Scans are types of X-ray, and there are different forms of scan depending on cancer type, and which part of your body needs to be checked. Here is a list of the different types of cancer scan:
A CT (or PET-CT) scan of your chest, abdomen (upper tummy) and pelvis (lower tummy) is often done before you start your cancer treatment, in order to check the rest of your body for cancer spread. It can be repeated at regular intervals to ensure that the cancer treatment has worked or is working.
The CT machine is open and you will not feel enclosed. An injection in your vein (called IV contrast) is usually given before your scan to ensure that images are clear. The scan usually lasts between 15 and 40 minutes depending on the body area scanned and whether contrast is needed or not.
An MRI scan is sometimes done to give your doctors and nurses further detail on some areas of the body (e.g. back, brain, pelvis). The MRI machine is tube-like, and you might need to be in the tube for between 20 and 50 minutes. An IV contrast injection is also given before your scan to ensure that images are clear.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you feel anxious about being enclosed in a tube, as there are ways to support you through this – e.g. pre-scan medication to relax you, or doing the scan with your head out of the tube (unless it’s your head that needs to be scanned).
A bone scan (also called a radio-isotope scan) also requires an injection in your vein. But the substance (radio-isotope) injected makes you radioactive (you spread some radiation to others around you) for few hours. This scan is done to check on cancer in your bones only and does not provide data on other organs.
You are not enclosed in a tube, and there is a wait between the injection and the scan of about 30 min. After your scan, it is best to avoid contact with pregnant women and young children for 24 hours.
