CT and Bone Scan

Friday at last and time for my scans.  I'm really tired.  I've thought and thought about this non-stop to the point of pure exhaustion.  I had both a CT scan and Bone Scan. 

Here's a description from the internet

CT Scan:  A computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays to make detailed pictures of structures inside of the body.  During the test, you will lie on a table that is attached to the CT scanner, which is a large doughnut-shaped machine. The CT scanner sends X-rays through the body area being studied. Each rotation of the scanner provides a picture of a thin slice of the organ or area.  

In some cases, a dye called contrast material may be used. It may be put in a vein (IV in your arm) to see those areas better. For some types of CT scans you drink the dye. The dye makes structures and organs easier to see on the CT pictures.

A CT scan can be used to study all parts of your body, such as the chest, belly, pelvis, or an arm or leg. It can take pictures of body organs, such as the liver, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, bladder, adrenal glands, lungs and heart.  It also can study blood vessels, bones, and the spinal cord.

Bone Scan: 

A bone scan involves injecting a radioactive material (radiotracer) into a vein. The substance travels through your blood to the bones and organs. As it wears off, it gives off a little bit of radiation. This radiation is detected by a camera that slowly scans your body. The camera takes pictures of how much radiotracer collects in the bones.
If a bone scan is done to see if you have a bone infection, images may be taken shortly after the radioactive material is injected and again 3 to 4 hours later, when it has collected in the bones. This is called a 3-phase bone scan.
To evaluate metastatic bone disease, images are taken only after the 3 to 4 hour delay.

A bone scan is used to:

• Diagnose a bone tumor or cancer
• Determine if a cancer that began elsewhere in your body has spread to the bones; common cancers that spread to the bones include breast, lung, prostate, thyroid, and kidney.
• Diagnose a fracture, when it cannot be seen on a regular x-ray (most commonly hip fractures, stress fractures in the feet or legs, or spine fractures)
• Diagnose a bone infection (osteomyelitis)
• Diagnose or determine the cause of bone pain, when no other cause has been identified
• Evaluate metabolic disorders, such as osteomalacia, renal osteodystrophy, primary hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, complex regional pain syndrome, and Paget's disease

So I had the CT scan 1st.  She gave me an IV with the contrast and the radioactive material.  The CT scan was quick.  I'm not a fan of IV's but who is right?  Once it's in, it's not that bad.  When I received the contrast my right thigh got warm.  I asked the nurse if that was normal and she said no.  It should feel like I'm peeing my pants.  Well eventually it did but I thought that was odd that my thigh warmed up like I put a heating pad on it 1st.  Weird huh?  Well, 1st test down....ready for test #2.

She told me to go ahead and leave, get some food and come back at 11:30 for the bone scan.  So Ken and I ran to McDonald's and grabbed a quick breakfast.  Afterward we went to the mall and walked around a bit.  We had time to run to Pottery Barn so that lightened my mood.  For some reason I'm really worried about the bone scan.  You'd think I'd be worried about the CT scan and all my organs but since the MRI came back with a lesion on my spine, the bone scan terrifies me.

We returned right on time and they promptly called me back. The machine wasn't scary.  The tech was really nice.  I laid down on my back and was told to lay still for 18 min.  So I did and I prayed.  Prayed, prayed and prayed.  Just laying there I just kept thinking, please don't let this be it for me.
Then she came in and told me she was going to take a scan of my ribs.  I asked her, "I don't recall doing this before"  she said, Ya, you haven't.  Humm?  I wonder why she said that.  So I asked, "is this normal?"   Well you haven't had before so we're going to do it.  Umm..Okay.  Then I got really nervous thinking did they find something in my CT scan (organs) and that's why they are scanning my ribs?  Oh geez, there's totally something there.

When I got done, I just thought, okay...it's over.  My fate is in their hands.  I wish I could just walk next door, meet with Dr. Wilkinson and just get this over.  But instead, Ken and I drove the long way home.  I was in such a daze and a state of depression.  I just can't believe this is happening.  Why?

When we got home I laid down and promptly feel asleep.  I was exhausted and honestly, I could have slept the entire rest of the day and on in to the evening but I got up around 4pm and Ken and I went out to dinner.  We went to one of our favorite places, Ford's fish shack.  Cody can't eat fish so we take advantage of going out when we can.  We had a nice dinner which lifted my spirits.  I told Ken that I really hope my results come out negative cause I really want to enjoy my spring/summer and hope to have fun with him and Cody.  And with all this stress, if I am cancer free, we need to celebrate by taking a trip to Vegas.  Cause let me tell you. I'm soooooooo tired!

So we picked up Cody and wouldn't you know on the way home I got a call on my cell from the nurse at Dr. Wilkinson's office.  I quickly thought "the nurse is calling....not the dr.  This could be good news"  Sure enough, the nurse told me my bone scan and CT scan was cancer free.  No signs of cancer anywhere.  WHAT??  Are you sure????  I can't believe it!!!  I thought for sure I had cancer again.  Well, Jennifer, you don't.  I'll mail you the results on Monday but I wanted to call you so you didn't worry all weekend long.  Thank you!

I hung up and I just couldn't believe what I heard.  How is this possible?  I'm thrilled but I swore I had cancer again.  How lucky am I?  I consider myself extremely lucky and very happy.  Still shocked but very very happy.