Thursday, May 11, 2023 

I survive the third PET scan, an expensive radioactive test. For 24 hours I was to avoid eating any carbohydrates, all my favorite foods. I resist cheating and eating some candy or chocolate cake so the test will register no cancer found. What a relief to have that outcome.  But I won’t know the outcome for a couple of days now.

I am an expert of medical waiting rooms.  I look for members of my tribe, people who can sit in the room without looking at a cell phone screen.  There are very few of us now. I appreciate the variety of human body forms as we all listen for our names to be called.

Part of the test is to sit on an almost comfortable recliner for 50 minutes while body is circulating the radioactive glucose.  The nurse and I pretend to not notice the loud thumping and swishes from the air conditioning system. Reminds me of being in an MRI machine.

The staff is friendly and efficient.  We have recovered from the disruption of the COVID epidemic. Masks are optional.  People have expressive and open faces now.