said that she routinely does a CT scan to do this. I was expecting her to say a PET scan since it provides so much more detail. I am curious to know what others have had done to see progress.By the way, this message board has been a God-send. Yes, there is much sadness here, but there is also a huge amount of hope and help available. Thanks to all of you who are here! GeorgesGirl Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husbands doctor did a ct scan after the second cycle.  It showed the tumor was shrinking.  He is just past his 4th cycle and goes for a pet scan on wednesday.  The way that we could tell ( or we thought we could) that it was working, is that the chemo wasn't making him as sick. Hope this little bit of info helps.  We are new to this as well. These boards have been a tremendous help to me.   robinlbr Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT We have done PET for original diagnosis and pre-surgically to rule out mets in lungs before doing Ivor-Lewis (surgery contraindicated by mets).  Also did PET to restage when CT showed beginning of lung mets return in area we had resected since we thought it could be scar tissue and metabolic activity ruled that out.  During 3rd round of chemo, we began having trouble with Blue Cross covering PET-they will not allow if for restaging EC (but will allow it for nodules in lungs if they call it lung cancer).  That's okay with me in a way because I don't really like the idea of shooting my husband full of radioactive tracer, etc (there are cancer risks with the diagnostics too).  If we were to see new nodules on a CT we would probably do a PET to identify if it was metastasis or something else, but after already knowing there is something there, a CT would be enough to show you if it was shrinking or not in chemo so I'm guessing that is the rationale behind using CT.  The new 64 slice CT's use less radiation, so the risk is smaller using them.    tongrenhealer Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT We knew moms treatment was working because she was slowly able to start swallowing again. She had a complete blockage at the stomach/ esoph. junction.  One day we realized that she wasnt spitting saliva out as often, then we encouraged her to start sipping water. After a few days she was able to drink more, then finally eat. She saw big improvements at about the 6 week mark. 2cats Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you for your response. That sounds encouraging. I think if Daddy could swallow he would be be able to handle everything else that is going on a little better. He throws up constantly from the chemo. He has felt better today but still vomiting some and nauseated terribly. We go back for treatment 2 tomorrow... GeorgesGirl Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT