Tattooed and Ported

sandysp said:

Great information
Thank you. It will be a first for me. I'm so glad a friend is coming with me. My husband is with his mother for her 90th birthday celebration. Is your cancer in remission now?

Captain11 said:

Hi, Sandy, Hope all is
Hi, Sandy, Hope all is going well your first week. I also have PET/CT scans which go from the neck to the knees. I always bring a book or magazine and I wear a hat or bandana , a sweater (with no metal buttons or zipper) and gloves, because it is freaking COLD in the lab. I also wear elastic waist pants and button down shirts or pullovers with no metal at all, this way I can stay dressed and don't have to wear that hospital gown which opens in the back. By the way, does anyone know why, with all the medical technology and breakthroughs that have come down the pike over the last 50+ years, that there has been no upgrade at all on those hospital gowns?????? For my scan I was given the finger stick, and the blood count has to be under 200, and then the butterfly needle for the radioactive injection, which lasts only a few seconds. The isotope has to go in in conjunction with a saline type solution, so you might taste the saline, but it goes away real quick. Then I get to drink abut a quart of sugar goop, which tastes like a creamsickle and really isn't too bad. Just a lot to drink in the hour prior to the scan. I know you have to fast at least 8 hours, except for water and whatever meds you take, except for diabetic meds, (check with the dr first if you or on diabetice meds). Absolutely no candy or gum chewing for at least 6 hours prior to the scan. The reason is that the muscles used for chewing and sucking on candies can harbor the glucose from the test and it will give a false reading, as though there are tumors or something going on. Because of my fecal urgency situation, I take an imodium prior to going for my test, otherwise I have to keep getting up to go to the bathroom. The techs will allow you to use the restroom, but they want you as still as possible while you are drinking that goop, so you will definitely use the restroom just before you get the scan. I can make it to the end of the scan, then I really have to use the bathroom again. If you absolutely positively can not hold it, you can ask to go during the scan, BUT it is hard for the techs to get you back to the spot where you left off and continue the scan. This is stuff you probably won't have to know, I just want to keep people informed of the possibilities you can expect. Other than that, the scan is a real cakewalk. I also had a port. I had no problem with pain or anything. I was lucky in that my surgeon is also a cancer survivor, and he knows how to show compassion for cancer patients especially. He gave me such comforting words. After about 6 weeks, my port however started coming out of my chest, so it had to be removed. When I learned that the cancer spread, I had to have a new port put in. By that time, I had lost about 20 pounds, and there was not much meat on my bones, so that was uncomfortable, but very, very tolerable. I hope your scan goes great for you. God bless you. Keep us posted. Compalin all you want. Actually, don't think of it as complaining, but as giving us all another set of experiences. Good luck tomorrow.

sandysp said:

I fell asleep!
Ha, ha, ha! I was really nervous about that thing but I put my arms up and closed my eyes and concentrated on Reiki chakra stuff and had to keep reminding myself not to fall too deeply asleep. I was afraid I would move. But I didn't. I was able to just really relax. What a shock!
The CT scan of the upper abdomen was easy too since it wasn't "with contrast" like last time. We did a "dry run" for the radiation treatments yesterday and they told me not to empty my bladder when I come in for treatments. I have an urgency problem so I had gone FOUR times since walking in the door before getting on the table. The doctor said don't go even before leaving home and I told the nurse "WHAT?????" So they changed it to just don't go when I get there until after the treatment is over. That is going to be so UNRELAXING!!!!! I'm liable to pee all over their table. Wouldn't that be something. Oh well, they've probably seen it all. I'll just do my best.

cph1127 said:

PET Scan
Hi Sandy,

I was told on the 7th of this month that I too have anal cancer. I have already had my PET scan so I can tell you what you are looking at for the procedure. If you are like me, I like to know as much as possible so I am not surprised with anything. This is my experience but I would think that yours would be similar so here it goes.

You will be given instructions on what you can eat and what you can't eat. They will have you come early for the following. The test requires your blood sugar to be under 200 so a fingerstick test was given. Make sure you go to the bathroom before they start. Very important. They inserted a butterfly needle into my vein in my arm and inserted the radioacity tracer with glucose. This does not sting or hurt going in. It does not make you feel funney or anything. My tech made sure I was comfortable and brought me nice warm blankets. I brought a book to read because you can not leave the recliner for at least 45 mins to an hour. When they come back in they will let you get up to use the bathroom again and I suggest you try because the actual scan takes 30 - 45 mins also. At this point you will lay on a machine just like a ct scanner but larger. I was lucky and my hospital has a machine that took my CT scan and Pet Scan at the same time. After they do the CT Scan they do the Pet scan. I had a scan from the top of my head to my knees. He divided me into 7 sections and each section lasted 4 minutes. The only uncomfortable thing was that I had to lay my arms up over my head the whole time. It didn't hurt but was not the most comfortable possition. Make sure they put a wedge under your knees so your back does not hurt.

That was it. I had no side effects and even drove myself home. If you do not know how the PET scan works I can answer that too, so just let me know. If you already knew all of this I am sorry for taking up the space but I did not know what was going to happen when I had mind done.

We all complain about some things. We are all on the same path here and hopfully the ones who go before can remove some of the stumbling blocks for the ones who follow.

Remember: "If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it" God Bless and let us know how it goes. )

Nan-Peg11 said:

Tattooed
I've seen references to getting tattooed. What does that mean? Thanks