Nervous Wreck

I've had a PET done, and my mom had bunches of them done. Be sure to get the list of pre-scan instructions from the imaging center--there are food and exercise restrictions, and they seem to vary by facility.

Also, my mom was always told to try to keep her mind quiet after being injected with the isotope--our imaging facility had a theory that the brain would take up the tracer if one was thinking too much. Don't know if that's valid or not, but thought I'd mention it.

And Maureen is right--they keep the room a bit chilly. 

Nancy:

So sorry to hear of your news.  Thank God your BS is so good!!

Know we are here for support and prayers.

Jan508

I've had both PET/CTs and straight PET.  Different facilities, different machines and different restrictions yet basically the same.

Gitane did a good job describing the PET/CT however it wasn't the one I was in was the MRI tube style.  That test wasn't long after surgery and the thing I remember is how hard it was having my arms above my head.  The left arm had cording from the mast and lymph node dissection.  That test was very restrictive on eating and drinking.  I couldn't even have my morning coffee. 

The PET was also a tube type machine but wider.  Got to find a comfortable position and then they had velcro straps wrapped around to help support and keep things in the same position.  It wasn't uncomfortable at all and felt like being tucked in to bed.  Could drink water or black coffee but nothing with sugars in it that would affect the glucose in the body so no juices, milk in the coffee, etc.  This test used an IV and it was during the scan that they would inject the isotopes as opposed to the PET/CT where it was injected before the scan.

In both cases I would always take an Ativan prior to the tests just to keep my anxiety level down and help me relax.  And I was given blankets to keep me at the right temp so I just made sure my clothes were comfy.  Normal diagnostic testing for both was about 30-45 min of machine time. 

I was in an imaging study so for me the actual machine time on the straight PET was actually 3 hours.  You won't be there that long!  I just wanted to mention it so if you're laying there and it feels like a long time then just think about me having to be there for 3 hours.  Yours will be a piece of cake!

Dear Strong, Brave, Tough, Mighty, Tenacious Nancy,

I'm so sorry you are facing the beast again.  I am praying that it is no more than a local recurrence, and that you will beat it back into submission, so that not only will you pick out that dress, but welcome legions of sweet grandchildren into your life.

I cannot begin to grasp the terror you are feeling, but know that you will attack this with the same strength that you did 4 years ago.

I totally understand the guilt.  Some would say it's crazy, but it's only those who have walked  in the footsteps that can relate to that feeling. 

My heart is heavy with this news, and I hope and pray for the best possible success with your treatment plan

MM

Nancy,

The quick answer is yes - I had false postives.  Like Sherri says, if something shows up on the PET then they do more diagnostics using other methods.  The straight PET scans that I had were done during my neoadjuvant chemo.  They were from my chin down through my abdomen.  So all of them would have the findings of the left breast cancer and axilla area which was correlated with the MRIs that also showed the cancer.  So those findings were correct.

I remember the first one indicated uptake in the clavicle nodes and skin involvement which really bothered me.  Turns out that was a false positive.  Another one showed an area of uptake in the liver.  That never showed up again.  The last one showed areas in T9-T10 and T8-T9.  Then it was time for surgery and I was done with the imaging study/chemo trial.  Now that my care was completely in the hands of my regular onc he scheduled a PET/CT.  He wanted to follow up on last PET findings but he also wanted the CT included so he could see if there were any masses associated with the high glucose activity.  Well, as you can guess, nothing showing up in the T8-T10 area.  Now I get a new finding in the cecum but no mass.  So that drove us to the next test which was a colonoscopy.  That showed nothing cancerous.  At that point I felt like I was chasing ghosts. 

Don't get me wrong -- the PETs clearly showed the original breast cancer but so did the MRIs and the excisional biopsy.  But it can get muddy really quickly when other areas show up.  On one hand I'm very glad I went through all this because I was very scared that I was already stage IV.  In my case it went on for so long - over the course of 9 months -- I was tired of new possibilities showing up. 

I hope the best for you this week. 

((((Nancy)))) ~ I'm so sorry you have to deal with this, but I hope you know how much caring and support you have here, and how many of us understand the fear you're feeling today, and are with you in spirit. 

Praying for a clear Petscan and a speedy treatment plan for what so far sounds like a nasty, but local recurrence.  I know you'll keep us posted...    Deanna 

Nancy,

You have every right to be scared. Try to remember how the waiting for test results and to come up with a plan was the hardest part the first time around. I am so sorry that you are having to face this again but remember how you went from ScaredNancy to BraveNancy to IllinoisNancy once before? You have a lot of support here and you will be able to travel that path again.

Hugs.

We are with you today.  (((Nancy)))

Glad that's behind you.  Hugs. G.

Big hugs, Nancy. Waiting sucks, big time.

Hi Nancy.

Totally understandable that your're on pins and needles today. I sure hope you can enjoy a few hours of distraction if not fun with your family at dinner tonight. You sound like someone who is fun and funny without trying.   I will be thinking good thoughts for you tomorrow.

Maureen

Nancy, Thinking about you today. I hope you were able to enjoy your birthday yesterday. Praying for good results for you.

Karen

We are thinking of you.  G.