[Chelee]

I was just discussing this subject with some women at my breast center. We all can't help but think the SOONER you catch mets it HAS to be better. (I do understand about the false positives however.) But I am MORE concerned since I am a stage IIIa, her2/neu 3+++ in catching any mets when they are small. Lets say I had liver or lung mets. Seems to me...the SOONER they find them...the better odds I have to get them under control and beat it.

To me...its sort of like coming home and finding a SMALL kitchen fire on your stove that is just going to reach your kitchen cabinet and really start flaming up. Do you put out the fire while its STILL SMALL...or just sit down and have some coffee first and try to deal with it later. Now its not only destroyed a kitchen cabinet...maybe half of your house has burned down now and there is no chance of getting it under control and your left with nothing.

I think with us her2 gals...scans are important. I don't want to over do it...nor do I want to be exposed to excessive radiation and other things if its not necessary...but if I am truly concerned and worried about something...I WANT my scans done for piece of mind if nothing else.

Seems common sense would dictate to do scans sooner then later when it comes to aggressive cancers like mine. Again, I want to PUT OUT the fire now before it burns down the house.

They say it makes no difference in over all survival. How can that be? If you find the mets to brain, liver, lungs, bone, etc...and fight it EARLY verses after its spread extensively...how can it not help in your over all survival? I must be missing something here? (All of us women at the center agree on this topic 100% for a change. )

One women said its the insurance companies putting pressure on the doctors not to order all these scans unless they absolutely have to in order to save money. (I hope thats not it.)

Chelee