First Scan Since Chemo - Nervous - PET
April
Comments
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April, it's hard to tell
April, it's hard to tell people not to worry. I could make a career out of worrying, so I would be talking out of both sides. Anyway, it was always for nothing!! So do something fun to sort of keep your mind off of it.
You can have protein before the scan......I had a big ole chicken breast, actually 2. Whatever they told you. I didn't have veggies, wasn't sure if they considered that carbs, good carbs.....but I avoided that, but I could be wrong.
Rest easy.0 -
I agree with how hard it is to tell folks not to worry, Apriljanie1 said:April, it's hard to tell
April, it's hard to tell people not to worry. I could make a career out of worrying, so I would be talking out of both sides. Anyway, it was always for nothing!! So do something fun to sort of keep your mind off of it.
You can have protein before the scan......I had a big ole chicken breast, actually 2. Whatever they told you. I didn't have veggies, wasn't sure if they considered that carbs, good carbs.....but I avoided that, but I could be wrong.
Rest easy.
There are a couple of phrases I've learned on the boards. One is "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
The other is scanxiety, and it's a good catch-all term for what you're feeling. On the one hand it's good to have a check-up and keep on top of things, and it's horrible to think "but what if c a n c e r is found or is getting worse?!?" I've often though that we cancer survivors have a lot in common with folks in the military going back for more tours of duty in a war zone. There is no question that cancer treatment and monitoring is fertile ground for post traumatic stress (there's some very good posts on here recently about PTS and depression). So the hard part is just learning to enjoy your life, and all the delightful little things we get to experience each day whatever it is. For me today it was the sunrise, my dog grabbing and shaking her partially deflated soccer ball when we went for her walk, the taste of muesli and yogurt for breakfast!
Before a PET I eat lightly the previous day, and no heavy exercise. Eating lightly the previous day seems to make the bowel prep liquid have less dramatic effects :-). Here's some general food guidelines "Generally, the day before your scan drink 6-8 glasses of water and limit the amount of sugar and caffeine you consume. On the day of the scan do not eat or drink anything except plain water for four to six hours before your scan. Drink several glasses of water before your scan to ensure hydration."
I'll be thinking of you Thursday. I also have my abdomen/lung CT on Thursday. I wish us both good results!
all the best, Leslie0 -
keep the faith
Hi April,
Anxiety? . . . . I hear you. My next CT isn't until Jan. 11 and I have been worrying about it for a few weeks now. I see from your bio that you are young - me too - I was diagnosed at 46 with stage 4 and about 20 liver mets. That was in July of 2010 and I am still doing chemo every two weeks and still doing okay most of the time.
Normal? . . . . . The 'new' normal? . . . . . I don't know if I have actually reached this yet. Just take it one day at a time, breathe and find something to laugh about every day. Yes, you will think about cancer a lot, but as the days go by, you will find that you will have longer and longer periods when you 'forget' about it. Then there will be days when you fall apart and think about it all of the time. You are not alone! I don't post a whole lot on the site, but the people here are amazing and have all had the feelings you have. Check in regularly and you will find peace and comfort in what you are going through.
Keep the faith and I am sending you good vibes for Thursday's scan.
hugs,
yoga jo0 -
Thinking About You Toolesvanb said:I agree with how hard it is to tell folks not to worry, April
There are a couple of phrases I've learned on the boards. One is "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
The other is scanxiety, and it's a good catch-all term for what you're feeling. On the one hand it's good to have a check-up and keep on top of things, and it's horrible to think "but what if c a n c e r is found or is getting worse?!?" I've often though that we cancer survivors have a lot in common with folks in the military going back for more tours of duty in a war zone. There is no question that cancer treatment and monitoring is fertile ground for post traumatic stress (there's some very good posts on here recently about PTS and depression). So the hard part is just learning to enjoy your life, and all the delightful little things we get to experience each day whatever it is. For me today it was the sunrise, my dog grabbing and shaking her partially deflated soccer ball when we went for her walk, the taste of muesli and yogurt for breakfast!
Before a PET I eat lightly the previous day, and no heavy exercise. Eating lightly the previous day seems to make the bowel prep liquid have less dramatic effects :-). Here's some general food guidelines "Generally, the day before your scan drink 6-8 glasses of water and limit the amount of sugar and caffeine you consume. On the day of the scan do not eat or drink anything except plain water for four to six hours before your scan. Drink several glasses of water before your scan to ensure hydration."
I'll be thinking of you Thursday. I also have my abdomen/lung CT on Thursday. I wish us both good results!
all the best, Leslie
I'll think postive thoughts and good results for you Thursday too.0 -
Dear April
Sure do hope that all is well with the scan. I know it is tough to just wait for the results.
As far as thinking about it all the time, we all go through that stage. In the early days, I even dreamed about it. The best advice I can give you is when the thoughts overtake you determine if it is something you need to take action on...like how you are tolerating the meds or something you want to share with your husband, etc. If it is just worry about what might be, then you need to remind yourself that any time spent on that takes away from more positive thinking about your life.
We will all die eventually of something, but it doesn't have to be cancer.
Hugs,
Marie who loves kitties0 -
Hope everything goes well!Lovekitties said:Dear April
Sure do hope that all is well with the scan. I know it is tough to just wait for the results.
As far as thinking about it all the time, we all go through that stage. In the early days, I even dreamed about it. The best advice I can give you is when the thoughts overtake you determine if it is something you need to take action on...like how you are tolerating the meds or something you want to share with your husband, etc. If it is just worry about what might be, then you need to remind yourself that any time spent on that takes away from more positive thinking about your life.
We will all die eventually of something, but it doesn't have to be cancer.
Hugs,
Marie who loves kitties
Praying for all of you!0 -
I absolutely get what youpepebcn said:Hope everything goes well!
Praying for all of you!
I absolutely get what you are feeling!!! It is soooo nerve wracking!!! I found when I was on chemo. all the scans would be the same "stable" no change, which is great (although I was looking for better!!) Then I went on a chemo. break.....and for some unknown reason scans appeared better...longer chemo. break....soooo, it's wait and see without chemo, we shall see. It was actually more nerve wracking being off chemo.. When onc. would give me the same results month after month it became routine.....then all of a sudden when I was "flying solo" I got real scared....March will be really traumatic for me. No chemo for 6 months. Weird how you get into that routine, and rely on that safety net. On one hand I'm back into a "normal" routine.....BUT!!!!0 -
Prayers and Wishing Good Resultstommycat said:April, Leslie, Yoga
April, Leslie, Yoga Jo.....will be thinking about you and hoping for the best.
Your Friend in California~
Wishing all of you, April, Leslie, Yoga Jo, and all others good results from your scans. I just had a ct and NED so prayers for each of you. Thinking good thoughts for good scans.
NB0 -
Yoga jo - dx colon C with mets to liver both lobesyoga said:keep the faith
Hi April,
Anxiety? . . . . I hear you. My next CT isn't until Jan. 11 and I have been worrying about it for a few weeks now. I see from your bio that you are young - me too - I was diagnosed at 46 with stage 4 and about 20 liver mets. That was in July of 2010 and I am still doing chemo every two weeks and still doing okay most of the time.
Normal? . . . . . The 'new' normal? . . . . . I don't know if I have actually reached this yet. Just take it one day at a time, breathe and find something to laugh about every day. Yes, you will think about cancer a lot, but as the days go by, you will find that you will have longer and longer periods when you 'forget' about it. Then there will be days when you fall apart and think about it all of the time. You are not alone! I don't post a whole lot on the site, but the people here are amazing and have all had the feelings you have. Check in regularly and you will find peace and comfort in what you are going through.
Keep the faith and I am sending you good vibes for Thursday's scan.
hugs,
yoga jo
Hi yogajo,
I been dx with cancer in descending colon with mets to liver both lobes - one is 11 cm x 8 cm x 5 cm.
Dx on 31 dec 2011 , am in India . No resection of colon as of yet.
Docs here started me with FOLFOX and added erbitux on jan7 th 2012. just finished one treatment of this last week.
Since I think we have similar dx I need to know more about your last two years , the treatments , the side effects ,
Could u go to work etc .
Where are u based and where all have you taken ur treatments ?
What other traditional treatments or alternative treatments have you been taking ?
What bout exercise? What has helped and what has not ?
Pl help me to the extent you can
Sdp0 -
Yoga jo - dx colon C with mets to liver both lobesyoga said:keep the faith
Hi April,
Anxiety? . . . . I hear you. My next CT isn't until Jan. 11 and I have been worrying about it for a few weeks now. I see from your bio that you are young - me too - I was diagnosed at 46 with stage 4 and about 20 liver mets. That was in July of 2010 and I am still doing chemo every two weeks and still doing okay most of the time.
Normal? . . . . . The 'new' normal? . . . . . I don't know if I have actually reached this yet. Just take it one day at a time, breathe and find something to laugh about every day. Yes, you will think about cancer a lot, but as the days go by, you will find that you will have longer and longer periods when you 'forget' about it. Then there will be days when you fall apart and think about it all of the time. You are not alone! I don't post a whole lot on the site, but the people here are amazing and have all had the feelings you have. Check in regularly and you will find peace and comfort in what you are going through.
Keep the faith and I am sending you good vibes for Thursday's scan.
hugs,
yoga jo
Hi yogajo,
I been dx with cancer in descending colon with mets to liver both lobes - one is 11 cm x 8 cm x 5 cm.
Dx on 31 dec 2011 , am in India . No resection of colon as of yet.
Docs here started me with FOLFOX and added erbitux on jan7 th 2012. just finished one treatment of this last week.
Since I think we have similar dx I need to know more about your last two years , the treatments , the side effects ,
Could u go to work etc .
Where are u based and where all have you taken ur treatments ?
What other traditional treatments or alternative treatments have you been taking ?
What bout exercise? What has helped and what has not ?
Pl help me to the extent you can
Sdp0 -
Barb good luck on yourbarbebarb said:Scan anxiety too
I understand how u feel and many friends tell me I will beat this but K, too think at Times it will be chronic.
I try to meditate and take each day a
t a time.
I have a Ct scan 3/31 of my liver.
Wishing u the best W/your scan.
Barb good luck on your scans, keep us posted on the results
0
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