Planning CT pre Radiotherapy - my experience

I’m due to start 25 sessions of external radiotherapy next month to help prevent recurrence. I will also be having 2 sessions of brachytherapy (internal). After my full hysterectomy, as well as the tiny tumour which they were expecting, a few cancer cells were found on top of my cervix and a rare pre cancer was found in my Fallopian tubes which restaged my cancer from stage 1a to 2. Because my cancer was previously staged at 1a, a lymphadenectomy wasn’t done at the time of my hysterectomy, so it’s not known whether or not there’s any cancer cells in my lymphatic space, so the radiotherapy was offered for that, to nuke any that might be there, and also to cover the peritoneal area (because of the pre cancer in the Fallopian tubes).

In order to provide a baseline from which to plan and do the radiotherapy, a planning CT is needed. My oncologist described it as a “mini” CT and had specified that she wanted mine with contrast, so that would mean having dye through a cannula during the procedure, I had my planning CT two days ago and thought I’d describe here what it was all like in case anyone is facing one and wants to know. My appointment was 12.30, I arrived rather typically lol with a minute to spare. It was my first time in an oncology building and had been anxious about what that would feel like. I checked in on a machine and was seen within about 15 mins. A lovely radiographer  came to get me and we had about 30-40 mins chat going through information, checking my details and I had plenty of opportunities to ask questions. It was all unrushed and he made me feel like I mattered. Then we went back to the waiting area and he brought me a jug and a paper cup, with a solution for me to drink. The solution looked like slightly foamy water, and tasted slightly of aniseed. Some people are given just water for this, but my oncologist wanted me to have this drink beforehand as well, to provide extra contrast. I didn’t like the taste, and felt slightly sick afterwards but, having seen a tip on here about having a sweet to take away the taste, I popped a lime fruit gum in my mouth and soon felt better! 

I then waited half an hour before someone came to get me to take me into the CT room. Hotel California was playing on their sound system followed by other 70s/80s hits which was fine by me! There was a changing area in one corner and I put on a hospital gown with the opening at the back. They talked to me about getting me as comfortable as possible on the quite hard CT “bed” and then did that, with something under my head, a knee support and a bit of padding as I have lower back pain. There was also a kind of footplate. They were very attentive and keen to make sure I was comfortable. Being comfortable is very important as you have to keep completely still during the CT. They then put a cannula inside my right elbow for the contrast dye (having previously tried in my wrist but attempts were painful to me so they did it in my arm). They then scanned my bladder ( hand held scanner) to check it was filling up, and then did a review scan in the CT scanner. This unfortunately showed that my bladder wasn’t full enough in spite of having done all the right things, and a small air bubble in my back passage “just in the wrong place”. I couldn’t feel that at all. I was a bit upset about all of this as they said I might need to go home and come back in a few days, but that first we’d try me getting dressed, walking to the loo, emptying my bladder, trying to pass wind, then drinking more water (thankfully just water this time). I went back to the waiting area, drank the water brought to me, waited half an hour, then went back in. They checked my bladder, it was already fuller than before, did the review CT, and I was over the moon to hear things were all okay and the CT scan went ahead, lasting under 5 minutes I think.  They said to me it was quite common for all this to have happened and for people to need a second go. The cannula was removed (hooray!) and I got dressed and left about 15.10, so it all took 2hrs 40mins in all. I’d been told I’d be out by about 3, so that was pretty accurate.

So that’s another thing ticked off, and now I await my first radiotherapy session, which I think should actually be more straightforward!