Did you feel a little scared or worried when your doctor told you to have a PSMA PET scan? It's normal to think things like, "What is this? Will it hurt? Will it cause serious illness?" Anyone can be a little nervous when they hear about a medical test. But there's really no reason to be scared. This is a very important, safe, and painless test that is currently used to diagnose and find out more about prostate cancer. So, today we'll answer all your questions about this.
Simply put, what is a PSMA PET scan?
Okay, let's put this very simply. Imagine that you have prostate cancer cells hiding inside your body. We just can't see them with our eyes. So this PSMA PET scan is like a special camera. This camera can beautifully colorize the areas where those cancer cells are hiding.
It's even easier if you break down the meaning of this name:
- PSMA: This stands for Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen . Don't be alarmed by this big word. Simply put, this is a special protein found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. It's like a special suit that the cancer cells wear. Healthy cells have very little or no of it.
- PET: This stands for Positron Emission Tomography . This is the special camera, the scanner.
So in this test, a small amount of radioactive material (`(radiotracer)`), like a special "dye", is injected into your body. This "dye" travels throughout the body and attaches to a protein called PSMA on the cancer cells. Then the PET scan machine can find exactly where this "dye" has attached. That means the areas where the cancer cells are are nicely colored in the scan image. Because this is a `full-body scan`, it can also see exactly whether the cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland.
In what cases does the doctor recommend this scan?
There are usually two main reasons why a doctor might ask you to have a PSMA PET scan.
1. When you are first diagnosed with prostate cancer:
Once you've been diagnosed with cancer, the next important thing to know is how far the cancer has spread and how serious it is. Doctors use things like the Gleason score to do this. So, if the doctor thinks the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, they'll do this scan to confirm it before starting treatment.
2. After cancer treatment is complete:
Sometimes, after prostate cancer has been treated and cured, the disease can come back (`(recurrence)`). At that time, the PSA (`Prostate-Specific Antigen`) level in your blood will rise again. At such times, this PSMA PET scan is very helpful in finding out exactly where in the body the cancer has returned.
The most important thing is that this scan can detect even the smallest lump of cancer cells. Therefore, this is a great help in early detection of the disease and early treatment.
Can this scan detect other cancers?
It is most often used to look for prostate cancer. However, very rarely, cells in several other types of cancer can also have small amounts of the PSMA protein. For example, cancers in organs such as the salivary glands, thyroid gland, liver, kidney, brain, breast or lung can sometimes be barely visible on this scan. But this is very rare.
What happens before, during and after the scan?
Imagine that our uncle Siripala was asked by the doctor to do this scan. He was a little scared, just like you. Let's see how uncle Siripala coped with this. Knowing these steps will help you reduce your fear a lot.
| Stage | What's happening and what you need to know |
|---|---|
| Before the scan | The doctor will examine you after taking your medical history. If you have a fear of needles (trypanophobia) or a fear of being in confined spaces (claustrophobia), be sure to tell your doctor . They will help you cope with it, and may even give you a little medicine to calm you down. The best thing is that you don't need to stop eating or drinking before this scan, nor do you need to stop taking your regular medications. Wear light, comfortable clothing. It's best to leave metal objects like earrings, necklaces, rings, and glasses at home. |
| During the scan |
|
| Total time to scan | The entire process usually takes no more than two hours. It takes about an hour for the medication to be absorbed into the body and about 30 minutes for the scan. |
| After the scan | When the scan is finished, the technician will check that the images are clear and then let you go home. You can go about your normal activities. It will take a few days to get the results. The doctor will call you to let you know. |
Are there any side effects to this?
This is a very safe test for most people. However, very rarely, some people may experience minor, temporary side effects. These include:
- Feeling very tired (`(fatigue)`)
- Headache
- Change in taste in the mouth (dysgeusia)
- A mild allergic reaction (e.g., a small reddening of the skin)
If something like this happens, it will go away quickly. But if you feel uncomfortable, tell your doctor.
What happens after the results come in?
A specially trained radiologist examines your scan images. The areas in the images where there is a lot of the PSMA protein, that is, the areas where the ``(radiotracer)`` is attached, are beautifully colored.
- What does PSMA positive mean?
That means your scan found areas of PSMA. It could be cancer. However, your doctor may need to do more tests or talk to you more to confirm it 100% or determine its severity.
- What if the results are abnormal?
If the scan shows cancer, don't panic. Your doctor will use this information to decide on the best and most appropriate treatment for you. This will depend on factors such as your overall health, the extent of the cancer, and how fast it is spreading. Early detection is key. Prostate cancer is often completely curable if detected early.
Take-Home Message
- The PSMA PET scan is a highly advanced, safe, and effective test used to detect prostate cancer.
- This is very important when a cancer is newly diagnosed to see if it has spread and to see if it has recurred after treatment.
- The test isn't as difficult as you might think. All you have to do is get a small injection and lie still for a while.
- If you are afraid of injection needles or pinched areas, tell your doctor or technician in advance. It is nothing to be ashamed of.
- Based on the results of this test, your doctor will develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you. This is therefore an important step in your recovery journey.
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