CT scan

Hello, 

I was diagnosed with Stage 1 melanoma in July 2023.  I went on to have a wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy in August 2023 (the latter showed one lymph node had a micro metastasis).  Since then I have been under surveillance with ultra sound scans every 6 months and CT scans every 6 months alongside 3 monthly skin checks. I've had a lot of CT scans!  This is my experience of CT scans with contrast: you arrive an hour before the scan time to drink the iodine contrast.  During this time they put a cannula in a vein. When you go in for the scan they first scan your head and then your body (neck to upper legs) - it's quite quick.  You have to hold your breath a few times for the body scan.  Then they attach an IV drip to your cannula to give you more contrast (this is the weird bit) you can feel the liquid moving around your body, it's a warm feeling, particularly when it gets to your pelvis (it feels like you have wet yourself!).  That feeling doesn't last for long - they rescan your body and then your head.  Afterwards they let you get up slowly and sit quietly for a few minutes to check that you are OK and then they take the cannula out.  The hard part for me is the waiting for the results afterwards.  In the hospital I go to, the head scan result comes back within a day or two but the body scan can take any time from 1 - 6 weeks depending on the workload. 

I hope that is of help and that your scan goes well.

Best wishes

Hello there

I've been having CT scans regularly since being diagnosed with stage 3b melanoma in 2024. Mine are carried out slightly differently from PrimroseHill’s. 

I have to fill out a form before each scan giving info on medical history, all straightforward. Then I go in for the scan, lie down flat and have a cannula inserted. The scan is for my torso only; my head scans are done separately via MRI. The scan only takes a few minutes. There are instructions to follow re raising arms, holding breath etc. Then the iodine is injected via the cannula and like Primrose says you can get a weird feeling of warmth and like you have peed! That doesn’t last for long, a couple more scans and that’s the end.

Wear loose clothes for your scan and make sure they don’t contain any metal - zips, bra clasps etc. Take off all jewellry beforehand. If you go prepared it makes the whole thing quicker. I don’t then have to remove any clothing for the scan, just footwear. 

I take a small bottle of water to drink immediately after the scan which helps to make the weird feeling pass. 

Hope it goes ok

Thank you so much.  That’s really helpful.  I hope it doesn’t make me feel too weird as my head already feels fuzzy!  

Hope you are doing OK.

Best wishes

Thank you so much.  Good advice about taking the water too.  I shall be glad to get this over and done with and then it’s a waiting game…

I hope you’re keeping well.

Best wishes.