Hi Ladies
I have to have a bone scan on Monday and they say it involves having an injection a couple of hours before the scan, what happens at the scan I am scared of the unknown, please can someone put my mind at rest…
Love
Pam
Hi Pam,
I don’t know if you have noticed but you have posted your question twice.
If you look under the categorie Undergoing treatment for breast cancer on the left you will see you have got replies to your question, just letting you know in case you thought we were ignoring you.
Val x
Hi Pam
I haven’t had a bone scan but I have had just about every other type and the hardest bit about them is lying still! Seriously, I never felt a thing through any of them.
Many of the ladies on the Secondary breast cancer board will have had bone scans if you want a specific account.
Good luck. Hoping everything is clear.
Lola x
Hello Pam
I was in your situation a few days ago and asked a very similar question on ‘the other site’ . I was given good support and hope I can help you similarly.
I had to have a bone scan because of a suspect pain in my hip/pelvis. All I was told was that I would have an injection and then have to wait for a while before ‘the scan’.
The injection wasn’t too bad actually-although I always have a problems with this as my veins are shot. It only took 2 goes which is good going for me.
The injection fluid ( I have no idea what it called) is held in a lead sleeved container which looks a bit weird but otherwise isnt scary at all.I didn’t feel a thing during the injection and there were no side effects.
I then had to go off for a couple of hours for the fluid to do its work ( I went shopping before heading home ). During this time I had to drink at least a litre of fluid (whatever I liked - I chose tea and water ) but the more fluid the better the result apparently. I had to go to the loo just before the scan to empty my bladder of radioactive material though.
The scan wasn’t scary at all. The scanner was similar to the radiotherapy machine but with different noises. I was made comfortable with cushions on the flat bed and strapped down just to make sure I didn’t move during crucial periods.The technician explained what was to happen and went to the console in one corner of the room to begin the scan. I was never left alone.The worst part (which wasn’t too bad anyway) was perhaps when the top of the scanner came extremely close to my face at the start.Nothing at all to worry about but just not pleasant. Once it began to move down my body it was plain sailing. The scanner moves quite slowly .
Once the scanner reached my feet it was all over. The whole body scan took about 20-25 minutes.
I went back for my results a few days later (pre-arranged by my ONC -sometimes a speculative scan result can take several weeks ) and was relieved beyond measure to have a negative result.
Good luck for Monday Pam
hi all please can someone explain to me the need for a bone scan is it somthing i should ask for. sorry for being ignorant but i am new to all this and of course want to get all the tests i can… have a good day.
Hi Pam
I had a bone scan back in July and honestly there is no pain involved, apart from little jab of the needle going in. You are injected with something which makes you slightly radioactive, then you have to wait for about 3 hours before the scan can start. I had to lie on a bed for 40 mins while this machine passed over the top of me and then underneath me (but they were updating the system the week after), so might be an old fashioned one … not sure. No pain as I said, just have to lie so still.
I hope you get on OK and the results are good. Let us know when you can.
Love
Dawn
xx
Hi Ladies
thanks for your comments I have now had the scan and it was easy as you all said, I think it is fear of the unknown…
Love
Pam XXXX
Jal7777 to answer your question,
When I had a bone scan it was to investigate any possible spread of the cancer. I had very sore bones in my left arm. Is was all clear thankfully.
I don’t think that these are done routinely because they are very expensive as they involve nuclear medicine.
Pam1
Just to ditto the other ladies. It was pain free and over fairly quickly.
You are left radiated for a couple of days though. It was funny being told to use only the designated toilet in the hospital and no other! ( I didn’t stay in hospital for 2 days though)
Cheers ladies
Carol