Behind the Scene but Still on my Team

Over the weekend I read this tweet :

"Step out of the dark and into the light." How radiologists can avoid being replaced by @CancerGeek #RSNA15 https://t.co/0UCFYsWWjw

— Ed Mariano, MD (@EMARIANOMD) November 29, 2015

The tweet links to a blog post which describes how a system built by Watson Health using Merge Healthcare data and machine learning can provide an initial recommendation. The recommendation will be based on accessing patient symptoms and cross referencing images with previously diagnosed scans. Basically radiologists could be replaced by machines. The blog ends with recommendations for radiologists to "step into the light".

A friend tweeted

@womenofteal @EMARIANOMD #radiology is key to #diagnosis but most #patient never realize the people behind the scenes. #RSNA15

— CancerGeek (@CancerGeek) November 29, 2015

And that got me thinking.

In the past 10 years, my care has included 21 CT scans, 2 PET/CTs, and 11 mammograms. In that time period  I have only met one radiologist. Back in 2005 after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer my gyn-onc sent me for a mammogram to insure that I did not have breast cancer.  I had a script to go that day for a mammogram so they squeezed me into the schedule. After finishing,  the technician asked me to wait for a minute in the room. In walked the radiologist who had called my gyn-onc with the results. They did not want me to wait over the weekend for the results so the radiologist told me my mammogram images were clear. I thanked him and he wished me luck with the chemotherapy treatments.

In every other instance the radiologist who read my scans was behind the scenes. I have copies of the slides of each scan on CDs and also the written report for each scan. The report includes the name of the radiologist who read the scan and wrote the report. The group I use for my scans  has over 50 radiologists listed on their web page.  After years of scans I began to noticed that some of my scans were read by the same person and that was comforting. 

In October 2008, it was a CT scan that found my recurrence on my liver and spleen. (My CA-125 was normal).

So I have lots of reasons to thank the wonderful radiologists at University Radiology for the behind the scenes care they provide.

Becker, MD *
Simoes-DeCarvalho, MD
Winchman, MD*
Needell, MD*
Stein, MD
Amorosa, MD
Epstein, MD
Bramwit, MD*
Tunc, MD*
Lee, MD
Walor, MD
Levitt, MD
Yudd, MD
Einhorn, MD*
Grygotis, MD
Sorkin, MD
Chase, MD 
 *multiple reports

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

#11

Today was CT day. I drank the ReadiCAT ( Barium is a key ingredient) last night around 8 pm and then again at 7:45 this morning. Then it was off to URG for my scan.

My doctor had ordered a chest, abdomen and pelvic CT scan. I was called in right on time. (That is one of the reasons I like the Metuchen location so much.) Next, I signed the consent form for the iodine contrast. Iodine can cause some serious allergic reactions but is used to help better show up the organs during the scan. Then it was drink a bit more of the ReadiCAT.

After laying down on the table and telling the nurse that my veins were not good, she went to work. She checked both arms, she did the tap- tap on my arm, swabbed the area and hit the vein in my left arm on the first shot. Here technique was perfect with just a bit of a sting. Then the scans began. This machine had a very ordinary sounding gentleman who told me to "Take a deep breath. And hold......Continue breathing". I do miss the machine with the instructions said with a British accent. The table I was laying on moved slowly through the machine. The first scans were done without the contrast. Then the nurse came out and set the contrast to be injected. As it is being injected the first thing you notice is an odd taste in your mouth then an interesting warm feeling occurs. When the injection is complete , the second set of scans. I waited about two minutes in the waiting area and then I was called up to get the CD containing my scan images. My doctor with get the radiologist report early next week. The image above is not the actual machine I used but the one I used was similar.

This is my 11th scan in less than 5 years. Since my tumor marker( CA-125) remains normal even with cancer present, the best way to see if my cancer is back or not is to have a CT scan.Yeah, I know lots of radiation issues but unless a better screening test comes along this is the only best method available to me. I am hoping that when I get the report next week everything will be clear. I'll just need to keep busy between now and then.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! I am blessed by a husband who has been with me for each and every one of these scans.