A CT scan can be beneficial in identifying tumours and their size and shape. If you get diagnosed with cancer, you will likely need to get a CT scan. It is painless and quick and has so many benefits for treating you.
Specialist surgeons like Dr Sandra Krishnan recommend breast screening to discover more about your cancer because the scan may allow her determine the patient’s stage, which makes it much simpler to develop an effective treatment options.
Here’s all you should know about CT scans:
Why Is It Used for Cancer?
A CT scan can assist in diagnosing and treating cancer. It can be used for screening and diagnosis as it can size and locate any tumours. The CT scan can also help with planning and guiding treatment, and it is often used to see how your body responds to treatment.
The CT scan is also used to monitor any other diseases related to cancer. The type of cancer you have and the course of treatment will determine how often you will need to have a CT scan done.
What Will the CT Scan Show?
The CT scan can show you whether you have a tumour or not and its size and where it is. The scan can help doctors monitor cancer; however, it is possible that a CT scan can overlook some cancers.
CT scans can pick up much more than x-rays can; they can even pick up 2-3 mm lesions and provide information about how harmful the nodules might be.
The scan is even more helpful if the doctor uses contrast dye. The cancer cells in your body take up the contrast dye, making it much easier for the radiologist to interpret the images. The dye also helps your doctor come up with a treatment plan.
Types of Scans
3D CT
This type of scan can pinpoint the exact location of the tumours and see if the cancer has spread. It is also used to assess how effective the treatment has been. This scan is very effective and only takes about 10 minutes or so.
3D CT Angiography
A CTA can highlight the tumour’s blood vessels and can pick up on any other blood vessels that seem abnormal and may be of concern. This scan is non-invasive and relatively quick. It can also capture almost every blood vessel found in your body.
Multi-detector CT Scanner
A multi-detector CT scanner can provide multiple pictures in a single rotation, meaning that the radiologist can look at images in micro-detail.
PET/CT Scan
This is a nuclear imaging technique. It uses computerized tomography and positron emission tomography to provide information on the function and structure of the tissues and cells in your body.
With this scan, you will get a glucose injection with a little bit of radiation. Your tissues or organs will absorb the radiation making them more visible.
This scan can locate cancerous or damaged cells. It can measure your body’s response to the treatment and give more detailed images of cancerous tissues.
What You Can Expect
Before your CT scan, you will be asked to remove all jewellery and metal objects, and the doctor will most likely ask you to put on a hospital gown. It is also recommended that you avoid eating or drinking anything a few hours before your scan.
The scan is non-invasive. You may be asked to take some contrast dye, which will be given to you via an injection, enema, or orally. You will also be asked to hold your breath to avoid blurring the images.
The scan generally takes about 30 minutes, and it is usually done in the radiology department or in an outpatient imaging facility. The scan is painless, but if you were given contrast dye, then you may experience slight discomfort.
Final Thoughts
If you are getting a CT scan done for Cancer screening, it is normal to feel nervous, anxious, or even afraid. However, the CT scan is merely there to help as the aim is to prevent cancer and catch it early on to avoid getting much worse.
It is much better to treat and cure something in the early stages, and getting screened for cancer does not mean that you are sick. It is primarily to see and ensure that you are healthy. A CT scan is nothing to worry about it – it will help you more than anything else.
