How to Prepare for Your First PET CT Scan for Cancer Diagnosis

September 28, 2024

The word ‘Cancer’ sparks fear, and rightly so. But as technology advances, the mystery behind cancer seems to be demystifying slowly but steadily. We no longer hear that cancer is a taboo word. Due to its unfortunate widespread diagnosis, cancer is becoming an exceedingly common cause of global concern. Now, let us understand what really helps in cancer diagnosis?

What is a PET CT Scan?

A Positron emission tomography (PET) Scan is one that uses a certain monitored and controlled amount of radioactive material called radiotracers and a specialized visual camera to assess bodily tissues, organs and their functioning. Due to small amounts of radiation involved, a PET CT Scan is often not a screening test but a prescribed test by a Certified Oncologist commonly known as a Cancer Specialist. A PET CT Scan is often only recommended to people who are suspected to have Cancer. It may also be combined with other diagnostic tests such as a computed tomography (CT) scan to provide definitive diagnosis on malignant tumors. and other lesions. 

When diagnosed with Cancer, accurate diagnosis, along with proper staging becomes imperative to planning an effective line of treatment. PET CT Scan has evolved to be a  revolutionary imaging technique to diagnose even the most complex cancers in the body. 

If a patient has been diagnosed with Cancer, and is on the lookout to find the best pet scan in Chandigarh, it is first important to know what to do before getting a pet scan. There are certain steps involved in the preparation of this test which are discussed as follows.

 

How to Prepare for a PET CT Scan?

  • Patient will be asked to limit their Patient carb intake for at least 24 hours 
  • Only consumption of water is allowed up to 6 hours before the exam.
  • The Patient will be asked to stop their routine medications for BP & Sugar 4 hours before the PET Scan.
  • The Patient will be asked to fill a form out giving consent to conduct a PET CT Scan on the Patient.
  • A contrast is injected into the body so that a clear image is produced to understand the presence of cancer.
  • Patients are recommended to wear loose fitted and comfortable clothing.
  • It is advised to remove all jewelry before getting the scan as metal items like rings, earrings, zippers and hamper the imaging.
  • The patient will be asked to come in 30 minutes before the PET CT Scan to settle in, ask their doubts and get comfortable.

 

What to expect during PET CT Scan?

 

During the pet ct scan, a small amount of radioactive tracer (FDG) is injected into the veins and the patient will be asked to wait for 30-45 minutes for the tracer to distribute throughout the Patient’s body. Next, the patient undergoing PET CT Scan will be asked to lay on a table that slides into the PET CT scanner, where the patient will be asked to remain still for some time. The patient may also be asked to hold their breath briefly, as this method can reduce errors and possibility of a discrepancy. After the scan, Patient will be asked to drink a significant amount of water for the radioactive tracer to exit the patient’s body. The tracers to exit the patient’s body may take a couple of days but it is not detrimental or unsafe for the body

Throughout the process of undergoing PET CT Scan, the patient is expected to inform the nuclear medicine specialist about their existing medications, allergies, and medical conditions. 

Patients undergoing PET CT scan must know that this scan is painless, non invasive and is only a tool to provide diagnostic information about the presence of any cancer cells in their body.

 

Getting over the fear : Debunking 3 Misconceptions About PET CT Scan 

  1. Radiation from PET Scan will stay in the body forever.

Patients often have this misconception that the radiotracer (FDG) injected into the veins during PET scan remains in the body forever. However, in reality the radiation exits the body within 10-12 hours making the patient safe to interact with their loved ones. 

 

  1. Radiation from PET Scan can cause Cancer : 
    As discussed, PET scan uses FDG radioactive tracers throughout the body to get an exact diagnosis of whether cancer is present in the body and at what parts. Though the risk of getting cancer from the radiation from this is significantly less, patients are of the misconception that this radiation has a high probability of causing cancer. It is important that patients undergoing a pet scan are aware that the benefits from undergoing a pet scan are far greater than the risk caused from it. A PET scan is imperative to diagnose cancer.
  2. PET Scans are painful and noisy.

PET Scans are non-invasive procedures and are not painful. While undergoing the pet scan, patients will not experience any pain as it does not involve any cuts or lacerations on the body. A little pain may occur while the injection containing the radiotracer is injected in the body but that pain is the same as is while a needle is being injected in the body for a routine blood workup.

Unlike MRI, the pet scan is not a noisy procedure and will not cause anxiety or stress due to high decibel sounds. The pet scan is much like a CT scan wherein the patient lies down on the table and the machine does its job while the patient is at rest. 

 

If you have been exhibiting symptoms that resemble cancer and have been recommended to get the PET scan, it is important to remember that diagnosis is the key to an accurate prognosis. Sohana Hospital Mohali has a dedicated department that caters solely to diagnosing cancer effectively so that the results from the pet scan can drive the treatment plan to remission as quick as quick can be. The Nuclear Medicine Department at Sohana Hospital has a state of the art advanced PET CT Scan machine that provides detailed cancer imaging performed by highly experienced nuclear medicine specialists and radiologists. 

Whether you're finding a pet scan in Chandigarh or looking for a second opinion on your diagnosis, Sohana Hospital is available 24x7 to cater to your health needs. Our Cancer Institute along with pet ct scan in Chandigarh is our pride, with research backed treatments, award winning cancer specialists and surgeons working day in and day out to provide effective cancer treatments through latest technologies, world class infrastructure and unparalleled support.

Sohana Cancer Research Institute