PARTIAL BREAST radiation--questions!

[nannotnancy]

I'm having my second surgery tomorrow--it's a small re-excision because they didn't get a clear enough margin of the biopsy cavity on the first surgery (rats!)  I'm also having the Contura (catheter) placed during the surgery.  Then I'm supposed to go directly to the radiation facility to have a CAT scan, to see if the device is placed correctly, and than go twice a day for 5 days for radiation.

My question is: have long does the CAT scan take?  I'm not big on MRI's and enclosed scans.  I'll be doing 2 CAT scans a day for the 5 day duration.  Does anyone know?  Or anyone else have this partial breast radiation?

Thanks so much!

[nannotnancy]

Thank you!  Apparently the CAT scan is for the purpose of making sure the placement of the catheter is correct, and will be done BEFORE each rad. treatment. Off to surgery!

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

With today's multislice and spiral CT scans, the procedure should only take about less than 15 minutes.  Also, the CT scan machine is not as claustrophobic as that of the MRI tube.

I believe that CAT scans for therapeutic radiation should warrant a clarification with your doctor since radiation to the breast is usually delivered through machines like linear accelerators and not through the CT scan machine.

Regards.