PET scan #7 was today and while the process was pretty routine for me now, there was a little wrinkle. 🙂
As an aside, who remembers The Prisoner (1967/68) with Patrick McGoohan? “I am not a number… I am a free man“. He was #6 and every time I use the “#” I remember that great show.
Just a warning, if you’re not a fan of vaccinations, you should probably just move along and know that the PET scan was completed without incident.
Prior to getting shoved into the tube for the scan there is a bit of paperwork and a blood glucose check to ensure that it’s not too high, which would mess up the scan. I’m told mine is fine at 4.9
Then there is the standard review of quite a few questions that I’d heard before and/or answered in writing on the intake form and then there is this exchange between myself and the tech. I’ll call her “The Tech” as she is running the show from intake, to starting the IV, to injecting the radioactive stuff, to running the scanner. I’m guessing she is a fully qualified RN but not sure. For this, “The Tech”.
Tech: Have you has your COVID shot?
Me: Yes, #3 on October 8th
Tech: Which arm?
Me: Left
Tech: Flu shot?
Me: Yes
Tech: Which arm?
Me: I’m not sure, I had four vaccinations that day.
Tech: (pause) OK, what other vaccinations?
Me: Hepatitis B, Influenza, Pneumococcal conjugate, Herpes Zoster (Shingrex)
Tech: OK, let me check with the doctor
(big pause)
Tech: We’re OK and good to go. It’s likely that the vaccinations will cause the scan to “light up” in the area of the lymph nodes near the injection site and that’s a normal and expected reaction to vaccinations as the body does its job building up your immunity. Since those areas are not where we’re tracking the cancer, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Generally, “lighting up” is bad when they are checking you for cancer. This whole concern about vaccinations was quite unexpected but it appears they allow for that so the PET scan continued as planned.
Results with the oncologist on November 1, 2021