Learn about the life-saving power of PET scans.
Jessica’s Story
A PET scan eventually revealed metastases on my rib and spine that had been missed on CT scans for over a year. Despite repeatedly asking my medical oncologist at BC Cancer, he refused, saying it wouldn’t change my treatment plan of "chemo for life." It wasn’t until I was referred to a radiation oncologist (thanks to CCRAN for educating me on what to ask for) that a PET scan was ordered. It changed everything — bone lesions were targeted with SBRT, then surgery and then cryoblation so my treatment did change course. I started Xgeva (a bone strengthening drug) through compassionate care.
Had I received a PET scan earlier, we might have caught the bone mets before they fractured my spine, causing severe pain and risking paralysis. My radiation oncologist, who didn’t strictly follow the system's protocols because I was young and healthy, played a key role in accessing these treatments. However, patients often have to learn about treatment options beyond chemotherapy through advocacy groups like CCRAN or their own research, because without action, a PET scan’s findings may not benefit them. Medical oncologists are often hesitant to order PET scans, knowing they typically can’t offer treatments beyond chemotherapy unless they refer patients elsewhere — and many don’t.
It also helped my team rule out peritoneal metastasis, confirming it was only adhesions, and identified a bone lesion in my hip that remained inactive on multiple PET scans. This allowed us to focus on targeted treatment for the remaining tumours.
Today, PET scans are part of my care, but only through my radiation team. I've seen many cases where PET scans revealed critical findings missed by CTs, yet access remains limited due to outdated, cost-restrictive policies. Sadly, I know patients who might have lived longer if they had access to more than just chemotherapy.
I am now four and a half years into my colorectal cancer diagnosis, even though at just 37 years old, I was told I would only live two years. Advocacy and access to a PET scan made it possible for me to receive additional treatments that helped extend my life.
-Jessica D., British Columbia
Mike’s Story
“You don't know how you're going to react until they actually give you those words, “You’ve got cancer.” So, then you don’t remember the rest of the day. Your brain races and starts thinking… “Am I prepared? Do I have my family prepared and is everything in order?” I got into a trial for Galium-68 and I ended up with a scan that really identified, in a short order but in also precise terms, where that cancer had recurred.
Everybody decided at the point, that I could just have that treated with a radiation device using what's called, SPRT or stereotactic body radiation treatment. So I chose… Five radiation treatments and off we went with life. And lived our life, everything was going well and then, unfortunately, in early 2020, I ended up with my prostate-specific antigen number going up again.
The doctors, who are my current care team, decided to give me a PSMA that was in a trial. I had my first image which showed that there were a couple of now new lymph node involvements and that my cancer had come back on my prostate. They only knew that, they found out through these scans.
If they can see it, they can fight it, right. They know where it's at, they can address it, and they can address it with incredible precision. And so also to your brain, when you can see something, when you have a vision in your head or in your mind and you know that it is in your body… I think there's something that gives you this mental picture that I can think about it, I can focus on it, I can kill it.
And I can say honestly that it's always changed my course of treatment - every time I’ve had a scan. I’m happy to report that we're now moving into our 30th month of being cancer free.”
-Mike C., via the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Bonnie’s Story
“In May 2015, after a surgery on a breast tumor, I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer…
Each time I had a PET scan it showed more progression than CT scans that were performed in between. PET scans have proven to be more beneficial in my case and the cost and stress of travelling is reduced, as the PET is a one-time scan compared to three days for the Octreotide scan. This is a lot less stressful, which means a lot to a patient that has to regularly scan. The addition of the FDG PET allowed for awareness and treatment of both grade 1 and 2 tumours...”
-Bonnie M., Toronto, Ontario
Steve’s Story
A PET CT scan was definitely instrumental in my unlikely triumph over stage 4 colon cancer, but the only roadblock I had in getting one was that I had to travel to Toronto for it. At that time, there was no PET CT machine in Durham Region where I lived.
But that is no longer the case! In 2022 I partnered with the Lakeridge Health Foundation to be a “feature patient” of their Our Cancer campaign. The goal of the campaign was to raise funds to improve the experience of cancer patients in Durham Region. One of the goals of the campaign was to raise money to purchase a PET CT machine for Lakeridge Health in Oshawa, so that patients of the RS McLaughlin Durham Region Cancer Centre could get PET CT scans close to home. And we were successful! The attached photo is of me with the new PET CT machine at Lakeridge Oshawa - acquired in the fall of 2024.
As a cancer patient, I was very surprised to learn that I would have to go to Toronto for a PET CT scan. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact the government would fund the establishment of a regional cancer centre, but not fund all of the diagnostic equipment required to assess the effectiveness of the treatments being performed by the cancer centre. It made no sense to me! I am really happy that we were able to change this for cancer patients in Durham Region!
-Steve S., Oshawa, Ontario
Jackie’s Story
“In 2008, at the age of 38, I was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in my small intestine that had spread to my liver. That year I underwent surgery to have the primary cancer removed as well as 60% of my liver. I had a second liver operation in 2016, after which time I was told I may be NED (no evidence of disease) in my liver based on MRI imaging.
Knowing that my liver was being closely monitored with MRI, I advocated for a very specific PET scan, the Ga68 PET/CT to discover whether there was any disease outside my liver. At the time it was not possible to get this PET scan in Canada so I travelled to the United States to have it done. This PET scan was a game changer. I went for this scan thinking I was NED in my liver but was nervous as to whether there was anything outside my liver. To my shock, the PET scan showed approximately twelve small tumours on my liver. I was crushed to learn that my liver was not NED as per the MRI but was happy to know that there was no disease outside my liver. This knowledge put my mind at rest and set the stage for ongoing monitoring of my liver every three months with MRI since the PET scan was not available in Ontario.
I travelled several more times to get access to this superior PET scan and I have had it twice now in Ontario with three years between the first and most recent scan...”
-Jackie H., Toronto, Ontario