Bone scan and CT scan on same day - yay or nay?

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Jsniffs
Jsniffs Member Posts: 65
edited August 2019 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I think a lot of places do this but then I've seen/heard some conflicting research about the safety of doing a bone scan and CT scan on the same day. Any thoughts / research for or against? Thanks!

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited August 2019

    J, I've been getting ct and bone scans on the same day, twice a year for over five years. I got pet scans before that for a couple of years and then when insurance wouldn't cover them anymore, I started with the ct/bone scans.

    So I say yay.

    I drive an hour to Pittsburgh for the tests in the morning and see the onc at the cancer center there in the afternoon. She has access to the morning scans and even tho she will always preface her comments by saying they aren’t official, she will always give me preliminary results and sometimes show me the scans on the computer. Too many women wait days for results and I’m so glad I don’t have to. Plus I’m glad I’m not forced to make numerous trips to Pittsburgh for all these appointments and can knock them out in a day. That gives me more days inbetween to not feel like a patient.




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  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited August 2019

    J,

    This is also what I've been doing -- CT w/wo contrast plus a nuclear bone scan. I usually get the nuclear tracer injected first, because you have to wait for a while for it to circulate, then go and do the CT and return to the nuclear lab for the other test.

    Have not had any problems with it.

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited August 2019

    I've always gotten mine on the same day. Bone scan injection, then drink the CT stuff. Have the CT. With contrast. Then I get to eat. (YAY!) then the bone scan. That's always how the schedule it so it must be routine at my cancer center. In fact, I'm doing this on Monday.

    edited to add: What does someone think is unsafe about that?

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  • Jsniffs
    Jsniffs Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2019

    Thanks for all of the responses! My brain no longer functions the way it used to (I'm sure a lot of people here can relate), so I cannot remember where I read or heard the info. I only have a vague recollection about possibly spacing out the two due to radioactivity / radiation (basically giving the body additional time to heal). Obviously, it's way more convenient to do them both on the same day.

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  • Buddhahead
    Buddhahead Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2019

    I don't post much, but will add that I had a CT w/wo contrast today and am going for my nuclear bone scan tomorrow. The imaging center offered to schedule same day, but it's too much for me all in one day. I mean too mush "stuff" in my body. I'm already on chemotherapy and immunotherapy, so more is not best for me. It's just my preference. Plus, the imaging center is about 10 minutes from my house. FWIW.

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  • Jsniffs
    Jsniffs Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2019

    Thanks again everyone! I did the bone scan and CT scan today. Both went smoothly, and they no longer make you drink the chalky contrast drink. Yay! That made it much easier. Now for the hard part, waiting for the results.

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