After going through more than 20 MRIs and a lot of trial and error, I've learned to prepare for MRI scans in as efficient and comfortable a manner as possible!
Since MRI scans are a challenge in and of themselves, I hope these tips will make it stress-free leading up to the MRI scan.
One major concern with CT scans is the radiation damage it can cause.
This becomes more of an issue when you get frequent CT scans, as in the case of routine cancer monitoring. Ever since I was diagnosed, I have had an average of 4 chest CT scans each year.
Traveling to various places for medical appointments or treatments gets quite expensive after a while. Thankfully there are discounts for cancer patients at certain hotels.
I had IMRT radiation to the head and neck (mainly the right side) for 30 sessions, a total of 66Gy of radiation. I found that the radiation symptoms changed quickly, so I hope by documenting them here, it will help others who may be going through something similar.
Radiation to one's head and neck poses a challenge to eating enough. Radiation treatment also raises one's metabolism, so more calories are needed, otherwise weight is quickly lost.
When I had radiation, we wrote down everything I ate or drank every day, along with the calories. I had to eat at least 1500-2000 calories per day. Weighing myself every day also helped to motivate me to eat more. It's best to set a goal of the weight you do not want to drop below.
Hair loss is a common side effect of chemo and/or radiation. I lost all my hair during chemotherapy.
There are many options available, such as wigs, caps or hats. I looked at wigs, but the ones I tried on didn't look right on me and were very scratchy. I wanted something comfortable and easy to clean.
Cancer patients are going through a very difficult time in their lives, not only physically, but emotionally as well. There are special considerations for cancer patients going through treatment because of their weakened physical state.
Here are 6 tips to guide your visit with a cancer patient.
We were at that point in February 2008. After the announcement from the doctor that I had a rare malignant cancer, we were thrust into the world of cancer. We wanted to do whatever it took to get rid of my cancer.
After going through more than 20 MRIs and a lot of trial and error, I've learned to prepare for MRI scans in as efficient and comfortable a manner as possible! 
One major concern with CT scans is the radiation damage it can cause.
Hair loss is a common side effect of chemo and/or radiation. I lost all my hair during chemotherapy.
Cancer patients are going through a very difficult time in their lives, not only physically, but emotionally as well. There are special considerations for cancer patients going through treatment because of their weakened physical state.
