Audiology Test
Biopsy
Blood Test
Bone Scan
CAT Scan
Endoscopy
EKG
PET Scan
X-Ray
 

Audiology Test-

It's probably been years since you last had your hearing tested. Your doctor may proscribe a hearing test to determine just how well you hear before you start your treatments. A follow-up test will determine if the chemotherapy has decreased your hearing at all. The test takes less than 60 minutes.

Biopsy-

Simply put, a specialist will cut away a sample of the suspected cancer. The sample is then tested to determine if there are any cancer cells present. A biopsy is done under general anesthesia as day surgery. From the time you arrive until you leave the hospital should be less than 5 hours.

A biopsy is typically done early in the diagnosis phase to confirm that you have cancer. Another biopsy is taken sometime near the end of your chemotherapy  phase as a follow-up and then periodically after you have completed all of your treatments to determine if the cancer is still present or if the cancer returns.

You'll have a sore  throat after your biopsy so get a prescription for a liquid pain killer. Also, plan to stay away from spicy foods and chips for at least 10 days. 

Some specialists may choose to take a "frozen section" which is analyzed immediately. There seems to be some controversy about the accuracy of diagnosis based solely on a frozen section. Results from a standard biopsy should be available within 72 hours. 

Blood Test-

Throughout the diagnosis and treatment phase you'll get a number of blood tests. During the chemotherapy phase your medical team will pay close attention to your white and red blood count. Many chemo drugs are designed to kill rapidly generating cells--like cancer cells--and blood cells follow the same regenerative pattern. As your white blood cell count drops you become more susceptible to disease and your doctors may ask you to stay away from places or persons who might pass a cold, the flu, or other such illness on to you.

Other chemo drugs impact your red blood counts. There are drugs that can help to bring back your blood count. Also, eating a diet high in iron--steak, liver and spinach--will help your body rebuild your red blood cells and hematocrit.

During my treatments I had blood drawn weekly. When possible, the phlebotomist drew blood from one of my porta-cath ports. On other occasions they drew blood from a vein on the back of my hand or in the crook of my arm. If you find that you bruise easily when blood is drawn, ask the phlebotomist to use a needle used to draw blood from babies. Alternatively, ask if blood can be drawn by pricking the tip of your finger. The time needed for any blood test is less than 5 minutes. 

Bone Scan-

This is a pretty lengthy scan and the whole process takes roughly 3 hours. Your arrive at the radiology department where you are given a dose of radioactive dye and then asked to come back in two hours. During that time you will be asked to drink five glasses of water. The water helps to disperse the dye throughout your body. Make sure that you empty your bladder just before you go on the table because you'll be strapped down for 45 minutes.

You will be strapped--around your ankles and arms--to the table. Then the scanner will slowly pass over the top and underside of your body. At no point will the scanner actually touch you but it will come close to your head and toes. 

I made the mistake of drinking 7 glasses of water prior to being strapped to the table. The last 15 minutes of my 45 minute scan were really uncomfortable as my bladder filled almost to overflowing.  It's important to drink lots of liquid after completing this scan to help flush the contrast out of your body. 

EKG or ECG

This common test is performed by placing several leads at selected points on your chest/abdomen. The information received through the leads is used to create a map of the activity of your heart over time and to determine if your heart is beating normally.  The EKG is taken during cancer diagnosis to determine if your heart is displaying any arrhythmias that could become problematic during treatment. Time needed for an EKG itself is less than 10 minutes.

Endoscopy

This really is an easy test. Basically, your physician inserts a fiber optic camera up your nose to look on the back of your tongue, throat and can even look further down your esophagus. The test takes roughly 20 minutes.

First, the doctor sprays a numbing solution up one side of your nose. Breath in slowly until you can feel and taste the solution. After about five minutes your nose and throat will be numbed to a point where your doctor can then insert the endoscopic camera up your nose. There is no discomfort as the thin fiber optic cable slips into your nose. The camera view is displayed on a TV screen in real time and individual Polaroid pictures can be taken for your medical records.

X-Ray