Before You Donate
Think very seriously before donating to any breastcancer organization, or fundraising program until you read their Annual Report to see who their top contributors are, and if they have a product that appears frequently in the message the organization sends to the public. That would be unethical and its illegal. The same applies to a request that the public buys products, but does not receive a "donor receipt" for tax-deductible purpose. Read any and all food labels that breastcancer "non-profits" are promoting to raise money. Some organizations tell the public to help them raise money by asking you to visit their websites, but that only gives them "hits" to increase their sponsors.
Another tip, "signing" an online Petition is not acceptable, so don't fall for such antics. An ethical non-profit, or professional will not request your visit to their website, nor use "cookies" placed on your computer when you visit their site.
Purchase the Breastcancer Postage Stamp, the Post Office will always give you your charitable deduction receipt. Its a valid form of fund raising.
MY EXPERIENCES WITH PET SCANS
Thank you for waiting for this new page. In 1999 I had my first PET scan because of a suspicious finding on my bone scan. After several months of sensitivity in an area of my lower chest, within six months my bone scan went from normal (I see them with my radiologist, at the time) to a blackened rib image. The radiologist said, "That was not there on the last bone scan" and was looking for the prior chest films to be certain. He was right. The films were ordered by my oncologist because when he touched the area during this three month check-up, I literally sat straight up and screamed.
PET Imaging of Austin performed the PET and prepared me before hand for the type of examination, what it would require of me, and how long it would take. I was amazed the first time.
I had to fast for eight hours (I believe) and have no caffeine for twenty-four hours before I went for my appointment at the PET center, well-rested, and as calm as possible. They had me recline in a chair for about forty-five minutes and be absolutely still. After that, they gave me the IV glucose solution, and I had to again be absolutely still for about 30 minutes, then they took me into the PET room, reminding me to move as little as possible.
The scan was fine, no discomfort. Usually rather claustrophobic since an auto accident, this did not affect me that way. I was told that there would be two experts reading the results, one in Austin, where I lived then, and one some where else in the nation.
The PET Center of Austin's interpreting physician phoned my oncologist late that night to tell him his impressions: malignancy.
I then went to Oklahoma City (OUHSC) to have William C. Dooley MD, perform a gamma scan and the surgery to remove the affected ribs (three were involved but only one showed on the bone scan), with very wide, clear, margins. I was fine after a few days of rest, with a bright "MS" blue wire sticking out of my lower left side, where the 6th, 7th, and 8th floater ribs had been excised.
Healing was much more swift that expected, and my breast surgeon in Austin was amazed at the size of the incision, but she knew Dr. Dooley and greatly admired him. So did and do, I!
My 2nd PET was in 2005, when my liver enzymes were elevated on one of my oncology review exams. Dr. Dooley and others felt we needed to set this "area" to rest and just go ahead with a PET.
This experience was completely different. At first, we were relieved because the equipment was a PET/CT so if there was a question a CT scan could be performed immediately.
I fasted with some trepidation because by 2002 it was apparent that the Post Polio Syndrome diagnosed in 1981 was building up to an advanced level, and there were no specialists to help me with this condition.
Reviewed: Saturday, July 30, 2005
07/30/2005