Bone Scan-What Should I Expect?

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Katiejane
Katiejane Member Posts: 789
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

  I know this probably isn't a new topic here but I have been experiencing lower back pain (hips, spine, and shooting down my legs) and my Oncologist has ordered a bone scan to be done the 23rd. The logical calm side of me thinks this is probably osteoarthritis in my vertebrae/hip joints, maybe some nerve compression involved. The neurotic/anxiety side of me is a mess thinking it is mets! (I have been dx'd w/ osteoarthritis since starting Arimidex 3.7 years ago.) Anyway, I would like to know what to expect with this bone scan-what do they inject, where, and how much fluid. How long does the actual scan take? I have lymphedema in both arms so IV's and needle sticks are out. I have already told them that it must be done in my feet and they weren't happy even though they say the work mostly w/ CA pts! Any info would be mucg appreciated!  Thanks    katiejane

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited February 2011

    My bone scan was pretty uneventful...it didn't last long, and it was pretty neat seeing your skeleton on the display. I did have it pre mastectomy, so I can't help with the needle stick...which I only had one to insert the dye. Do you have a port? They can access that instead of the arm sticks.

    Good luck. It's one of the easy tests!

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  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited February 2011

       Thanks Linda!!  :) No, I don't have a port-did the run an IV or just do a direct injection? Where did they do the injection and can you guess about how much fluid was injected? 

         Thanks! katiejane

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  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited February 2011

       Thanks Linda!!  :) No, I don't have a port-did they run an IV or just do a direct injection? Where did they do the injection and can you guess about how much fluid was injected? 

         Thanks! katiejane

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2011

    Katiejane - I had one at Dx, and if I remember, it was a quick injection, not an IV. It is not like getting an MRI with contrast. They gave me the shot, then I went away for an hour or two and was told to drink a lot (it flushes the nuclear stuff out of your system). then you go back and lie on a narrow table, and the machine moves over your body. It is not enclosed like an MRI, not awful at all. They dimmed the lights and music was playing, it would have been quite pleasent except for the circumstances.

    Good luck with it! 

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  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited February 2011

      Kerry,  Do you remember where the injection was given?    Doesn't sound so bad!  Thanks for your input.    Katiejane

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited February 2011

    Hi Katiejane,

    I've had a couple of nuclear bone scans. First, they inject you with the nuclear stuff (mine was on my "good" arm) and tell you to come back in a couple of hours. The machine setup is very open except for when they scan your head and the scanner will be a mere inch (or at least that's what it felt like to me Laughing) from your face but that doesn't take that long.

    Take care and good luck on the 23rd. 

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  • nred2002
    nred2002 Member Posts: 59
    edited February 2011

    I had this a few weeks ago.  There is a quick injection in a vein in your arm, and then you have to wait for three or four hours for the material to go through your system.  When you come back, you lie down on the machine and your arms and legs are immobilized.  Then, the scan starts.  The part where they are doing your upper body is a little claustrophobic, but other than that it is not bad.  

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  • Lou10
    Lou10 Member Posts: 332
    edited February 2011

    I had a similar experience to others (except for no music and I don't know about the lights as I kept my eyes closed the entire time).

    My injection was in a vein in my arm and was quick. I couldn't feel the dye at all. I was told to come back in about 3 hours and to drink lots of fluids to distribute the dye. 

    I had heard that some people get anxious when the machine goes over their head so I kept waiting (with eyes closed) to feel it go over my head, and then the technician said the full body scan was done. It had started at my head and I hadn't even known! The technician then did a couple of side scans which were nothing.

    I think the scanning process took about 20-30 minutes.

    Best of luck. 

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2011

    Katiejane, I had mine in my arm, but I can't see why they couldn't do it anywhere.

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  • faithfulheart
    faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
    edited February 2011

    I just had a bone scan a couple weeks ago, they gave me a small IV injection, told me to come

    back in three hours. It was kinda if relaxing, well for the moment! The scan it self in my opinion was a piece of cake, really. Its the waiting that is the worst part.

    Praying for great results! Don't worrie about the scan part,  you will be fine. I did some shopping thearopy, got some great  boots, and a clean scan in the end!! Thank God!!

    Hugs, and lots of them, this is so not fun!

    Stephanie

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited February 2011

    I had mine in the arm too. I had the injection, went for a long lunch, and then I had the scan.

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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited February 2011

    I had a bone scan 2 weeks ago, I'm really claustrophobic, so my Dr gave me ativan to take.  I have mild lymphadema in both arms, which I told the technician.  She gave me the injection in my arm vein but without using a tourniquet & she made sure she really disinfected the arm well.

    DH took me out for a nice lunch & we came back, he came in with me & talked to me while the scan was going, because of the ativan the scanner going over my face didn't even bother me.  

    Good luck!! Dee

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  • jpearl
    jpearl Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2011

    Thanks for your reports. I didn't post the original question but was glad to find this thread as I am having a bone scan on April 1. Oncologist thinks my bone/joint pain is probably either SE of arimidex or osteoarthritis in my hip, but wants to rule out bone mets. Fingers crossed!

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