Bone scan

[kduck]

Hello my mbc sisters, I hope everyone is doing wonderful. I had a PET scan for Dec 5 but insurance wouldn't cover. Doc order ct scan chest abdominal and pelvis for day after Christmas. I received a call today from doc, I was also schedule for a bone scan. Im very scared and nervous but confused about bone scan. Could someone walk me thru what the bone scan is, I never had one just PET scans. Thank you, god bless for healing!

[Wintervt]

Hi,

I have had 3 bone scans since my diagnosis. You receive an injection of a radioactive tracer in your arm, it’s pretty painless and over in seconds. Then there is a two hour waiting period between the injection and the bone scan to allow the radioactive tracer to be absorbed by the bones. It is okay to eat during this waiting period. During the waiting period, you should try to urinate as often as possible to help eliminate the excess tracer from your body.

The imaging portion of the nuclear bone scan procedure takes about one hour. You will lie on the imaging table with the camera positioned above and below you. The camera will move slowly, imaging the entire length of your body taking 15 minutes and/or you could have spot images taken of a specific area of the body. It is extremely important that you remain as still as possible so that the bone scan results are accurate. Hope this helps.

xo Jade

[kduck in reply to Wintervt]

Thank you!

[Hidden in reply to kduck]

I had one and it basically is as described above.

Mine was longer about 45 mins under the machine. They actually wrapped me up in sheets and even tied my feet together and my arms on the sides of the slider bc you have to lay totally still for them to get good images. I found that a little unnerving. But there is no pain involved. The only thing I forgot which they told me and I will remind you is to make sure you drink alot of water to flush out the iodine or whatever it is they use. I forgot they told me that and I was so tired when I came home I just took a nap. I felt very very nauseous afterwards and then remembered that I had not drank alot of water like I was told to flush it out of my system. Good luck.

[kduck in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Wintervt]

Sandra,

I forgot to include the music and warm blanket, that’s my favorite part.

xo Jade

[Kiera49]

Hi I have just had ct, chest, abdomen and pelvis which I have every 3 months and also on same day had bone scan I have yearly. As others have said it's a simple procedure and he said results would be back quickly, got onc appt on Monday. All the best

[kduck in reply to Kiera49]

Thanks

[Hidden]

A bone scan is painless. You just lay in the bed as it slowly moves through a machine similar to a ct machine. They will give you an injection a couple of hours before. I actually dozed off during one of mine.

[kduck in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi,

The other ladies are right. I had a bone scan last year shortly after my diagnosis. It is not painful. Once you are injected you are sent away for a few hours, so you can hang around the hospital or maybe go get something to eat and then return a few hours later for the bone scan. If you are a twitchy sort of person you might find it hard to lie still, but it is a good idea to try and stay as still as possible for the best results. I think my bone scan took longer than it does for a CT scan. I can't quite remember how long it took.

I wish you well with your bone scan.

Sophie

[kduck in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[Hidden in reply to kduck]

You're welcome.

[Wolverine19]

Whenever they schedule my bone scan, I get the radioactive injection and then go back for my CT scan during the two-hour wait. The other thing I have to add to other people's comments is that at some point during your bone scan oh, there is a plate above your head that might come very close to your face. Whenever I have it, I just close my eyes and relax and I don't even want to get up afterwards. If you keep your eyes closed oh, you might not even notice the plate, but just to tell you to be aware oh, it is only very close to your face for a minute or so if I remember right. You will be just fine.

[kduck in reply to Wolverine19]

Thanks

[kduck]

Thank you

[kduck]

Thanks

[Iwouldlike2knowmore]

There is nothing to be afraid of , I had one last month. Good Luck

[kduck in reply to Iwouldlike2knowmore]

Thank you

[rubyc1234]

I agree. The warm blanket is divine. I actually enjoy the time under the scanner. I have a little rest. Not bad at all!

[kduck in reply to rubyc1234]

Thank you