Pet Scan for my Dad.really scared.please help.

[Peri5]

Hi everyone

I'm new to this page..

My dad had a lump in his right armpit for over a month now.hes 75yrs.the lump has got smaller..it seemed to have cropped up out of the blue..he had a hemotoma bruising rash on that side,maybe due to him being on blood thinners.there was intense pain.he took antibitics for two weeks.all this has cleared up.the lump is still there though.

Since that time he's had ultrasound followed by biopsy.we are waiting for those results anxiously.

My dad also needs a heart valve replacement and a few weeks ago they did a ct scan on his chest and heart.the armpit lump showed up and they have also said we need a biopsy.

The ct images were forwarded to our local hospital.this morning the doctor in hemotology has asked us to go for a full body scan(pet).I am terrified for dad and what they've seen on the ct..the doctor has said they have seen the lymph nodes in the armpit and there seems to be bleeding inside but want to check the other lymph nodes else where in the body.they have not waited for the biopsy results which should come in soon.

Has anyone got experience with Pet scans?can the ct scan trigger pet scans or is this routine.I'm scared that something else has been detected.

My dad has no symptoms..

Please if anyone can share their experience I would be most grateful..feel very alone right now.

Many thanks

[Charlie120920]

Hello Peri5. I can appreciate what a worrying time this is for the whole family. I’ve had numerous PET CT scans. It involves having to fast for at least (6?) hours. Only water can be consumed within the fasting period. Your dad will have his blood sugar checked and if ok he will have a radioactive sugar solution injected and will have to lie quietly for about an hour. We will then be taken through for the scan which will last about 20 mins. The idea is that any cancer cells will draw the sugar solution to them and will show up on the scan as a coloured area. This allows the team to see if there is evidence of cancer and if so they can pinpoint exactly where it is. This helps them treat it more successfully. I really hope that the results will be ok and that your dad can be treated successfully if it shows that he has any cancer.

[Peri5 in reply to Charlie120920]

Hi Charlie120920

Thank you so much for writing back.i appreciate you explaining the PET scan process.i now know what to expect.its very detailed that's for sure and that's quite scary.

Quick question..do they usually do a PET after the biopsy results?we haven't got ours back yet but the doctor wants us to get this done.

It has certainly been a very worrying time.waiting for results is the hardest part. I'm his only daughter and we are very close..I am more anxious than him.i hope we can tackle this somehow.

Best wishes

[blondiec]

Good luck to your dad I hope he will receive good news and it will be taken care of. 🙏🍀🙏