PET Scan Day

Today was officially deemed PET scan day.  After 40 hours of no carbohydrates and then 6 hours this morning of nothing but water, I arrived at Radia in Kirkland for my PET scan.  What's a PET scan?  It's an exotic (and very expensive) CT scan in which they use radioactive contrast to help highlight the metabolically active areas in the body (those with the most rapidly reproducing cells).  What is the purpose of getting it?  It is performed to identify the extent of lymphoma spread throughout my body.  Of primary interest are the bones and bone marrow because we already new that I had significantly enlarged lymph nodes in my chest and abdomen.  Invasion of the bone and bone marrow would put me at a stage 4 lymphoma rather than 3B (which is where I currently stand).

After our arrival at Radia, they handed me a 16 oz plastic bottle of room temperature white liquid to drink--Barium.  I had to guzzle this grape-flavored, chalky liquid in order to distinguish my bowel from other structures when they perform the CT.  It really wasn't as bad as I make it sound, but I wasn't forewarned about it, so it caught me by surprise.  Nonetheless, I finished it within 15 minutes and then we were escorted back to a closet-sized room that was about 78 degrees.  It felt nice and cozy but put Chris to sleep within 10 minutes.  The CT tech then placed an IV, checked my blood sugar (which we bet on the result -- I said 78, the tech said 82 and the result was 83).   I forgot that the barium likely had sugar in it, so I blame that for not knowing my sugar result.  ;)  After he returned with the sugar result, he pulled out the metal-encased radioactive syringe and injected into my IV.  I don't know what I expected, but I didn't notice anything after the contrast was injected - no unusual taste in my mouth, no burning, no flushing.  It felt the same as saline.

We waited for an hour before the scanning could be done and when the tech walked in at 1:30, he awakened Chris from his much-needed snooze.  He went to the main waiting room with the nice fire place and big screen showing soaring over the U.S. while I went onto a flat bed where they covered me with warmed blankets and strapped me in (so I wouldn't run away, I guess).  All I could think about while being pulled in and out of the big tube was MOD pizza.  After no carbohydrates, that was the thing I craved most.  I was only in the scanner for 23 minutes and then we were able to leave.

I must admit that since I didn't get a call from the radiologist (as I was told I would), I peaked at my results this evening.  From what I can tell, I have reactive bone marrow, but it doesn't look like the lymphoma has actually invaded the bones or bone marrow, just the places that we were already aware of it's activity.  So, it looks like this will put me at stage 3B and I'll probably start the conventional ABVD chemotherapy protocol this week and then recheck the PET scan after 2 cycles of chemo to be sure that I am responding appropriately.  I will likely have more information tomorrow after more of the pathology reports from my surgery return and with my discussion with my oncologist at 4 pm.

Keep the prayers a coming as they are definitely making a difference!!!

Believe in the power of prayer.  If not for yourself, believe in it for others.  The world is weak, prayer is powerful and He can do anything.