I'm hoping that today, when my OH goes for his CT scan, that it's less eventful than the last few weeks. With one thing and another we seem to have lost sight of what is fundamentally the most important thing, that he gets the treatment which will give him the best results. Neither of us is sure what the differece between a CT scan and an MRI scan is, and things have been so hectic that we didn't think to ask...
He will also be having some of the fluid which is in his lungs drawn off to be examined, so fingers crossed that it's nothing sinister...
FormerMember
Good luck with this Jude! It's obviously a difficult time for you.
I won't bore you with the differences between the two technologies of MRI and CT. (Mainly because I don't understand them)
However, as I've had both, what I would say is that the CT is by far the quicker of the two. It's effectively a 3D x-ray of your body while you lie still with a doughnut effort moving up and down your body. About 10 mins, although you may have to swallow some gunk in preparation. You may also have to have an injection during the scan to help the clarity of the scan.
The MRI can be claustrophobic as you're enclosed completely and this can last up to an hour, depending on the type of scan. It's OK though. It's a totally different technology and considered to be safer than CT in that it doesn't douse you with radiation. However, it is not 'better' than a CT, it just has different applications.
There you are, I've said too much. See Cancerbackup site for further info'. Of course, when you have a PET SCAN then you know that you've arrived and and claim a full-house.
