Nova Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Harry's going to be having a bone scan done on Wednesday. He's been having pain in his left shoulder and ribs for about a month now. He's never had a bone scan done before, so does anyone know anything about it? How long it takes, is it painful, do they use any sort of injected medication, (like for CT Scans)? I realized this morning, that this time last year, is when Harry first started going to the doctor with rib and chest pains, and was finally diagnosed at the beginning of January. Where has the time gone? Thanks for any information. Hope you're all having a good day. Nova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 I had one 2 years ago. I think they injected me with some stuff and I had to drink a lot of water afterwards. It did not hurt and did not take long. I hope the scan comes out clear. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Thanks Don. They did tell him that he will be there for a long time the day of the scan, but that also includes an appt. in the afternoon with the Oncologist. (I wonder if they will have the results of the bone scan done that quickly???) Thanks for writing. Nova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cat127 Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 if i remember correctly, a nurse told me my sister's bone scan was clean the day she had it done. but i could be wrong. and yes, there is an IV injection of a radioisotope substance that is then taken up by the bones showing areas of metastases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Hi, dear, I think it takes a while because you have to let the injected 'stuff' get circulating They give it and then you drink water/coffee to get it into the bones somehow. Praying for clean scans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyka69 Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Nova, no experience with bone scans. I just wanted to wish you and Harry all the best. I think of you both all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Yah..now that i think of it, they injected me and told me to come back later. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laban Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Hello Nova, This link might help: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bone-scan I pretty much says it all. Bill had a bone scan done a couple of times and it's painless. He just doesn't like lying on the hard table. Harry will get an injection and he'll have to drink some liquid then wait 1 to 3 hours for the test. I'm praying real hard for a clean scan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz13 Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 I just had one. They injected me with something nuclear. Then I had to wait at least 3 hours. I ended up waiting more, but I was in the hospital at the time. The scan itself was like a CT. DIdn't take long at all. Then they wheeled me over by the computer and I watched it come up. It was cool. And she told me she didn't see anything. So the results are instant. I'm praying that all is clean. Dr. West has an article on Bone mets that Randy posted the link too. Do a search here for bone mets and find the link. Hugs to you and Harry, Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Thanks Everyone, for the prayers, and the information. Harry had asked me about the scan, so now I can tell him a little about it. (At least he'll know it's not painful). I'm so glad to hear that the results are available quickly. If it's just a little spot, maybe they can zap it and get rid of it ASAP. Hopefully it's not a Met . He had bone and joint pain once before, when he had lost so much weight, so hopefully that's what it is again. (fingers crossed). Thank you. Nova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 My memory if it was get the injection, wait 2 or 3 hours, get scanned which I think took 45 minutes to an hour. NO PAIN just boring! You just lay flat on your back and everything moves around you. But, remember I had mine over 6 years ago and they may have updated them some since. Sending Positive vibes for good results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Nova, Had a few of them and injection first, wait for the liquid to ciculate in your body minumum two hours the scan the table is cold and hard they may put some music for him the scan itself is not long, but no moving at all, just breathing result are fast same day. Prayers on the way for Harry Hugs for you Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz13 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I remember morre. Took about 20 min. broken up in 3 min incriments. lay still Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teriw Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Hi Nova, Praying for clear bone scans for Harry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patti B Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Hi Nova- I just had one on Thursday since I, too, was having pain in my rt lung area so they wanted to make sure it wasn't my old rib met getting worse. My appt was at 10:30 when they injected me with a radioactive tracer material. Then, the scan itself was not until 1:30 because they need to wait until the injected fluid has begun to process thru your kidneys. Couldn't leave til I pee'd. You lay on a table and a flat metal square comes down and it moves, not you. They did take a couple of extra views of my rib area. And.....before I could get home there was a message on my machine to call my onc for the results - which turned out to be negative. No pain, no claustrophobia like in a MRI - just boring waiting those 3 hours!! Will be praying for good news!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fillise Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 I will be praying for good news from Harry's bone scan! Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchurchi Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Hi Nova, Alan has a bone scan every year (had one about a month ago all clear) There is an injection and then they let us leave and come back in 3 hours. Only thing Alan had to do was drink lots of water. I think it helps the "stuff" circulate through the body better. I was allowed in the room whan Alan was getting scanned. The machine moves ver very slow and you can see a picture of the body come up on a screen as the scanner moves along the body. Pretty cool. Alan's Dr. had results same day. Lots of prayers for clear scans. Please keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welthy Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Hey Nova, Never did bone scans here, but best of luck to the two of you on Harry coming up clean! Hugs, Welthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leela Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Nova, Praying for the best results possible for you and Harry. Hugs, Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyr Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Hi Nova, sending high hopes for a clean scan. wendyr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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