PET/CT Scan

Sam is scheduled to report to the UPMC Imaging Center tomorrow (Friday, 3/13/09) for bloodwork and hopefully, if his numbers are okay, he will begin procedures for the PET/CT Scan.

Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET/CT)
For the detail types reading this blog, here is a description of this procedure:
Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam you are undergoing, the radiotracer is either injected into a vein, swallowed (Sam's will be swallowed) or inhaled as a gas and eventually accumulates in the organ or area of your body being examined, where it gives off energy in the form of gamma rays. This energy is detected by a device called a gamma camera, a (positron emission tomography) PET scanner and/or probe. These devices work together with a computer to measure the amount of radiotracer absorbed by your body and to produce special pictures offering details on both the structure and function of organs and tissues.

A PET scan measures important body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar (glucose) metabolism, to help doctors evaluate how well organs and tissues are functioning.
CT imaging uses special x-ray equipment, and in some cases a contrast material, to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. These images can then be interpreted by a radiologist on a computer monitor as printed images.

If you want to read more about it, here's the link to the site where I got this information: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=pet

We are looking forward to getting the results of this test with the hope that if there is no evidence of cancer, Sam may be able to have his feeding tube removed. That would be a huge step in his recovery process and we are hopeful that his test will be clear.

The one thing we have been told is that this cancer or secondary cancers can return, so we are still taking things one Dr. visit at a time. But, Sam is improving and that is something to hold on to. He is still having trouble swallowing food and has to constantly drink water/juice or other liquids to move the foods along and to keep his throat moist, but he is beginning to accept this new wrinkle of life. Challenging as that is, he is grateful to be alive and is coping.

We will not have any results of these scans until sometime next week, but I will post as soon as we hear from the physician. We are praying for some positive news.