Just dropped 23 points on my MUGA Scan

djofunky · 03-21-2007, 03:56 PM

Hi Janet11, They did do it through my port once. ER accessed my port and the Tech just push the blood back in. They contacted an ong to make sure it would be ok. I talked to my Ong after and she also said they could do it. Anyone else have any more info on this. I am not scheduled for another MUGA til April 5th. Help!!!

janet11 · 03-21-2007, 06:45 PM

Gad, I sure wish they'd do the MUGAs through my port. One time I even went for the MUGA with my port already accessed (my chemo nurse did it), and they STILL refused to use it. Oh well...

Bev · 03-21-2007, 08:27 PM

Based on my reading here, I requested an echo (ultrasound) in lieu of MUGA. Onc looked at me funny and said fine. That's what I have been doing lately. No one has come back arguing that MUGA's are more accurate. ECHO's (no blood or nuclear meds) are so much easier, cheaper, etc. I haven't heard any reason to do otherwise. My initial thought was if you have had recent surgery, that pressure from the transducer might be painfull from the echo. I know nothing about these tests, but I think if you're relatively healthy MUGA's are overkill. Why would someone want nuclear meds injected if the same results could be realized from ultrasound? Unless someone tells me otherwise, I think docs get caught up in the latest and greatest technology and don't think through the side effects vs efficacy. It's not a big deal to them that you're on your 100th poke. BB

janet11 · 03-22-2007, 06:32 AM

MOST interesting. Thanks Bev. I'm going to talk to my onc about this too. My next MUGA is already scheduled -- it would be nice if that's my last.

03-22-2007, 06:46 AM

I agree with Bev about doing an echo instead. My last echo showed a problem in the right ventricle but nothing definitive as I gather a MUGA is designed only to look at left ventricle. So next week today I'm having an echo, as the echo can examine all the muscles. And it was easy to order, as my insurance company didn't have to approve it. From here on in, I'm insisting on an echo.

djofunky · 03-22-2007, 04:28 PM

Thank you so much for the replies. I have started to write down questions for the cardiologist appt I have tomorrow.

Dina