C.T. Scan yesterday

rarph123
rarph123 Member Posts: 64
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
They injected dye prior to scan, said it would be warm feeling. This scan was for neck and lung.When returning home several hrs later I noticed swelling on both sides of lower jaw Probley the two glands--swelling has gone down a little this morning--has anyone had this swelling after neck scan? Will see Dr. Monday. If the C is still in my right lung or B.O.T and gland what questions regarding further Chemo and when--Been out of treament for a month on chemo& Rad.
Never been down this road and do not feel as positive as wife that the treatment has removed the C . I will fight this to the end and want to plan ahead if Needing more Chemo.thank all for your support

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi rarph
    I don’t think the swelling in the jaw was from the dye but you will never know for sure. Until you see the doctor on Monday just try and have a good week-end, find things that may you feel good or movies that make you laugh.

    Wishing you well
    Hondo
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #3
    Hondo said:

    Hi rarph
    I don’t think the swelling in the jaw was from the dye but you will never know for sure. Until you see the doctor on Monday just try and have a good week-end, find things that may you feel good or movies that make you laugh.

    Wishing you well
    Hondo

    Swelling
    Did not experience any swelling with Thursday's CT w/the warm stuff via IV, or on prior CTs, but that's just my experience, and no conclusions can be made from it. With your history, it could just be a reaction with something in that area which might not be a problem. Likely a number of possibilities are out there.

    kcass
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #4
    Contrast Dye
    I am in fact allergic to contrast dye. My reaction is a chest tightening, shortness of breath and wheezing. I had a full blown asthma attack when I had IVP dye.

    I don't know if it can make glands swell or not, but I would mention it to your doctor. They do not like to give me contrast dye, unless absolutely necessary, and then I have to take benadryl, and they need to be aware of it, in case I cannot breathe.
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #5
    praying
    Jim never had any problems with the contrst but I wanted to tell you I am praying for you.

    Debbie
  • NJR
    NJR Member Posts: 82
    #6
    Dye
    Greetings Ralph,
    As recently as the past 2 or 3 years they have found that certain people to react badly to contrast dye, my father being one of them. Not just people who happen to be allergic, but Diabetics, Renal patients and several other conditions will cause reactions also. If your dye was for a Pet Scan the radioactive sugar is absorbed far more rapidly and in larger volume by cancer cells than normal ones which is why it shows up so well on the CT film. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that it absorbed an amount that was disproportionate enough that you could feel or even see it. I believe I would follow their advice and drink lots of water to flush it out of your system.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #7
    NJR said:

    Dye
    Greetings Ralph,
    As recently as the past 2 or 3 years they have found that certain people to react badly to contrast dye, my father being one of them. Not just people who happen to be allergic, but Diabetics, Renal patients and several other conditions will cause reactions also. If your dye was for a Pet Scan the radioactive sugar is absorbed far more rapidly and in larger volume by cancer cells than normal ones which is why it shows up so well on the CT film. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that it absorbed an amount that was disproportionate enough that you could feel or even see it. I believe I would follow their advice and drink lots of water to flush it out of your system.

    NJR

    Great explanation, I am trying to do a study on why the sugar is absorbed faster by the cancer cells then normal cells.

    Take care
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
    Hondo said:

    NJR

    Great explanation, I am trying to do a study on why the sugar is absorbed faster by the cancer cells then normal cells.

    Take care
    Hondo

    Radiotracer PET -vs- Contrast CT
    Hondo, I'm not completely sure if the radiotracer for the PET is considered contrast dye, which I mainly always hear of referring to CT scans. As mentioned the radiotracer is usually some sort of glucose base, contrast is usually iodine based, both serving different purposes and methods to produce the results of either a PET or a CT.

    The CT contrast like mentioned is the one that usually they give you half just before the CT, then the rest half way through...that's the one where you get the extreme groin warmth and discomfort from.

    Radiotracer - Before carrying out a PET scan, a radioactive medicine is produced in a cyclotron (a type of machine). The radioactive medicine is then tagged to a natural chemical. This natural chemical could be glucose, water, or ammonia. The tagged natural chemical is known as a radiotracer. The radiotracer is then inserted into the human body.

    When it is inside the radiotracer will go to areas inside the body that use the natural chemical. For example, FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose - a radioactive drug) is tagged to glucose to make a radiotracer. The glucose goes into those parts of the body that use glucose for energy. Cancers, for example, use glucose differently from normal tissue - so, FDG can show up cancers.

    But also just to confuse things...they can give both a CT and a PET simultaneous or at least during the same session I believe.

    John
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    Radiotracer PET -vs- Contrast CT
    Hondo, I'm not completely sure if the radiotracer for the PET is considered contrast dye, which I mainly always hear of referring to CT scans. As mentioned the radiotracer is usually some sort of glucose base, contrast is usually iodine based, both serving different purposes and methods to produce the results of either a PET or a CT.

    The CT contrast like mentioned is the one that usually they give you half just before the CT, then the rest half way through...that's the one where you get the extreme groin warmth and discomfort from.

    Radiotracer - Before carrying out a PET scan, a radioactive medicine is produced in a cyclotron (a type of machine). The radioactive medicine is then tagged to a natural chemical. This natural chemical could be glucose, water, or ammonia. The tagged natural chemical is known as a radiotracer. The radiotracer is then inserted into the human body.

    When it is inside the radiotracer will go to areas inside the body that use the natural chemical. For example, FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose - a radioactive drug) is tagged to glucose to make a radiotracer. The glucose goes into those parts of the body that use glucose for energy. Cancers, for example, use glucose differently from normal tissue - so, FDG can show up cancers.

    But also just to confuse things...they can give both a CT and a PET simultaneous or at least during the same session I believe.

    John

    Hi John

    I understand I am just looking into the complexity of how the body uses the many different types of Sugar (Glucose) and how it affects the body cells. Glucose (pronounced /ˈɡluːkoʊs, -koʊz) also known as D-glucose, dextrose, is a simple sugar and is an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate. Glucose is one of the main products of photosynthesis and starts cellular respiration. With out Glucose all the Cells in out body would die right away. I am amazed how God created us with all this in mind. So that the food we eat is turned in to a simple form of sugar (Glucose) and is absorbed by all the body cells.

    PS: I am amazed everyday by the hand of God and his creation

    Thanks my friend
    Hondo
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #10
    Hondo said:

    Hi John

    I understand I am just looking into the complexity of how the body uses the many different types of Sugar (Glucose) and how it affects the body cells. Glucose (pronounced /ˈɡluːkoʊs, -koʊz) also known as D-glucose, dextrose, is a simple sugar and is an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate. Glucose is one of the main products of photosynthesis and starts cellular respiration. With out Glucose all the Cells in out body would die right away. I am amazed how God created us with all this in mind. So that the food we eat is turned in to a simple form of sugar (Glucose) and is absorbed by all the body cells.

    PS: I am amazed everyday by the hand of God and his creation

    Thanks my friend
    Hondo

    Amazed daily
    By all God has created.

    Blessings Hondo
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #11
    NJR said:

    Dye
    Greetings Ralph,
    As recently as the past 2 or 3 years they have found that certain people to react badly to contrast dye, my father being one of them. Not just people who happen to be allergic, but Diabetics, Renal patients and several other conditions will cause reactions also. If your dye was for a Pet Scan the radioactive sugar is absorbed far more rapidly and in larger volume by cancer cells than normal ones which is why it shows up so well on the CT film. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that it absorbed an amount that was disproportionate enough that you could feel or even see it. I believe I would follow their advice and drink lots of water to flush it out of your system.

    PET vs. CT scan dye
    NJR, maybe I'm not fully understanding your post, but the stuff they inject you with for the PET and the stuff they inject you with for the CT are not the same. They use contrast dye for the CT and some kind of radio active stuff they keep in lead lined boxes that no one wants to touch, but then they shoot you up with. I had no problem with the later, but almost stopped breathing with the former. Go figure.

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