Posted 8/8/2014 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Mel, I had the C-11 Acetate on my dime and the F18 Sodium that Tall Allen references, at AZ Molecular Imaging in Phoenix (Dr Fabio Almeida).
The latter as TA indicates was covered by Medicare/AARP, and the former normally costs $3000 (got mine for $2500 since I was also doing the F18). F18 is available lots of places but the various C11's are pretty rare.
I think the C11 choline is approved and may be covered by insurance, you need to check on that, only offered at Mayo is my understanding, but reasonably close to Michigan for you.
In my case the F18 Sodium which is less subjective than the standard bone scan scintigram (Rorshack test) was able to confirm that I did not have any bony mets as my local imaging firm had either mis-diagnosed, or they went away thanks to Lupron since 3-28-13, but showed suspicion of lymph node involvement.
The C-11 Acetate confirmed that I have 3 micro LN's all contained in pelvic area thus making me no longer stage IV Oligometastatic but locally advanced PCa potentially curable with radiation to prostate, to what would be called the prostate bed had my prostate been surgically removed, and the pelvic girdle (the whole area not just the 3 micro LN's).
Not sure about C11 choline but C11 Acetate is deemed best accuracy for PSA >=2. Even though my PSA was only 0.23 at the time, it served its purpose of confirming the micro LN's and not discovering any bony mets.
I did have my biopsy slides form Feb 2013 re-scored by Johns Hopkins and I remain Gleason 9 (4+5), just no bony mets and no LN spread outside the pelvic area.
LupronJim