I made it to Stanford to meet Mary before she headed into her PET/CT scan. Mary arrived even earlier and they took her in to the prep area and I didn't get to see her. Its a two hour procedure with IV's in both arms while they take images her various parts. The machine is in a trailer outside the building complex and doesn't have a waiting area. I'm killing time (doing work email after this) in the Cancer Center cafe area.
They told me it takes almost two hours after the start of the appointment to complete the procedure--if she is a good girl and doesn't move during the imaging part. That means we'll be done here about 6:30PM. We don't know when the radiologist completes his report, but everything at Stanford is on line so we are sure the surgeon will take a good hard look at the images before he sees Mary at tomorrow's 11AM appointment.
Mary had a pretty good day. The pain was minor at worst and that is associated with a poor sitting posture or an unusual abdominal move. Otherwise, she says she has no pain at all. Her tummy was ok even though she was not allowed to eat after 8:30AM. She did use some antacids but not excessive--she reported. I hope this means we've finally turned the corner to her getting stronger again--thanks to the transdermal patch which eliminates her stomach as part of the intake procedure. Recall, the Oncologist said he orders chemo treatments when patients self-report 80% of normal feeling. And, Mary said she felt like she was at that level before she started Gemzar in early October. She hasn't been anywhere near 80% (more like 8% at times) since the 2nd week of the now-cancelled Gemzar treatments.
All I know for sure is that she will be a very hungry girl when she gets out of that contraption. She requested a take out dinner to be picked up on the way home. If we pick it up in Palo Alto, I'm guessing she'll be nibbling before we get on the freeway. Ok by me.
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Yes, I remember the PET scan trailer. You almost feel like you're going out to the woods, yet you are still close to Welsh Ave! They make up the injection in a separate facility after they are sure you show up and they confirm you height and weight. The stuff is delivered in lead containers and all of the techs are in protective gear while they handle the stuff. It did make me a little concerned that they would inject it in me but then I don't work around it all day every day. After the injection you get to recline for an hour or so while the stuff does its thing. The scan is pretty easy in that you just lay there and the machine does all of the work.
I am sure she will be hungry and glad to have it over.
Mary R.
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