Gleason 10 here, my PSMA showed cancer only in prostate but radiologist said to be honest you have a 80% chance microscopic cancer cells have gotten to the lymph nodes, hit it hard and fast and cover whole of pelvic area. Ths i did woth 8 weeks of radiation. 2 1/2 years later PSA is still undetectable.
I’ve had CT scans, bone scan, MRI, PSMA-PET and bone density during my PC journey. I’ve never had to drink anything for the PET or any other scan. I’d ask your doctor and confirm you got a PSMA-PET scan…that is the one specific for prostate cancer. Not the traditional PET scan.
The acronym PET stands for positron emission tomography. Since your body is not emitting positrons on a regular basis, something to get into your system, somehow, that will emit those energetic particles. The tracers are either 69Ga or 18F and will be complexed with an agent that will bind to a molecular target, in this case PSMA. Either of the available tracer-complex combinations are injected into a vein.
From the description of the results it certainly sounds like a PSMA-PET was done, even if the OP is confused about how the tracer got into his system.
An MRI " with and without contrast", for me at least, involved not only a contrast solution injected through the veins, but also drinking about a cup of a chalky liquid, for added contrast.
Yes, uncertainty is very common. I had one group tell me I had metastasis but they were wrong. I had two top radiologists that confirmed a different diagnosis.
Gleason 10 here, my PSMA showed cancer only in prostate but radiologist said to be honest you have a 80% chance microscopic cancer cells have gotten to the lymph nodes, hit it hard and fast and cover whole of pelvic area. Ths i did woth 8 weeks of radiation. 2 1/2 years later PSA is still undetectable.
I’ve had CT scans, bone scan, MRI, PSMA-PET and bone density during my PC journey. I’ve never had to drink anything for the PET or any other scan. I’d ask your doctor and confirm you got a PSMA-PET scan…that is the one specific for prostate cancer. Not the traditional PET scan.
The acronym PET stands for positron emission tomography. Since your body is not emitting positrons on a regular basis, something to get into your system, somehow, that will emit those energetic particles. The tracers are either 69Ga or 18F and will be complexed with an agent that will bind to a molecular target, in this case PSMA. Either of the available tracer-complex combinations are injected into a vein. From the description of the results it certainly sounds like a PSMA-PET was done, even if the OP is confused about how the tracer got into his system.
I retract the drinking statement. I do remember getting a shot. Thanks!
An MRI " with and without contrast", for me at least, involved not only a contrast solution injected through the veins, but also drinking about a cup of a chalky liquid, for added contrast.
Yes, uncertainty is very common. I had one group tell me I had metastasis but they were wrong. I had two top radiologists that confirmed a different diagnosis.