3 Weird Rules Before PET/CT Scan

Anyone who has been through cancer knows that the waiting is one of, if not, the most difficult part of the journey — knowing you have cancer but not knowing how bad it is.

A million and one thoughts race through your brain, making the days seem like weeks.

But soon after my doctor called me with the news, I got another call to schedule a PET/CT Scan. Apparently cancer cells light up as bright spots on a PET/CT scan, so this helps the doctors know whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

Along with the appointment, I also learned there were a few rather odd rules to follow prior to my appointment that I did not expect…

1. No exercise 2 days before (including hot girl walks and low-impact like yoga)

WHY?
Before the scan, a nurse will inject radioactive material that allows them to see what’s going on inside your body. Exercise can cause this material to be pulled to active muscle tissue and cause blurry or asymmetrical images, making it more difficult to read the results of the scan.

2. No sugar or caffeine 24 hours before

WHY?
Stimulating the cells in your body can cause the radioactive material to unevenly distribute throughout your body during the scann, making for a less clear image on the PET/CT.

3. Nothing but water 6 hours before

WHY?
Eating or drinking before the scan can cause insulin levels to rise, which can cause muscles to absorb glucose and prevent the radioactive tracer from reaching the areas of interest. Drinking water can help make results clearer.

I posted this video on Tiktok and was met with a few comments saying not all doctor’s recommend the above protocol, but in a time where my world was upside down, I welcomed the structure. I also had some ladies respond saying they were surprised my images turned out so clear…there’s nothing I can credit other than the protocol, so in the end, I don’t think it hurt anything to follow a few silly rules for a couple of days in the grand scheme of things.

If your doctor hasn’t recommended the above, it may be a good idea to go ahead and try it out and see how it goes!

Stay hot, girls xoxo