No Scan Report as of 6:45 p.m.

Brain cancer is...

...still waiting for MRI results.

One of the many benefits of Darrell having completed 22 brain MRIs is that we've learned that sometimes we don't receive the results the day of the scan.  Such is the case today.  We'll update this post if the results show up in Darrell's Patient Portal before bedtime.

The procedure was smooth, start to finish.  They took Darrell in early, finished the scan by 8:25, and we left before 9.

We, thus, had a few hours to change arrays and walk before....

...Darrell's celebratory tuna sandwich at Panera. 

We'd like to say, "Thanks, St. Jude people!" again today.  Every person who helped us there today--as per usual--was caring, kind, and professional.  They consistently make the scan experience as easy possible.  We appreciate that.  And them.

And we appreciate you, Team D.  Thanks for your good wishes and emoticons.  Thanks for continuing the journey with us.

We are fortunate indeed.

Need Distraction? New Things Andi Learned about MRIs Today

Not only are the St. Jude personnel humane, they tolerate Andi's many questions.  We had a new MRI tech today, so I asked new questions.

I wanted to know about the "mask" that fits over Darrell's head and snaps into place. I can't take my cell phone into the MRI room, but the headpiece looks like this, in a pic from the Web:

From:  http://asianworldnews.co.uk/health/mri-scans-increase-prostate-cancer-detection-and-reduce-over-diagnosis-study/

I made the wrong mental connection between the MRI headpiece and Darrell's mask during radiation.  (Remember the Super Hero mask?  Click here if you'd like a refresher.)

The purpose the Super Hero mask was to hold Darrell's head in place for precision, targeted radiation treatment.

The purpose of the MRI headpiece is not to hold his head in place.  The technician explained to me that the headpiece is the part of the equipment that makes the picture.  Wow!  I did not know!

More research was required.  At home I discovered that:

• MRIs use magnets and radio frequencies with signals sent to a computer to create 3D body pics. 
• The headpiece is called a coil. All MRIs use coils placed over the body parts being scanned.
• The coil is the receiver.  It receives the radio frequencies generated by the body and sends the frequency data to the computer.   
• Why does a body generate radio frequencies during an MRI?  Human bodies are full of water, and the water molecules are randomly arranged usually.
• Apparently electricity is passed through the coil, creating a magnetic field.  It's the magnetic field that causes the loud knocking sounds.  (Click here if you haven't had the pleasure.)
• Inside the tube, above, are two big magnets.  When activated, the first magnet causes the hydrogen in the body's water molecules to line up north-south. 
• The second magnet is activated and deactivated in short pulses, causing the hydrogen in the  molecules to change alignment and then return to original position.

So there's a new kid's understanding of MRI technology and coils.  I had no idea.  Medical friends, sorry for the parts of this I got wrong.

(Sources:  Here and here.)