What are PET scans like?

@savannah1959
PET scans are easier than an MRI and not noisy! You go in and they check your blood sugar. If all right, they inject you with a radiotracer, Fludeoxyglucose, which checks for cancer. After the injection, you sit quietly without moving or reading for about 45 minutes (some radiologists will let you read and others prefer no movement) and from there they take you to lay down on the table, kind of like an MRI, but you're not actually in a tube. The machine will go back and forth over you. After I have my injection, I just sit with my eyes closed and take a cat nap! The actual imaging takes only about 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour. I've had to have these repeated anywhere from every 3 months to every 6 months and may possibly be going to yearly after my next one. Note: One other thing, they ask that you not do any heavy exercise or movements the day prior. Hope this helps.

Thank you so much for your description. I won't freak if my doctors ever want me to do one!

I'm adding @hockeymom25 @jemma17 @dconradvlasak @maryw28 @hkc9890 to this discussion who have also had PET scans related to breast cancer. They can describe the experience and help you, @savannah1959, to prepare for what to expect.

Trixie had an excellent description. I'll only add that our machine is the same machine for C/T and PET scans. The longest part is definitely waiting for the tracer to get into your bloodstream and I have napped or watched a show during that time. For me, I don't think the scan ever took more than 15 minutes. As a teacher, it was surprising to be told to avoid very small children for 24 hours. My 8 yo's weren't in that category, but I took the whole day off anyway. I would definitely tell them about your claustrophobia; I'm sure they can give you a mild sedative. But honestly, the scan itself is just like a C/T. Wishing you the best with this!

I agree with @savannah1959 . I’ve only had to have one, but I remember it being a lot easier than the MRI. I fortunately am not claustrophobic, but it’s not the same.

Heidi

My father had several PET scans after being diagnosed with stage zero colon cancer. The doctors removed a polyp that had cancer cells. He had no chemo and the cancer never spread. BUT the medical community insisted my father have a PET scan often for cancer screening. He was a senior citizen. Each PET scan produced an image of spots on my fathers liver in which the doctors called my father back for more testing. I told my father these spots are caused by your drugs you are taking for your cholesterol. Every PET scan he was called in for further testing and every testing came back negative. And each time he freaked out and called us stating Mayo found cancer on my PET scan. And each time we had to tell him the spots are from your prescription meds you are on. My father passed away two years ago from Alzheimer’s. He was so concerned about getting cancer he ended up dying from a much worse disease. I also believe because my father was a senior citizen and on Medicare the PET scans were abused. But that is just my opinion.