They said I need to get a heart scan to check my heart functions before chemo. One of the common drugs used for chemotherapy treatment of breast cancer is anthracycline. This drug have cardiotoxic properties which means it can cause heart failure even many years after chemo has been completed.
It just took about 10 minutes to complete. An intravenous (IV) line was inserted in my arm and an isotope radioactive dye was injected then a sudden surge of saline solution was pumped into the veins. I felt a little bit of tingling pain in the vein when it was pumped in but not too much to complain. I have a very low tolerance for pain so it's not too bad I think.
They took a high solution video of my heart pumping for about 5 minutes.
Now I'm just waiting for the dye to be absorbed by my whole body. It will take about four hours. They will then do a BONE SCAN. The dye will be taken up by the body's bone-making cells, found mostly in areas damaged by cancer, where these cells are busily trying to make new bones to patch the holes. The test will show if any cancer cells have spread to the bones.
I don't expect it to be painful, just lying on the scanner long. It will take about 45 minutes to an hour.
For now, I'm enjoying a warm cheese Danish and hot chocolate.
You are a QUEEN! Love, Amy
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