topic Re: Interpreting MRI results ??? in Treatments and side effects

Interpreting MRI results ???

Smiley — Thu, 31 May 2012 06:12:28 GMT

Hello friends in the great CC forum. Just looking for some info if any one has experienced something similar or even just opinions :-) I know we (myself being the partner) don't have the medical degrees so I am not backward in coming forward with questions when I see our specialist with my husband. Since diagnosis, I have maintained a medical record for our GBM journey. Part of these records are MRI written reports. We are currently having MRIs completed every 12 weeks and the last few have remained 'stable' - all great news as in our case it seems the chemo is doing the job it is meant to for the moment. For whatever reason I was flicking through theses reports recently and happened to compare the last 2 - February & May, where report had been listed as stable. What I don't understand is that the diameter of the tumour in May has increased on the size reported on in February - to me this is not 'stable' as it has obviously changed ! I have tried to process my thinking , maybe the scans were looked at at different depths, but if so, how can they be compared ???? Also maybe a different person was responsible for reports - but no, same doctor, same imaging centre ???? This is really puzzling me and I will bring it up with our oncologist when I see him in the next few weeks. I look at my husband and he is coping - small steps every day but he is also slowly just finding everything that little bit more challenging. It is often so hard to see this when you are with a person everyday though as Im sure many of you understand. At least the fight is still happening for now 🙂

Re: Interpreting MRI results ???

peanutz — Thu, 31 May 2012 11:22:36 GMT

Interesting, you get to read reports from the scans. We've never received any report. Every time after the scan, we will see the oncologist a couple of days later and he will show us the scan and tell us how we travel along.

Re: Interpreting MRI results ???

exhausted — Thu, 31 May 2012 11:39:42 GMT

We never get reports either but I'm sure if we asked they would be available.

Re: Interpreting MRI results ???

SILLY — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 06:15:11 GMT

I don't have the same cancer so I am only guessing that the change they see on the MRIs is so small that they call it stable . T Peanutz and Exhausted, I get all my reports too. They are my property anyway as I paid for them ,with no Medicare or health fund rebate. They are posted to me to arrive after I see the doctor. One time when they didn't come in the mail I rang and asked them to be faxed to my gp and I picked them up from there an hour or so later. My gp is in my street. All the best,Smiley. Ask away at the next appointment.

Re: Interpreting MRI results ???

Sailor — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:37:11 GMT

G'day there folks I am not an expert on these things but I insist on getting a copy of any reports, pathology or radiology. I have found from time to time that I man the only one who seems to have a complete history of these and have ben able to supply a new specialist or consultant with copies they seem to have problems getting elsewhere. So advice for anyone starting on this journey. Get a portable file/folder with plastic sleeve or pockets and keep a copy of everything. Interpreting results - I am not sure just what that means. My latest CT has things increased in size and a few new things that are small, but no-one seems to be too worried about it. They have ordered more tests. I guess the term stable is relative - it is not as bad as it might have been, not a lot has happened so the term stable is used. I always ask my specialists about these and they give me honest answers. Cheers Sailor Never go into strange places on a falling tide without a pilot. Thomas Gibson Bowles