The Cancer Thread

[wwrwtw]

I'm having a PET scan next week ? I haven't had one of them before and I was wondering what to expect?

PET Scans are like a CT Scan. No biggie. In my case they injected me with radioactive glucose and made me lay still for about 45 minutes then put me thru a CT Scan like machine. The glucose adheres to any cancerous tumors if there are any. I have them once a year now to make sure I am clean.

[repchick]

Thanks for the info.WW it doesn't sound bad at all.

[repchick]

See Jeny no milkshakes for me.

Thank You I did have a nice Mothers Day.I hope you did as well.

[Gregor]

Thanks for the info.WW it doesn't sound bad at all.

I think my husband's only complaint is the fluid they made him drink, but I'll double check. Also they give you this card to show so that if you set off radiation detectors--like at tunnels and such-- they let you pass through. I know....totally weird! Maybe that's only in NYC?

OH and don't move or fidget. It can give false readings. Anyway, I'll check with him on any other info he might have.

[repchick]

I had a radioactive tracer injected into my breasts before my mastectomy. This is for the sentinal node dissection. It's injected and then a weight is put on your chest that pushes it into the lymph nodes. They have a probe they run along your armpit that locates the first node so they don't have to surgically look for it . Then they can continue using the probe to locate additional nodes for removal. Saves alot of cutting. I had to lie still and not figit.I didn't get a card in case I set off anything .

I hope I don't have to drink anything nasty at least they haven't given me anything. I hope WW right.

I hope and pray everything works out with the shots they are giving Mr.Gregor.

[wwrwtw]

I think my husband's only complaint is the fluid they made him drink, but I'll double check. Also they give you this card to show so that if you set off radiation detectors--like at tunnels and such-- they let you pass through. I know....totally weird! Maybe that's only in NYC?

OH and don't move or fidget. It can give false readings. Anyway, I'll check with him on any other info he might have.

They don't give me anything to drink....just the injection. It kind of freaked me out the first time they brought in the vile totally encased in lead (at least I think it was lead).
It may depend on what area they are looking at. In my case it is my head and neck. Once it was my lungs as my oncologist saw something on an x-ray and wanted to make sure it wasn't a cancerous spot. It turned out to be nothing.

No card about radioactivity but I live about an hour and a half south of Boston so there is nothing to pass through that would be considered "threat worthy".

The hardest part for me is trying to lay totally still for a long period of time.
They suggest I take something that makes me sleepy if I think I may have a difficult time staying still. I took my oxycontin for the first one because I was nervous and didn't really know what to expect. Now when I have them I am fine so I don't need anything.

[Gregor]

ww:
That could be. My husband's tumor is right smack in the middle of the chest. I will ask him when I get home to tell me more about what they did with him, but you're absolutely right, there is nothing to fear with a PET. The only reason I know he had to drink it was he was complaining about it this time, and to make matters worse, the lowering of his levels resulted in a urinary tract infection...while this is odd in men, his was caused by some kind of ecoli infection from within his own bowels. He was really uncomfortable, especially with all the fluid from the PET, but as soon as they started him on antibiotics and transfused him, he was immediately better. This all had nothing to do with the PET, just his low levels.

[olympian2004]

The one thing missing in all this talk about surviving cancer is the recovery and even taking out the cancer itself with excellent nutrition.

A basic simple plan that anyone can do.

Completely eliminate alcohol, drugs and / or cigarettes (cigars) from your life FOREVER. If you drink wine then eat grapes instead. You get the benefit WITHOUT the deadly alcohol.

Juice at least 5 times a week and during the initial recovery from a traumatic event such as cancer do it everyday, or twice a day in the first few months. I'd recommend these two, but there are many possibilities:

Carrot, apple, red beet, parsley
Carrot, kale, spinach, celery, collard greens, parsley

Each day have a handful of raisins and at least two type of nuts (sunflower, pecans, walnuts, almonds).

Have a fruit plate every day:

Banana slices, kiwi slices, strawberries (or other fruit in season like blueberries, mango), grapefruit wedges, orange wedges

Have a good source of protein with rice each day. Baked fish, chicken breast, etc.

Have one or two yogurts everyday. There are soy based varieties for the folks who are lactose intolerant.

Get an excellent nutritional supplement like the one I've been using since 1992, Super Blue Green Algae.

Available at:
http://www.simplexityhealth.com/

I'd also recommend a high quality calcium supplement.

And finally get your body in motion at least three to four times a week. Their are many sports, games and other activities like hiking to get that heart pumping.

Anyway, just some excellent ideas that I know work based on my own experience of never having to face this type of situation (AND never will) and observing others who have made an easy full recovery from a life threatening disease like cancer.

When I hear about someone like Gregor's husband it makes me want to drop what I'm doing, get in my 4Runner, drive to wherever the person is and implement and oversee this recovery process that I've highlighted even if it takes a few months of my time.

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[jwil59]

My MIL has colon cancer and has been taking chemo and radiation. She is burnt to a crisp from the radiation and they posponed her last chemo treatment because of that. The first few weeks on treatments went fine but now she is terribly sick and there are huge open sores from the radiation burns. It's really sad but we are praying these treatments will get rid of the tumor.

[wwrwtw]

My MIL has colon cancer and has been taking chemo and radiation. She is burnt to a crisp from the radiation and they posponed her last chemo treatment because of that. The first few weeks on treatments went fine but now she is terribly sick and there are huge open sores from the radiation burns. It's really sad but we are praying these treatments will get rid of the tumor.

The burn sores from radiation are the WORST but they WILL heal.
I had open oozing sores on my neck from ear to ear. I think I was sicker from the radiation than I was from chemo. I went to radiation twice a day. I have a huge scar on my neck from it.
Burn cream seemed to soothe it a little.
If she has some I suggest applying it liberally and often. If she doesn't you should ask for a prescription for some. I know how painful it can be

[olympian2004]

The burn sores from radiation are the WORST but they WILL heal.
I had open oozing sores on my neck from ear to ear. I think I was sicker from the radiation than I was from chemo. I went to radiation twice a day. I have a huge scar on my neck from it.
Burn cream seemed to soothe it a little.
If she has some I suggest applying it liberally and often. If she doesn't you should ask for a prescription for some. I know how painful it can be

Wow, your experience and the one posted by 'jwil59' is incomprehensible. Having worked at a hospital for two years I've seen people in the cancer ward who are in very bad condition, but had no idea that the suffering was as awful as you have described here.

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[Gregor]

I had a radioactive tracer injected into my breasts before my mastectomy. This is for the sentinal node dissection. It's injected and then a weight is put on your chest that pushes it into the lymph nodes. They have a probe they run along your armpit that locates the first node so they don't have to surgically look for it . Then they can continue using the probe to locate additional nodes for removal. Saves alot of cutting. I had to lie still and not figit.I didn't get a card in case I set off anything .

I hope I don't have to drink anything nasty at least they haven't given me anything. I hope WW right.

I hope and pray everything works out with the shots they are giving Mr.Gregor.

Okay, this is what my husband said:
You receive an injection of a radioisotope, and have to drink about a quart of a reflective chemical that interacts w/ the radio isotope. You wait about 45 minutes, and then they bring you into what looks like an MRI machine. It
pulls you through in five minute increments and then you're done. For his abdomen and chest it took around 25 minutes. He said it's a lot like a CAT scan.

Hope that helps!

[Gregor]

The burn sores from radiation are the WORST but they WILL heal.
I had open oozing sores on my neck from ear to ear. I think I was sicker from the radiation than I was from chemo. I went to radiation twice a day. I have a huge scar on my neck from it.
Burn cream seemed to soothe it a little.
If she has some I suggest applying it liberally and often. If she doesn't you should ask for a prescription for some. I know how painful it can be

Oh dear. This is what we have to "look forward" to next week?

[Gregor]

When I hear about someone like Gregor's husband it makes me want to drop what I'm doing, get in my 4Runner, drive to wherever the person is and implement and oversee this recovery process that I've highlighted even if it takes a few months of my time.

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I wish you could! But I really appreciate the info you've provided. I absolutely will go over your suggestions with him.

[olympian2004]

I wish you could! But I really appreciate the info you've provided. I absolutely will go over your suggestions with him.

The juicing is the biggie of all the suggestions because it the quickest way to get life promoting nutrients into the body where they are needed for healing.

Anyway, hope all goes well.

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