Preparing for Scan Day at a New Clinic

I recently had a scan at a brand-new clinic. I was pretty nervous because my last scan showed progression. Now, I have a new oncologist, and the process of scans at this clinic is different than what I'm used to.

Scans are always a little anxiety-inducing. It can be hard going into them because so much is not known—questions like:

• "What will the results be?"
• "Is there new progression?"
• "If there's new progression, what happens next?"

How I prepare for a scan day

Hydration

Preparing for a scan day is difficult. I usually have difficulty accessing, so I need a little extra prep. Living in the desert and staying hydrated is a constant struggle for me. Before a scan, I drink a lot of water. Sometimes, I even drink a hydration booster and mix water with Gatorade.

Nutrition

PET scans, in particular, require a little more prep work than others. The day before, consuming a very low amount of sugar is suggested. This isn't as hard for me because I also have type 2 diabetes. I do like to indulge occasionally, but the day before is strictly high-protein, low-sugar. My new pre-scan dinner is a high-protein salad from one of my favorite restaurants, a welcome treat the night before.

Staying calm

At my old clinic in Seattle, I had a tough time with scans emotionally. My oncologist there prescribed me a pre-med for those instances. That worked really well for me. It helped calm my body and mind and assisted me in getting through the long day. This wasn't just helpful for me, either. It was helpful to my wife, who is also my caretaker.

A typical scan day

On the day of the PET scan, I can't ingest anything except water. So this means I can't have my morning coffee, which is tough. I usually plan to have a caffeine source right after my appointment, which can give me something to look forward to.

After the PET scan injection, I am required to sit in a quiet setting for almost an hour. I always have a podcast downloaded to listen to during this time to avoid scrolling around on my phone. My favorite podcasts always capture my attention for this long wait between injection and scan. It's always fun to catch up on them while sitting there!

When the scan is done, I'll be back to consuming liquids to flush the injection out. This one is challenging again because it's hard for me to stay hydrated. I want to get the radioactive tracer out as fast as possible to return to normalcy.

You're not alone with scanxiety

Scanxiety is real. Many people in the community talk about it. I like to remember that my doctor has a plan for me no matter what, and nothing has to change overnight. It can be hard to remind myself of that, but it's essential to do so. If I don't, I tend to spiral while waiting for the scan results.

I hope your next scan goes smoothly.

Do you have any tips and tricks for preparing for scan day? Comment below!