CT Scans--Contrast or Not
 

This came up in another thread, but may merit a wider distribution.

Commonly with a CT scan they want you to drink some yucky, chalky, metallic-tasting white stuff (on an empty stomach!) a half hour before the scan. It can have really unpleasant aftereffects too.

They also do IV contrast. Some people are allergic to that. The form you fill out always asks about that.

When I was switched from PET to CT I whined about having to drink the yucky white stuff and deal with the ugly consequences. To my surprise, the oncologist said it wasn't necessary. So, ever since, I've been turning down the "offer" and breezing right in to the CT room. No waiting. They scan my entire abdomen, and the radiologist describes all my innards in excruciating detail. They can't see into my colon without the enteric contrast, but since bc rarely metastasizes to the colon, that's not a problem.

I do get the IV contrast. As far as I can tell it doesn't cause me any problems.

How is it for others on the board?

Re: CT Scans--Contrast or Not
 

Amy,
At my center, a raspberry drink (joked about to have come from Starbucks) is given. I have no problem drinking it as I ask for it to be ice cold.
Then, the IV solution is added to the mix.

Two women I know personally had breast cancer to the anus. One is HER2. (By the way she is a 10-year-out MBC patient). Would this be different than colon?

I am hopeful, on the general whole, that immunotherapy is all the rage--and very soon. I shudder to think of how many scans I've had.

Yours
Karen