Weise's World

Well, the hard part is over and I survived... So far...
 
So as most know 2 years ago I was diagnosed as having Cancer. Had surgery to remove the cancer, had a choice of low-dose radiation treatment for 1 month with 5 years of follow-up screenings with a 2% chance of reoccurrence or no radiation with 10 years of follow-up screenings with a 20% change of reoccurence. Well, I went through the radiation treatment to reduce the odds of reoccurence. That was 2 years ago.
 
So my next follow-up screening is coming up and in preparation for it I have to get various tests done... And the one I always dread is the CT Scan... I know, for most people this is no big deal. But it is to me. Whether it's the radiation, the lack of control, the clostrophobia, or what - I don't know and it doesn't matter - I don't like going in for a CT Scan. I also have to get a chest X-Ray and Bloodwork, but that's nothing and I have to meet with the Doctor once he has the results. I'm fairly optimistic so for me the hardest part is that dang CT Scan.
 
I got through the radiation treatment after they gave me Xanax as an anti-anxiety drug. I had some leftover so for my last CT Scan I took one of them and it helps. Doesn't leave me loopy, just prevents the anxiety from causing problems. Well, those tablets expired so I didnt feel good taking them anymore. I talked with my Doctor's office and they said the Radiologist would give me anti-anxiety meds, but when I talked with them they could only give vallium and I didn't want to go that route --- so I grinned and beared it.
 
So the scan itself is a small pass through the scanner (local scans), then 1-2 bigger passes through, then an Iodine contrast is administered and a 3rd pass through the CT Scanner is made. The whole process would be much easier if between the 2nd and 3rd pass there wasn't a 10 minute delay waiting for the machine to "cool down"  --- ugh. 
 
Anyway, I got through it, even without the Xanax... Not easy, but managable. Yea! 6 more months until the next one...