PET Scan--No Strenuous Activity?

Daffodil324
Daffodil324 Member Posts: 59
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have my first post-chemo PET scan scheduled for this coming Friday. I know I'm supposed to avoid strenuous activity for at least 24 hours prior to the scan. What I didn't think about at the time I scheduled the scan is that our high school's graduation is Thursday evening. I teach a special class for students with disabilities in a regular high school, and three of my students are graduating.

I'll work a full day at school, and then drive directly to the university arena where the ceremony is being held. The kids' parents will turn them over to me when they arrive,and I'll supervise the kids in the area for the graduates for the hour or so until the ceremony starts. During the ceremony I'll sit with the faculty. After the ceremony, I'll have to quickly get backstage into the graduates' area again to find my kids, help them turn in their gowns and sign for receiving their diplomas, and get them back to their parents. Parking is unpredictable--some years I've been able to park pretty close to the arena, and other years I've been several parking lots away.

It won't be heavy physical work, but I will essentially have worked a 12-13 hour day by the time graduation is over. Would this be considered strenuous activity before the PET scan?

Comments

  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #2
    Hi Daffodil324,
    Hi Daffodil324,

    It is best to call your doctor's office and ask to be sure. I know you have a lot going on and long hours but I truly think they mean an hour of cardio and strengthen training but I could be wrong. But that is just my opinion. You should call the doctor's office just to be sure. I called for many questions and they were always glad that I called to be sure. Thanks for helping those kids.

    Lizzy
  • Lawlak
    Lawlak Member Posts: 21
    #3
    Pet Scan
    Daffodil324,

    I get a PET scan every two months at MD Anderson and have for the past three years. They have never mentioned, nor is it in the instructions that they give me, that you have to limit your activity. After they inject you with the contrast via an I.V. line they expect you to lay very still, no reading, no listening to the Ipod etc. for 1 1/2 hours. They will let you go to the bathroom if needed but nothing other than that. I asked why I couldn't read while waiting and the tech said that the muscles in the eyes will light up on the scan if you read after the contrast is injected.

    Tony
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #4
    strenuous activity
    Hi,

    I've been told the same thing- to avoid strenuous activity the day prior to a PET scan. When I asked what that meant, I was told no heavy exercise. The reason supposedly is that straining or working out could cause inflammation, which could possibly cause affected areas of the body to light up on the PET, which could cause some false alarm. I would think that would just be in muscles that were exercised or strained, but I'm not positive on that. As already mentioned, I'd ask your doctor. It would probably be good if you didn't end up having to make a long walk from where you park that day. Maybe you could get someone to drop you off or give you a ride. If you're truly concerned, maybe you could reschedule for a day or two later, but I bet it's not a big deal. Worth mentioning to your onc office, though.

    Best wishes,
    Lisa
  • Lifeisajourney
    Lifeisajourney Member Posts: 216
    #5
    lisa42 said:

    strenuous activity
    Hi,

    I've been told the same thing- to avoid strenuous activity the day prior to a PET scan. When I asked what that meant, I was told no heavy exercise. The reason supposedly is that straining or working out could cause inflammation, which could possibly cause affected areas of the body to light up on the PET, which could cause some false alarm. I would think that would just be in muscles that were exercised or strained, but I'm not positive on that. As already mentioned, I'd ask your doctor. It would probably be good if you didn't end up having to make a long walk from where you park that day. Maybe you could get someone to drop you off or give you a ride. If you're truly concerned, maybe you could reschedule for a day or two later, but I bet it's not a big deal. Worth mentioning to your onc office, though.

    Best wishes,
    Lisa

    Good info
    Just wanted to comment how interesting all the info on this topic. This is why it is important for person like me, who put head in sand until post chemo, to get info for future. While I am ned, I still say remission, I at this point want to find out a lot more for the future. I hope not to need info, but at least I feel more armed, if I should.
    There is so much that is not told you, such as activity in this case. If correct, it could cause a false positive and needless worry. Thanks again for comments, it is something we can, at least, ask about, something I would never would have thought about.
    Pat
  • AnnaLeigh
    AnnaLeigh Member Posts: 187 Member
    #6
    Lifeisajourney said:

    Good info
    Just wanted to comment how interesting all the info on this topic. This is why it is important for person like me, who put head in sand until post chemo, to get info for future. While I am ned, I still say remission, I at this point want to find out a lot more for the future. I hope not to need info, but at least I feel more armed, if I should.
    There is so much that is not told you, such as activity in this case. If correct, it could cause a false positive and needless worry. Thanks again for comments, it is something we can, at least, ask about, something I would never would have thought about.
    Pat

    These semi;colons are awesome for sharing
    Pat, the people on this board are a bountiful wealth of information. My husband (the cancer patient) and I read everything they post about upcoming drugs from trials, remedies, side effects, and the emotional journeys they have been through - good and bad. It has kept us sane, positive and grateful to have found this site.

    ALL OF YOU GUYS ROCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Daffodil324
    Daffodil324 Member Posts: 59
    #7
    lisa42 said:

    strenuous activity
    Hi,

    I've been told the same thing- to avoid strenuous activity the day prior to a PET scan. When I asked what that meant, I was told no heavy exercise. The reason supposedly is that straining or working out could cause inflammation, which could possibly cause affected areas of the body to light up on the PET, which could cause some false alarm. I would think that would just be in muscles that were exercised or strained, but I'm not positive on that. As already mentioned, I'd ask your doctor. It would probably be good if you didn't end up having to make a long walk from where you park that day. Maybe you could get someone to drop you off or give you a ride. If you're truly concerned, maybe you could reschedule for a day or two later, but I bet it's not a big deal. Worth mentioning to your onc office, though.

    Best wishes,
    Lisa

    Thank you all for the
    Thank you all for the information! I had my PET scan this morning, as scheduled. The doctor's concern was mainly about heavy physical exercise, and while I had a long and busy day yesterday, I wasn't doing heavy physical exercise so everything was okay.

    I brought a book with me for the waiting time after the IV injection of the radioactive material, but just as Tony said, they told me I couldn't read or do anything else. I was in a recliner with a blanket over me and the lights dimmed, so I dozed a little.

    After that the nurse took me to the waiting area for scans, and at that point they had a fire drill. I had to briefly evacuate to the parking lot before I could have my PET scan.

    Results next week, I guess--I'm trying to think positively!
  • Lawlak
    Lawlak Member Posts: 21
    #8
    Daffodil324 said:

    Thank you all for the
    Thank you all for the information! I had my PET scan this morning, as scheduled. The doctor's concern was mainly about heavy physical exercise, and while I had a long and busy day yesterday, I wasn't doing heavy physical exercise so everything was okay.

    I brought a book with me for the waiting time after the IV injection of the radioactive material, but just as Tony said, they told me I couldn't read or do anything else. I was in a recliner with a blanket over me and the lights dimmed, so I dozed a little.

    After that the nurse took me to the waiting area for scans, and at that point they had a fire drill. I had to briefly evacuate to the parking lot before I could have my PET scan.

    Results next week, I guess--I'm trying to think positively!

    Funny story
    Daffodil,

    I have been in some type of treatment for most of the past five and a half years and have pretty much been there and done that in colorectal cancer treatment. I guess that may be why I thought your story was so funny. I can just see you, laying still, not moving a muscle, being very quite and dozing, now it's time for the scan....... And then the fire alarm goes off and they run you outside to the parking lot! That just cracks me up. I guess after so many years of this crap you just appreciate the funny little things that happen in life.

    Tony

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