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| John is Radio Active |
In a nutshell, I was injected with a low dose of Radio Active Glucose. Fludeoxyglucose (FDG) The theory is, that your internal organs such as brain, liver, kidneys, muscles etc all use glucose to function. Cancer cells also use glucose in high concentration. The PET scanner uses x-ray technology with the radio active glucose (tracer) to create a 3D picture of the inside of my body. The images will highlight any cancerous cells.
I was not allowed to do any form of strenuous exercise for 24 hours (hooray!!!) prior to scanning, this is in order to keep the uptake of glucose in muscle to a minimum. I also had to fast for six hours prior. On arrival at the unit the obvious previous history questions and consent forms then a cannula in my left arm. This is where the similarities change. A Nuclear Medicine Technologist then attached a metal canister, to the cannula, that systematically released small doses of the FDG whilst he also injected saline. I then had to totally rest for an hour. No talking, No walking. I am now Radio Active and must not come into close contact with pregnant woman or children in the next 6 hours. Although the first is not a problem I do have a ten year old daughter.
After an hour, I was escorted to a specific toilet with the above, " Radio Active" signs on the door and told to empty my bladder. I was then escorted back to the scanner, via a separate door and led into the machine.............................The scan will reveal the tumour already found, in my left lung the hope is that nothing else will be discovered .............once again we wait for the results. My Oncologist will then decide on what course of action, If its just the lung tumour its back to the Leicester Spire hospital and my surgeon Mr Waller.
1 comment:
Interesting when i had my PET scan i wasn't wrned in anyway about exercising before or being close to children afterwards.......my PET scan showed a hotspot in the pelvis....i also have it in the lungs but these were too small in the end to reveal themselves. They ummed and arred about the pelvis and decided it might be due to various things....9 months later when i went to gyny they found the tumour. What was the point!? of an expensive PET scan if they are not going to follow up the results sufficiently ? Sorry a little rant but also a word of warning!
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