Pet ct scan

Tychad
Tychad Member Posts: 65
edited August 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

l have to get a pet scan. I don't know what it envolves. Can anyone tell me. I hate getting these tests. Thanks

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  • car2tenn
    car2tenn Member Posts: 515
    edited August 2016

    No problem with the scan...Just waiting to hear the results from your doctor is what is successful. It is all part of the cancer train...You will do well. Don't worry. Carolyn from Nashville

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  • car2tenn
    car2tenn Member Posts: 515
    edited August 2016

    Sorry for autocorrect . what I am saying is that the wait is the stressful part. I go to a place where I can find out the next day the results. Many people have to wait a week...ridiculous that anyone should have to stress that long...CDS

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  • pwilmarth
    pwilmarth Member Posts: 235
    edited August 2016

    PET scan is easy;

    Nothing but water for 6 hours before the test. Especially nothing with sugar because the Scan involves looking at the way the cells in your body use sugar.

    No strenuous activity for 24 hours before the test - again, because they are looking at the way your body uses sugar.

    They will test your blood sugar before the test

    You will receive an intravenous injection and then you will be asked to rest quietly for approximately 60 minutes. After this resting period you will empty your bladder and the technologist will escort you into the scanning room where you will lie down on the scanner table. It is important to be comfortable and lie as still as possible for 15-35 minutes as the table passes slowly through the scanner acquiring several sets of images.

    I always feel like it's time to take a nap while they scan my body. It's not bad at all.

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited August 2016

    pwilmarth gives good explanation of,the process. You should receive some type instruction from where you're getting the pet as to diet and procedure to follow. It doesn't hurt more than a needle stick for the injection. I always ask for a written copy of the report to be sent to me and get it within a few days. You may want to see if your doctor will get back to you a sap after the test with results. Best wishes toyou.

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited August 2016

    The instructions I am given include eating protein the evening before. I go easy on the carbs the whole day before. I am able to wear my own no-metal clothing for the scan. If you happen to have a power port, they can use it for the injection if they have a nurse qualified to access it, or if you can show up with the needle already placed by the nurse who usually draws your blood. After the scan, you are entitled to a treat for your very late breakfast!

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited August 2016

    Get the first appointment in the morning. It'll save being hungry -- you can go out for breakfast when you're done. I always vote myself a treat!

    Some centers will allow you bring a book and read quietly. Others do not allow it so you nap or count the tiles on the ceiling before the scan. May depend on whether they are scanning your brain too.

    What is happening is that they are giving you a radioactive sugar. Sugar is picked up by very active cells, including cancer cells. They give your body 60 minutes to pick up all those radiolabeled sugar molecules, then the PET scan (positive emission tomography) looks for the radioactivity. The more sugar the cells pick up, the brighter the PET scan sees them. Normally you get a CT scan as well so that the computer knows where in the body the bright spots are.

    If you look at a PET scan, there are lots of bright spots. Your GI tract, any place you have an infection, that sort of thing. But the scan also picks up clumps of cancer cells.

    The whole thing is painless, if boring. Wear clothes with no metal and bring thick socks. Its COLD in the scanner!

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