I'm Radioactive
Okay, so I went to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance on Monday for my 6-month PET scan. Once they inject you with this radioactive tracer, the tech leaves the room in a hurry. At that point, I am nuclear. I am truly radioactive. When I leave, they give me a little card explaining to a potential airport screener exactly why I keep setting off the alarms. I only stay radioactive for a few hours, but it sounds impressive. That tracer will act like a beacon, illuminating my insides, and giving doctors a clear look at what is happening inside me. The PET scan will pick up the most minute irregularities--something as trivial as chest congestion can be detected.
Unbeknownst to me, I was also scheduled to undergo a CAT scan. For that test, they inject you with a sugar solution, which attaches to irregular cells.
I said to the nurse, "I bet it's probably a good idea to avoid sugar if you're a cancer patient." She nodded and said, "The cancer is attracted to sugar like a moth to the flame, so it makes sense." It's the first time I have ever heard anyone with a lab coat tell me that it might be a good idea to watch my diet. It's not something medical doctors seem to be all that comfortable in discussing.
I can't make my follow-up appointment on Thursday morning, because I am doing the morning show this week. They rescheduled me for April 14th. That seems like a long time to have to wait for the results of a test in which my hangs in the balance. I told the scheduler that if they find cancer or something important, go ahead and give me a call.
My training got interrupted a bit by the PET scan, but I am back on track. Ran twelve miles yesterday, cross-trainined by skating with the Legends of Lunch Hockey today, and I'll run six tomorrow. I feel okay. My legs need to get in better shape. I got pretty fatigued toward the end. The numbness in my spine and legs continues when I bend my neck forward. So I try not to do that. It's freaky.
Unbeknownst to me, I was also scheduled to undergo a CAT scan. For that test, they inject you with a sugar solution, which attaches to irregular cells.
I said to the nurse, "I bet it's probably a good idea to avoid sugar if you're a cancer patient." She nodded and said, "The cancer is attracted to sugar like a moth to the flame, so it makes sense." It's the first time I have ever heard anyone with a lab coat tell me that it might be a good idea to watch my diet. It's not something medical doctors seem to be all that comfortable in discussing.
I can't make my follow-up appointment on Thursday morning, because I am doing the morning show this week. They rescheduled me for April 14th. That seems like a long time to have to wait for the results of a test in which my hangs in the balance. I told the scheduler that if they find cancer or something important, go ahead and give me a call.
My training got interrupted a bit by the PET scan, but I am back on track. Ran twelve miles yesterday, cross-trainined by skating with the Legends of Lunch Hockey today, and I'll run six tomorrow. I feel okay. My legs need to get in better shape. I got pretty fatigued toward the end. The numbness in my spine and legs continues when I bend my neck forward. So I try not to do that. It's freaky.
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