Another New Experience Of My Life.
The word "Pet", always reminds us of a pet animal at home. First time I heard of a Pet scan. I went to my Oncologist because my ESR was high. He went through the blood results and found that my tumor marker result was on a gradual rise, last three months. So he told me that it is better to do a PET CT Scan. He just told me that it shows any significant tumors in my body and to call the scan people and take an appointment. He told me it may take four to five hours. I came back home and checked with Bharat scans, and they told me to go on Thursday with an empty stomach by 8 am.
On Thursday, got up early and my hubby took me to the scan center. We were asked to go to the basement and we met the concerned person. We had to wait, and then he called a nurse to check my weight. Then I was given a dress to wear, which looked liked a uniform. I was asked to sit in a room, where the nurse came and fixed an IV set on my hand. With all the chemo and the blood tests, getting a vein was not an easy task for them. She injected something into my vein, which was really cooling to the veins. Then they checked my height and then took my blood sugar. After that I was taken to the scan room for a scan. The person who takes the scan gave me instructions and went off and in 5 minutes it was over. I was asked to wait saying a doctor will come to check. We were called in by the doctor, who asked me my medical history. We waited outside. Someone came and told me about the whole procedure and that it would take four to five hours. I could see many of them with the same kind of uniform, all waiting for the scan.
The PET CT scan is Positron Emission Tomography ( Computed Tomography). I do not know what it means. But today that is the latest in detecting cancerous lumps in your body. I was inside where they gave medication. Others were not allowed to come in. I was asked to sit and a lady in charge came and gave me a big glass mug (Beer mug) full of medicated water and with a smile told me that I had to drink 7 of that. There were four other sitting there. I had the first one and kept my mug down, she came and poured the next one and asked me to keep a track of the numbers of mugs I was drinking. For a moment, I went back to a class room where we are seated in line. All new experiences and the rapport the others had was really amazing. The technician who took my scan came and injected into my vein some radio active elements. I sat in the same place for almost four hours, which was like a punishment, as we were not allowed to talk or read, just sit there and drink the medicated water. All this while my hubby was waiting outside, it was really a test of his patience. I finished my sixth mug and the lady came and told me the next will be given just before going in for the scan.
I was asked to go to the bathroom and come; then I was given my seventh mug of medicated water. After drinking that, I was taken to the scan room. Unlike the MRI, there were no sounds. I was instructed to lie down with my hand above my head. I was also told not to move. They told me the scan would take 20 to 30 minutes. Then he told me that I would be injected with a medicine which would be painful and hot. He requested me to bear it. The scan started and I was moved to and fro through a round machine which was open on both sides. After some time, he injected the medicine which was really painful and I could feel a burning sensation from head to toe. Again I was moved to and fro for sometime. Later I was instructed to keep my hand on my tummy. I was moved to and fro and then they came and told me that the scan was over. I was so relieved I could move my hand and legs. My left hand fingers had become numb and cold due to the IV set.
We were instructed to wait for sometime as they had to check if they got all the slides properly. After sometime, he removed the IV set and told me to have something hot, either coffee or tea. He had a few instructions like, having plenty of water, not to go near kids less than five and near pregnant ladies. To use different toilet or flush with lot of water as the radio active elements would get flushed out of my system through my urine. By then I was really feeling hungry and tired. My hubby too was starving like me.
Now was the time of waiting, for the result. On Friday my hubby collected the result and we went to the oncologist. He read everything and inspected all the images. A look at his face told me something was wrong. But I was prepared for anything. I was advised to see the surgeon the following day. We went to the surgeon, he went through all the reports and told me, there were two options, one to go for radiation or remove the lump. The lump was on the line of sutures of the mastectomy. The surgeon opted for removing the lump and sending it for biopsy to see the grade of cancer. I was told to take fitness from my cardiologist and then he would decide on the date.
I didn't curse God. Nor was I sad. If God gave it to me, he had also seen that we have the means to go through the treatment. Had it been, even three years back, we wouldn't have had the means to undergo the treatment. I am happy for the little blessing given to me. I have been given the strength to go through it and I have the support of my family, friends and also the doctors who treat me.
Today my aim is to live a life, where I can inspire others with my strength. Be a candle to light up someone's life. To be a loving, caring and sharing person. I write about all my experiences to inspire others to be brave and face whatever comes in life with a smiling face. I know I have a lot of friends praying for me and at this time, that is enough for me to know I have a lot of friends who genuinely love me and care for me. I have to thank my doctors, family and friends for all the support.
The word "Pet", always reminds us of a pet animal at home. First time I heard of a Pet scan. I went to my Oncologist because my ESR was high. He went through the blood results and found that my tumor marker result was on a gradual rise, last three months. So he told me that it is better to do a PET CT Scan. He just told me that it shows any significant tumors in my body and to call the scan people and take an appointment. He told me it may take four to five hours. I came back home and checked with Bharat scans, and they told me to go on Thursday with an empty stomach by 8 am.
On Thursday, got up early and my hubby took me to the scan center. We were asked to go to the basement and we met the concerned person. We had to wait, and then he called a nurse to check my weight. Then I was given a dress to wear, which looked liked a uniform. I was asked to sit in a room, where the nurse came and fixed an IV set on my hand. With all the chemo and the blood tests, getting a vein was not an easy task for them. She injected something into my vein, which was really cooling to the veins. Then they checked my height and then took my blood sugar. After that I was taken to the scan room for a scan. The person who takes the scan gave me instructions and went off and in 5 minutes it was over. I was asked to wait saying a doctor will come to check. We were called in by the doctor, who asked me my medical history. We waited outside. Someone came and told me about the whole procedure and that it would take four to five hours. I could see many of them with the same kind of uniform, all waiting for the scan.
The PET CT scan is Positron Emission Tomography ( Computed Tomography). I do not know what it means. But today that is the latest in detecting cancerous lumps in your body. I was inside where they gave medication. Others were not allowed to come in. I was asked to sit and a lady in charge came and gave me a big glass mug (Beer mug) full of medicated water and with a smile told me that I had to drink 7 of that. There were four other sitting there. I had the first one and kept my mug down, she came and poured the next one and asked me to keep a track of the numbers of mugs I was drinking. For a moment, I went back to a class room where we are seated in line. All new experiences and the rapport the others had was really amazing. The technician who took my scan came and injected into my vein some radio active elements. I sat in the same place for almost four hours, which was like a punishment, as we were not allowed to talk or read, just sit there and drink the medicated water. All this while my hubby was waiting outside, it was really a test of his patience. I finished my sixth mug and the lady came and told me the next will be given just before going in for the scan.
I was asked to go to the bathroom and come; then I was given my seventh mug of medicated water. After drinking that, I was taken to the scan room. Unlike the MRI, there were no sounds. I was instructed to lie down with my hand above my head. I was also told not to move. They told me the scan would take 20 to 30 minutes. Then he told me that I would be injected with a medicine which would be painful and hot. He requested me to bear it. The scan started and I was moved to and fro through a round machine which was open on both sides. After some time, he injected the medicine which was really painful and I could feel a burning sensation from head to toe. Again I was moved to and fro for sometime. Later I was instructed to keep my hand on my tummy. I was moved to and fro and then they came and told me that the scan was over. I was so relieved I could move my hand and legs. My left hand fingers had become numb and cold due to the IV set.
We were instructed to wait for sometime as they had to check if they got all the slides properly. After sometime, he removed the IV set and told me to have something hot, either coffee or tea. He had a few instructions like, having plenty of water, not to go near kids less than five and near pregnant ladies. To use different toilet or flush with lot of water as the radio active elements would get flushed out of my system through my urine. By then I was really feeling hungry and tired. My hubby too was starving like me.
Now was the time of waiting, for the result. On Friday my hubby collected the result and we went to the oncologist. He read everything and inspected all the images. A look at his face told me something was wrong. But I was prepared for anything. I was advised to see the surgeon the following day. We went to the surgeon, he went through all the reports and told me, there were two options, one to go for radiation or remove the lump. The lump was on the line of sutures of the mastectomy. The surgeon opted for removing the lump and sending it for biopsy to see the grade of cancer. I was told to take fitness from my cardiologist and then he would decide on the date.
I didn't curse God. Nor was I sad. If God gave it to me, he had also seen that we have the means to go through the treatment. Had it been, even three years back, we wouldn't have had the means to undergo the treatment. I am happy for the little blessing given to me. I have been given the strength to go through it and I have the support of my family, friends and also the doctors who treat me.
3 comments:
Your courageous attitude is really an inspiration to all of us Chechi as you wrote. Take care Chechi.
Thanks again for sharing chechi.I had heard about 'PET'scan but never thought about it's full form,neither did I know it was so long a process. Hope and pray you won't have to go through much pain again.
Hugs to you.Do get well soon :)
love u chechi
Post a Comment