PET Scan #1.

My first PET/CT scan was on April 4th. I was getting nervous because I had never had one. I talked to a few friends who had been through them and it put me at ease for the procedure. I was just nervous as hell for the results. "Scanxiety." I had to fast for the scan, so that morning was a little rough. I can go without food but not having coffee..

We drove to Walnut Creek and hit traffic. We finally parked and had to try to find the right area to check in. We made it to check in and they sent us back to another waiting area. When they called my name I was terrified but in a way excited. What if it was all clear? A good friend of mine had just had her 8th treatment scan a week before and she was cancer free. I felt like I would be all clear. The nurse took my blood, tested my blood sugar and hooked me up to the radioactive tracer dispenser. It was all painless.

He walked me into this dim room with a recliner. I was told to relax and drink this barium drink. It was berry.. It tasted like drinking separated, fake berry flavored glue. I had to gag it down.. Bleh. I dozed off and woke up to a knock on the door. About 45 minutes had passed and they were ready to do my scan. They took me into the room with the scan machine. It was making a whooshing noise. They had me lay down and positioned me perfectly. When I looked up I saw beautiful stained glass. Blue clouds and cherry blossom trees.

The table brought me back into the tube and I remember praying to God. Please let me be cancer free. Please let me be here for my girls. Let me LIVE! Over and over. The scan was done in about 25 minutes. I walked out and met Ryan. Our next stop was breakfast!! We found a cute cafe in downtown Walnut Creek called Katy's Creek. I had pancakes and Ryan had Irish hash. We both drank our weight in coffee. After breakfast we made our way to Bass Pro Shop. We had 6 hours to burn. The doctor recommended I let the radioactive tracers wear off and not be around the girls, just to be safe.

I had told Dr. Lam that I wanted a call as soon as possible on the results. He called me the next day. He said GOOD NEWS your cancer is all gone except in two spots in your chest. I had such positive hopes that I felt like I was being crushed. No... No... I'm supposed to be cancer free. He continued talking and I didnt really hear him. He remained very positive. I just kept thinking to myself that the last four treatments HAD to take care of what was left.