After your PET scan
Questions to Ask Your Doctor — About Your PET Scan Results
Most families leave the results appointment wishing they had asked something different, or not sure they understood the answer they got. Writing your questions down the night before changes that.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Write before you go — Questions disappear the moment you sit down. A written list means you get the answers that matter most to you.
- Share the roles — The person who most needs to listen should not also be writing. Have someone else take notes.
- You can stop and ask again — Stopping the doctor to say you did not follow is exactly the right thing to do, not an interruption.
- Leave with the report — Ask for a written copy of the scan result and the plan. It belongs with you, not only in the system.
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Write your questions down before you go in. The most important ones: what the scan shows compared to last time, whether treatment is changing, and what happens next. Bring a note-taker. Ask for the written report before you leave. If you did not understand something, call the clinic the next day.
PET-CT at CION starts from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Why does preparing questions make the consultation more useful?
A results consultation is usually short. You will be anxious, your family will be anxious, and the doctor will cover a lot of ground quickly.
Questions you have not written down tend to disappear the moment you sit down. A list means you leave with the answers that matter most to you, not only the ones that happened to come up.
One person should take notes so that the person who most needs to listen can focus entirely on what the doctor is saying.
What should you prepare before the appointment?
Write down any symptoms or changes you have noticed since the scan — even ones that feel minor. The doctor may connect them to what the scan shows.
Note any medicines, supplements or herbal preparations you have started or stopped. These can affect how the scan is read and what treatment is planned next.
Bring a copy of the previous scan report if you have one. Comparing scans is how progress is measured, and having the earlier report in the room helps.
What if you do not understand what the doctor is saying?
Stop and say so. Every word a doctor uses has a plain equivalent, and asking for it is not ignorance — it is how you make sure you are making decisions on accurate information.
You can say: 'Can you show me on a diagram?' or 'What does that mean for daily life?' or simply 'I did not follow that — can you say it differently?'
If you are still not clear after the appointment, call the clinic. An answer you do not understand is not an answer.
PET-CT Partner Centres
PET-CT Scan Centres in Hyderabad
CION offers PET-CT scans through 4 trusted partner PET-CT centres across Hyderabad, so you can choose the one closest to you. Call 18002028726 and we’ll guide you to the earliest available appointment.
PET-CT Centre — Punjagutta
PET-CT Centre — Himayatnagar
PET-CT Centre — Narayanaguda
These are partner diagnostic centres within the CION network. Toll-free booking: 18002028726.
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Support for the person doing the caring
Practical guidance from a team that sees families through this every day.
Which questions should I bring to my consultation?
- What does this scan show compared to the last one?
- Has the cancer grown, shrunk or stayed the same?
- Are there any new areas the scan has picked up?
- What does this result mean for the treatment plan?
- Is the current treatment still the recommendation, or does this change it?
- What is the goal of the next phase — to shrink, to control, or something else?
- When will the next scan be, and what are we hoping to see?
- Is there anything in the result that is uncertain or needs a repeat scan to confirm?
- What should I watch for at home between now and the next appointment?
How do you use the appointment well?
Arrive with your list written out
Print or write your questions before you leave home. Scrolling through a phone in a consultation is harder than it sounds.
Lead with the question you most need answered
If the appointment runs short, you will at least have the answer that matters most.
Write down the doctor's exact words
Note what was said, not what you think it means. You can look up unfamiliar terms afterwards.
Read your notes back before you leave
Say out loud what you understood. The doctor can correct anything you mis-heard before you walk out.
Ask for the report in writing
A copy of the scan result and the summary of the plan belongs with you. Ask before the appointment ends.
What do you do when the conversation gets harder?
The doctor said the scan shows progression. What does that mean?
Progression means the cancer has grown or spread since the last scan. It does not mean treatment has failed — it means the current treatment is not working well enough and a change is likely. The next conversation should cover what the alternatives are, what they are intended to achieve, and how quickly the change needs to happen. Write those questions down before the next appointment.
The doctor said the result is stable. Is that good?
Stable means the cancer has not grown, which is often exactly the goal of treatment — to hold things where they are rather than to make them disappear. For some cancers and some treatment goals, stable is the best outcome the current treatment can achieve and is worth continuing for. Ask your oncologist what stable means for your specific situation, because the answer varies by cancer type and stage.
We did not understand the result and the doctor spoke too quickly.
Ask the clinic to arrange a second conversation, or ask for the written summary to be explained by a nurse or another member of the team who has more time. You are entitled to understand your own results. If language is part of the difficulty, ask whether there is someone at the centre who can interpret — many CION centres have staff who speak Telugu and Hindi alongside English.
The scan found something new and we were not prepared for it.
Give yourself a moment before responding. You do not have to make any decisions in the room. It is reasonable to say: 'We need a moment' or 'Can we come back with more questions tomorrow?' A result that changes things significantly deserves a second conversation, not a decision made under shock.
We want a second opinion but do not know how to ask.
Say it directly to your oncologist: 'We would like a second opinion on this result. Can you help us arrange that?' A secure oncologist will support this. A second review of a scan is standard for complex or uncertain results and is a sign of care, not distrust.
A whole-body PET-CT at CION is Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with a free Rs 950 oncologist consultation to talk through your report. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 62 more Family Support, Myths, Follow-Up and Emergencies topics
Caretaker & Family Guide
- A Printable PET-CT Day Checklist for Families
- After the Scan: What the Family Should Know
- Collecting and Storing the Report and Images
- Coordinating a Scan for a Parent in Another City
- Explaining a Parent's Scan to Children
- Explaining the Scan to an Anxious Patient
- Getting an Elderly Parent to and From the Scan
- Helping Someone Fast Before a PET-CT
- Managing Cost and Payment as a Family
- Preparing Questions for the Post-Scan Consultation
- The Family's Complete Guide to a PET-CT Scan Day
- What the Attendant Can and Cannot Do During the Scan
Emergencies & Red Flags
- Accidental Radiation Exposure: Pregnancy Discovered After a Scan
- Breathing Difficulty During or After a Scan
- Delayed Contrast Reaction Hours After the Scan
- Emergencies Around a PET-CT Scan: What Needs Immediate Care
- Fainting or Collapse at the Scan Centre
- Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia) During Fasting
- Panic Attack During the Scan
- Severe Contrast Reaction: Recognising It
- What to Do If the Cannula Site Swells or Hurts After
- When to Call the Centre After Your Scan
Follow-Up & Surveillance Scanning
- Can You Refuse a Follow-Up PET Scan?
- Follow-Up Scanning During Long-Term Treatment
- How Often Will You Need a PET-CT After Treatment?
- Is Routine Surveillance PET Actually Recommended?
- Keeping a Personal Scan Log
- Reducing Radiation Across Years of Surveillance
- Scan-Based vs Symptom-Based Follow-Up
- Surveillance Scanning by Cancer Type: A Reference Table
- The Annual Cost of Cancer Surveillance Scanning
- Transferring Surveillance to a Centre Closer to Home
- What Happens If a Surveillance Scan Shows Something?
- When Can You Stop Having Scans?
Myths & Misinformation
- Ayurvedic and Alternative Alternatives to a PET Scan
- Myth: A Normal PET Scan Means You Are Cured
- Myth: A PET Scan Can Cause Cancer
- Myth: A PET Scan Detects Every Cancer
- Myth: A PET Scan Spreads or Worsens Cancer
- Myth: A Positive PET Scan Means You Definitely Have Cancer
- Myth: A Scan From a Cheaper Centre Will Not Be Accepted
- Myth: An Expensive Scan Is Always a Better Scan
- Myth: Eating Sugar Before a Scan Will Show Up Cancer
- Myth: PET Scans Are Only for Terminal Cancer
- Myth: The Tracer Injection Is a Kind of Chemotherapy
- Myth: You Should Avoid Water After a PET Scan
- Myth: You Should Get a PET Scan Every Year to Be Safe
- Myth: You Stay Radioactive for Days After a PET Scan
Scanxiety & Emotional Impact
- Fear of What the Scan Will Find
- Getting Bad News From a Scan Report
- Getting Good News: Why Relief Is Complicated
- Living Between Scans: The Six-Month Rhythm
- Making the Most of Your Post-Scan Consultation
- Recurring Scanxiety in Long-Term Surveillance
- Scanxiety: The Fear Before and After a PET-CT
- Should You Look Up Your Results Online Before the Consult?
- Supporting Someone Through Scan Day
- Telling Family About Scan Results
- The Night Before a PET-CT Scan
- Waiting for PET-CT Results: How to Get Through It
- When a Patient Refuses to Have the Scan
- When to Seek Counselling Around Scans
Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I record the consultation on my phone?
Many families find this helpful, and most doctors will agree if you ask at the start of the appointment. If they prefer you not to, ask whether a written summary can be provided, or whether a nurse can be in the room to take notes. The goal is that you leave with an accurate record of what was said, and there are several ways to achieve that.
How do I explain the scan result to children or elderly relatives at home?
Use simple language and answer only what they ask. Children and elderly relatives often need less detail than you expect, and more reassurance. 'The scan showed the medicine is working' or 'The doctors are looking at the result and will make a plan' is often enough to start. Ask your oncology team whether they have a counsellor or social worker who can help with these conversations — many centres do.
What if the doctor and the scan report seem to say different things?
Ask directly in the consultation. Reports are written by radiologists and interpreted by oncologists, and the two sometimes emphasise different findings. Your oncologist's interpretation of what the result means for your treatment is what drives the plan. If you are still uncertain after asking, a second opinion on the scan itself is a reasonable request.
Should we bring the actual scan images as well as the report?
Yes, if you can. Your imaging centre can usually provide a disc or a download link. Having the images in the room lets the oncologist compare scans visually rather than relying on written descriptions alone. Ask the imaging centre how to collect them before your consultation date.
What if we leave and realise we forgot to ask something important?
Call the clinic. Most oncology teams have a nurse or coordinator who handles exactly this — questions that did not come up in the room, or answers you did not fully catch. Write the question down as soon as you think of it, and call the next working day. You do not need to wait for the next appointment.