I went and got my first ever PET scan yesterday. It wasn't quite what I expected. They told me it would take 1.5 hours which it did, but I expected to be in the machine for that length of time. It turned out that one hour was spent in a recliner in a dark room after they had put the radioactive tracer sugar into my blood. I was literally falling asleep. Once I was led to the actual testing room, the time in the machine was only 20 minutes. Not a bad experience at all.
The preliminary interpretation seems to indicate no obvious metastasis beyond my left lung. I have an MRI scheduled for next week to get a better look at the brain though. PET scans are best viewed in comparison, meaning that they are ideal at showing change and progression. They can certainly give a clear image of a tumor which it did in my left lung...3.7cm mass to be exact.
After my scan, I went to my pulmonologist to have my chest drained again. He was able to pull almost 2 liters out which provided great relief. He also offered that I could simply walk into the clinic anytime if I needed another thoracentesis (draining of fluid). This solved a serious problem because calling and trying to coordinate with staff for an appointment quickly was not working.
My oncologist said that once I start the medication, the fluid build up should slow down and eventually cease altogether. This would negate the need for further thoracentesis or a catheter. To be honest, the most difficult thing to deal with so far has been the pleural effusion and all the side effects that causes. It has clearly slowed but hasn't yet stopped. I’m hopeful it will soon.
-Jeremy
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