Hi teal warriors.
I take metformin for diabetes and I have read on here that it helps with cancer so thats an unexpected positive. I am due to end my chemo at the beginning of October then the dreaded CT scan eeeek. My question is do you have to stop taking metformin before the scan??
I believe you do. I think in my hospital appointment letters in the past they have given instructions about what to do. I'm waiting on my next letter to come through any day!
You could call the department for advice once you know when your appointment is (just in case it's not mentioned in your appointment letter).
Hope your letter arrives soon I've still got two more treatments 😫 I will ring them if not in letter .. Thank you x
Letters always ask if I take Metaformin, I dont but Id like to know y if anyone knows?
Id would love to know too.... Glad to hear letters ask about metformin sets my mind at rest... Thank you...I Was undergoing investigations for possible OC and they asked about my family history my mum had type two diabetes so they tested me... I had started feeling thirsty the way I described it would be what I thought a vampire would feel constantly craving a drink. My belly would be full of water and I still wanted more. I thought it was tablets they put me on to stop bleeding I was bloated huge stomach and soooo frustrated as I was trying to diet for my sons wedding and I just appeared to be getting fatter... My tops were stretched to the limit. The test for diabetes came back positive and my ca125 was 495... Double whammy ... I found the news difficult to deal with...diabetes more so than cancer initially as i could not eat much even a slice of toast turned to cardboard in my mouth. All i could manage was yogurt soup and ice cream. I don't test my sugar by finger prick so I have no idea what it is from day to day .. GP monitors it with a 3 monthly blood test. About a month after I had my op...they decided to test my sugar about half hour before it was16. I then had awful time laid on cold trolley while the anaethetist berated me for not controlling my sugar and it was doubtful the op would go ahead I was devastated and felt so lost and alone... I had just being surviving ....my symptoms for OC pain tiredness and the mass reducing my lung capacity was awful... I had made it this far and he was going to turn me away he was horrible... He had no idea of my life till then. I am so angry when I look back on it... I now have my diabetes under control.. Had my op (it did go ahead due to urgency of removal of cancer). I'm Almost at the end of chemo things are more positive... But the fighter in me still rails against his unkind words 😤😤😤
I think it's to do with how your kidneys process the dye they use in the CT scan. I'm not sure of the science behind it, but you need to give your body time to deal with the CT contrast before restarting the Metformin. Not so long as to be risky from a diabetes perspective, but from memory, half a day to a day.
Thats interesting to know. Im going for a scan on 7th Oct so I'll ask, dunno why I havent before lol. Having said that I dont have the contrast, I'm allergic lol.
Goodness he sound awful. The vast majority of the medical profession Ive come across are amazing. Ive come across two that werent and not seen them since lol. the first was my surgeon who Im afraid I reacted badly to his lack of bedside manner the day after my op and the second was my first Oncologist who I reported to Patient Liaison . As you can see I dont see who I dont have to lol. Glad to hear you are nearly at the end of chemo. Its tough but can give good results 
I totally agree with you ... The oncology staff and my surgeon are amazing people that I greatly admire... Like you I've come across two individuals that aren't ... The aforementioned gentleman ahem ... And a nurse on the surgical ward who had no bedside manner was quite frankly quite rude.. One of my fellow patients lovely lady that gave me great advice and was a very strong women gave her a piece of her mind... I wouldn't have been that brave at the time but now bring it on... In a weird way I think OC gives you the confidence to challenge offensive behaviours 😎😎
Ive always spoken out tbh lol.
I take Metformin for type 2 diabetes, & have had scans at 2 different hospitals, but have never been asked to stop taking it. I'm always asked if I take Metformin, and I tell them I do. The radiographers say that as my kidneys are working ok there should be no problem.
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Thank you... That's good news I guess I should wait and see what they say when I get my end of chemo scan.
Hi, as I have been taking metformin as part of the COC drugs, although had a week off because of stomach upset, with a scan booked for next Monday. I have just called the X-ray department and it's OK to take it , do not need to stop for ct..
X
Thank you so much... Set my mind at rest ❤️❤️
That's good news for you Shelly. I'll see what my scan letter says when it comes through. I've been taking Metformin as part of the COC protocol, not for diabetes, so if I had to stop taking it, it wouldn't be a problem for me.
Thanks I would be interested to know what it says... What is coc?? Not sure what affect not taking my metformin would be... I was told that chemo would have a detrimental effect on my sugar levels.... This was a concern to me as i don't monitor so have no clue what's going on lol. That's my usual state of affairs as I am quite ditsy x
It's the Care Oncology Clinic - the clinic in London which advocates the use of some 'off label' drugs thought to have cancer fighting properties.
Interesting... I will try anything if it helps 😃
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Swollen feet and and ankles 
