| | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 | Debbie,
For the PET portion of the scan (which takes a long time) you do NOT go in and out (on the 3 different machines they used on me). What is happening it advances you by 10cm or so. I counted to 140 to 180 for each segment.
Compared to IMRT this is nothing although it does seem to take forever.
Markus
Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Markus,
Isn't it like a donut that you go through and come out the other side? Also, what do you mean by each segment. What do you do to keep your mind occupied while in there? If I think about what is happening to me I will freak! Did you count too?
Sorry with the questions, but you seem very knowledgable about this whole thing!
Thanks!
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO.
Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw.
Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | The machine is donut shaped, and the easiest way to go thru is is like I do the MRI and the others. I set my mind to think about soemthing and let the time pass. Heck, might even be hiking. It does work for me.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Debbie, they inject you and then you sit for avbout 45 minutes to let the dye work. Then they put you in the machine and it slowly does it's job. After a half hour or so, they take a few more special pics then you are thru. It's not bad at all. They have names for what they do , but this mind forgets them. LOL
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Thanks Jim,
After everything I have been through, this is so babyish, but I seeem to get worse about procedures rather than better. It would suit me fine never to step a foot into a hospital again!! Wouldn't that be a miracle. It's just I got claustrophobic bad wearing the mask for radiation. That was just barbaric. I love to hike now, and that is a good idea. I will image my favorite place all green with spring!
Thanks Jim, I am glad to see you are doing better. Keep getting stronger so you can fight again. That is why I hike. I want to be as strong as I can possibly get every day!
Peace be with you,
Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO.
Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw.
Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo.
| | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 | Debbie,
yes it looks like a doughnut. Re segment. It (the detection) goes in stages. It moves you, then you wait... then it moves you. ... I just count.... that is how I came up with 140-180. It is just boring that is all. Nothing bad is happening to you in the machine. The only thing you MIGHT feel if they inject you with a contrast agent (for the CT portion). That just feels like you get warm all over, not really unpleasant.
As Jim said they will inject you with 18F-glucose after which you sit still for 45 minutes or so. FYI, the glucose the inject you is radioactive so do not freak out. It will decay quickly and not be in your system very long. But this is what they need to see where the glucose goes..... Also follow the instructions you get to the letter. The last thing you want is a false positive which creates a lot of anxiety. Compared to IMRT it is a piece of cake.
Markus
Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Thanks Markus,
It will be fine if I set my mind to it and know what's going on.
The part I think I really hate is the results. I have cancelled this a couple times now. But, I have to know sooner or later!
THanks to you all,
Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO.
Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw.
Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo.
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Hi Debbie,
I'm like you. Scared to death of the MRI but do CT scans all the time. Last time I had them take me down to see one. Where I go they have one that is larger on the inside than the other two. She told me to schedule for that machine. It looks like a big CT except that instead of going in and out you are inserted into it and it takes much longer. Wonder what happens if you have to cough half way through. Let me know how it goes and I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Thanks for thinking of me Eileen. I am having a hard time keeping my mind from going nuts. I am scared of results now. I had just gotten used to my "new normal" . I hope I can keep my normal.
Prayers help too.
Thanks!
Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO.
Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw.
Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I left the Drs office Monday after he made an appt for a Cat Scan for zfriday this week, when I got home the phone rang and it was the hospital informing me I had an MRI the next day. LOL It kinda surprised me, but it went smooth as usual. Now if I find out what it showed.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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