PET/CT Scan

Dear Cancer Susan,

I have heard of PET/CT scans, but I don't actually know what they are. Can you explain?

-Interested Reader

Dear Interested Reader,

How interesting that you're asking me about PET/CT scans today... I just experienced those scans yesterday! Let me tell about my experience and the limited facts I know about this type of scanning.

PET/CT is an acronym for Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography. This type of imaging is under the "Nuclear Medicine" branch and uses small amount of radioactive material to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases. In my case, the nuclear material was isotopes or glucose. After it enters the system, it goes to the places that need the most energy- all major organs and anything with cancer cells (let's hope it ONLY went to my major organs yesterday.)

I had to "fast" for six hours prior to my 9:45 am appointment, which means I really didn't eat anything for nearly 16 hours. (This made Cancer Susan turn into Grumpy Susan and the nurses were not pleased).

When I grumpily arrived at my appointment, they whisked me back to a room that had a chair and magazines. The nurse inserted a needle into my weary, over-poked, right arm vein. This is all fine and dandy until they do a saline wash, and let me tell you saline washes after chemo make me want to vomit. BARF! Anyway, after the needle was in, she attached a small metal cylinder which was filled with a tablespoon of isotopes (radioactive material). It took all of about 45 seconds to get the isotopes into me, then she took the cylinder and needle out.

I had to sit there for another grumpy 45 minutes while the isotopes "soaked into my tissue". I took this time to get caught up on my "smut" reading (is anyone else tired of Lindsey Lohan), email and Scrabble games. It was quite lovely.

I was led to a room with the huge scanning machine thingy and the imaging commenced. It took 25 minutes total, BUT at least I was able to leave my clothes and, most importantly, my wig on. (Read more about my last PET/CT scan and see a photo here)

Finally (!), it was over and I was free to run to the nearest coffee/bagel shop (luckily, there is one right there at the cancer center!). I had the shakes so bad I spilled coffee on my white shirt and I didn't even care.

So, Interested Reader, I hope this answers your question. Thanks for reading and check back often for more boringly-not-totally-accurate facts about cancer.

Best,

Cancer Susan