Preparing for procedure | yosoyrosa's Blog

 I read the letter again "You have been scheduled for chemo-embolization.  Your appointment time is 10:00am, please arrive at 7:00 and check in with admitting on the 1st floor.  If you are unable to keep this appointment, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office".  

Questions, yes, there are lots of questions but none that I'll be asking the nurse practitioners tonight.  Instead, I find a new site, one with all the details as to what to expect.  Of course, I'll not be in the room, I'll have to stand by as they wheel my husband away at some point.  So what will happen in there?

I found some answers:  The equipment typically used for this examination consists of a radiographic table, an x-ray tube and a television-like monitor that is located in the examining room or in a nearby room. When used for viewing images in real time (called fluoroscopy), the image intensifier (which converts x-rays into a video image) is suspended over a table on which the patient lies. When used for taking still pictures, a drawer under the table holds the x-ray film or image recording plate that captures the images.

The whole procedure, what to expect start to finish is posted, I found it at http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=chemoembol&bhcp=1.  

Funny, I've been told by a couple people that have undergone Xray based procedures about a rush, a warm feeling throughout the body:  As the contrast material passes through your body, you may get a warm feeling.  Yup, that explains it.

And what should I expect when he returns to the room after the procedure?  Something really special called post-embolization syndrome.  Other than the catchy name, it appears that I get to expect him to be in pain, have a fever, and complain of nausea.  This could last for up to two weeks, along with fatigue and loss of appetite, all considered normal.  Of course, any sudden changes, elevated fever, pain or other changes should be reported to the doctor.   Humh, after the interferon & ribivarin reactions he had over 40+ weeks, this is a cakewalk.

Ah, and what of the results?  We should know technically if the procedure was a success when completed the same day, hopefully when the doctor comes to visit after clinic. And just in case:  In about two-thirds of cases treated, chemoembolization can stop liver tumors from growing or cause them to shrink. This benefit lasts for an average of 10 to 14 months, depending upon the type of tumor, and usually can be repeated if the cancer starts to grow again.

Countdown- in 24 hours there will be no more eating or drinking until the procedure is over.