PET Scan

Stands for Positron Emission Tomography. It is similar to a CT scan (one of those things where you lie on a table and are "sucked in" to the center of a vertical rotating disk) but more sophisticated and gives more information. A major reason I don't look forward to it is the aftermath. I have cancer in my liver, lymph nodes surrounding my liver, and 4 spots in my lungs. After the PET scan I will find out what treatment is appropriate; almost certainly chemotherapy. This can vary from minor (an hour or so per week at a local hospital for a few months) or major (several hours per day at a major cancer center for a few months). The latter would essentially destroy what is left of my time here. And even if it were to clear up the cancer, I still have "terminal" cirrhosis (caused by long term diabetes) so I'm not sure I'd be any better off. And I am alone, have no one to help with the decisions or to help with managing the treatment if it is required. So it may be that my only reasonable choice after the PET scan is to short-circuit what's left of my life and end it. Viewed from that perspective, the PET scan "feels" like a death sentence. So I am very anxious about it. Somersault