This morning Ann and I went to Wythenshawe hospital to see Dr. Bootan to find out the results of the PET scan I had at the Christie last week. We got there about a quarter of an hour early and of course we were seen about a quarter hour late. Still that wasn't too bad. After all this is the NHS.
When I found that Dr. Bootan was accompanied by a Macmillan nurse I was concerned. For those who don't know Macmillan nurses give support and advice counselling to people suffering from cancer and their families. That sounded like bad news that she was there. Anyway he examined me sounded my chest got me to do the usual D deep breathing exercises then went to read through the report on the PET scan.
Actually thinks look pretty good. There are three nodules in my lungs two of them are completely inactive and inert whereas the third one shows a little and very little activity. This however is not sufficient to cause any sort of panic. They will do nothing about it but they will monitor it. I need to go back and have another CT scan and another consultation in December. Until then we can concentrate on getting my bladder sorted out.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Thursday, 16 September 2010
PET scan
Today was the day for my PET scan. That meant I could have nothing to eat or drink other than water until the process was complete. I had eaten some crisps before I went o bed last night but that didn't stop me feeling pretty hungry this morning. The prohibition was not to eat or drink for six hours before the scan. Luckily my appointment was for 9:30. I would have hated it had it been made for late morning or even worse in the afternoon.
I had thought that the prohibition was so that nothing I ate or drank could interfere with the scan but that turned out not to be the case. The process uses a radioactive glucose as a tracer within your system. It's important that your blood sugar level be very low so that your body is forced to absorb the radioactive glucose that they inject into you fairly quickly and comprehensively. You learn something new every day. I think they have special procedures for the diabetics.
I arrived a good quarter hour early at the main reception desk and they called a porter to guide me through to the radioactive isotope department. I waited and waited but nobody came. I was getting anxious as my appointment time was approaching when a lady came and asked for the same department. I asked if she minded if I walked along with her and she agreed. So I got there on time.
I was called in pretty much straight away and after the usual form filling and explanation of what was going to happen I was taken into a waiting room where a blood sample was taken to check my sugar level and then I was injected with the radioactive glucose.
Once that was done I was left to listen to my talking book for an hour until my body had fully absorbed the glucose. But it was very very comfortable, a recliner in fact, and I was encouraged to doze off but it was a little early in the day even for me to go to sleep.
When the hour was over I was taken through to the scanning room. The process took about 20 minutes that was painless and quiet. In fact I actually did doze off for a few minutes while the scanner was running.
While I waited for them to check that everything had worked okay they provided me with a sandwich and a very large mug of coffee for which I was very grateful.
They ordered me a taxi and I was home around midday.
Since then I have eaten and drunk a lot more and have more than made up for my missing breakfast.
I had thought that the prohibition was so that nothing I ate or drank could interfere with the scan but that turned out not to be the case. The process uses a radioactive glucose as a tracer within your system. It's important that your blood sugar level be very low so that your body is forced to absorb the radioactive glucose that they inject into you fairly quickly and comprehensively. You learn something new every day. I think they have special procedures for the diabetics.
I arrived a good quarter hour early at the main reception desk and they called a porter to guide me through to the radioactive isotope department. I waited and waited but nobody came. I was getting anxious as my appointment time was approaching when a lady came and asked for the same department. I asked if she minded if I walked along with her and she agreed. So I got there on time.
I was called in pretty much straight away and after the usual form filling and explanation of what was going to happen I was taken into a waiting room where a blood sample was taken to check my sugar level and then I was injected with the radioactive glucose.
Once that was done I was left to listen to my talking book for an hour until my body had fully absorbed the glucose. But it was very very comfortable, a recliner in fact, and I was encouraged to doze off but it was a little early in the day even for me to go to sleep.
When the hour was over I was taken through to the scanning room. The process took about 20 minutes that was painless and quiet. In fact I actually did doze off for a few minutes while the scanner was running.
While I waited for them to check that everything had worked okay they provided me with a sandwich and a very large mug of coffee for which I was very grateful.
They ordered me a taxi and I was home around midday.
Since then I have eaten and drunk a lot more and have more than made up for my missing breakfast.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Dates For my diary
On Thursday, September 16th at 9.30 I have to be at the Christie for the PET scan. The following Tuesday, that's the 21st, I have to see Dr. B at Wythenshawe in the Northwest London apartment.
For those who have never heard of a caps PET scan here's a clue
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/about-cancer/tests/pet-scan
I am not allowed to have anything to eat and only water to drink for six hours before I have a scan. I gather they will inject me with some mildly radioactive substance so that it shows up all the details when the scan is done. It said there are no after-effects so I hope they're right. Anyway it'll be good to get the results on the 21st because the one thing I need now is some certainty. I am sick of "maybe this" or "maybe that".
Even if the worst is true and the nodules are cancerous at least they have found them early and hopefully early enough so that they can deal with them.
For those who have never heard of a caps PET scan here's a clue
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/about-cancer/tests/pet-scan
I am not allowed to have anything to eat and only water to drink for six hours before I have a scan. I gather they will inject me with some mildly radioactive substance so that it shows up all the details when the scan is done. It said there are no after-effects so I hope they're right. Anyway it'll be good to get the results on the 21st because the one thing I need now is some certainty. I am sick of "maybe this" or "maybe that".
Even if the worst is true and the nodules are cancerous at least they have found them early and hopefully early enough so that they can deal with them.
Friday, 3 September 2010
More Confusion
So today at just before eleven I was sitting waiting for my appointment when my mobile rang. "Hello, I'm Dr. B's secretary at Wythenshawe hospital. I'm ringing to tell you an appointment has been made for you to see Dr. B next Thursday at 1.30."
I was baffled and asked what it was about. It appeared that I had been referred to Dr. B by Dr. C, Mr R's registrar but the secretary knew no more than that.
Nurse Fiona heard my side of the call and quickly ushered me in to see Dr. C who explained what it was about and apologised that his colleague, Dr. B had been so quick off the mark. It appears that my CT scan the other week showed everything in my bladder and kidneys was as expected but that something had been spotted in my lungs which required investigation. The CT scan had spotted two small nodules towards the base of my left lung and one in my right lung. At this stage their nature was unknown and a PET scan was needed to show what they are. Dr. B, it appears is the lung cancer consultant. this does not mean that these damned things *are* malignant, of course, but that possibility does exist and they need to find out what they're dealing with and how to treat it.
There is currently no date for this PET scan and I don't think there is much point in talking to Dr. B until he has the results so we have something concrete to discuss.
I suppose if the worst comes to pass it's even more surgery but we're a long way off that I reckon. I don't have a cough or chest pains or any shortness of breath so I reckon that even if these things are malignant they are probably at an early stage and maybe more chemo or radiotherapy can kill them.
Oh, and it looks as if I can have a single room when I do have my surgery which is now delayed, of course.
I was baffled and asked what it was about. It appeared that I had been referred to Dr. B by Dr. C, Mr R's registrar but the secretary knew no more than that.
Nurse Fiona heard my side of the call and quickly ushered me in to see Dr. C who explained what it was about and apologised that his colleague, Dr. B had been so quick off the mark. It appears that my CT scan the other week showed everything in my bladder and kidneys was as expected but that something had been spotted in my lungs which required investigation. The CT scan had spotted two small nodules towards the base of my left lung and one in my right lung. At this stage their nature was unknown and a PET scan was needed to show what they are. Dr. B, it appears is the lung cancer consultant. this does not mean that these damned things *are* malignant, of course, but that possibility does exist and they need to find out what they're dealing with and how to treat it.
There is currently no date for this PET scan and I don't think there is much point in talking to Dr. B until he has the results so we have something concrete to discuss.
I suppose if the worst comes to pass it's even more surgery but we're a long way off that I reckon. I don't have a cough or chest pains or any shortness of breath so I reckon that even if these things are malignant they are probably at an early stage and maybe more chemo or radiotherapy can kill them.
Oh, and it looks as if I can have a single room when I do have my surgery which is now delayed, of course.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Another Appointment
Mr. R's secretary rang me yesterday and I have an appointment for Friday morning. Hopefully I will get a date for my surgery.
I don't know why but the call filled me with dread. I suddenly had visions of his telling me that the cancer had spread to both kidneys and that there was now nothing he could do and that I had maybe six months. Even though I knew that that was utterly unreasonable the fear lasted all day. I suppose it's because I was so confident last time and had my hopes rudely shattered and now I think all the news is always going to be bad.
I also had an e-mail from nurse Fiona saying a single room may be a possibility at Wythenshawe so we'll have to discuss that on Friday, too.
I don't know why but the call filled me with dread. I suddenly had visions of his telling me that the cancer had spread to both kidneys and that there was now nothing he could do and that I had maybe six months. Even though I knew that that was utterly unreasonable the fear lasted all day. I suppose it's because I was so confident last time and had my hopes rudely shattered and now I think all the news is always going to be bad.
I also had an e-mail from nurse Fiona saying a single room may be a possibility at Wythenshawe so we'll have to discuss that on Friday, too.
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