Molecular Imaging and Therapy

Our vision is to deliver world-class innovative molecular imaging technologies and treatment strategies through research and collaboration.

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Our services
Are you a health care provider with a patient in need of a PET/CT scan? Refer to the health professionals page.​​

The provincial Molecular Imaging and Therapy program aims to:
  • Improve cancer diagnosis and treatment plan​​nin​​g for patients and health care professionals
  • Build research programs for the discovery, development and application of new radiotracers
  • Apply new advances in imaging to improve prevention, early diagnosis and management of cancers
  • Collaborate in a growing national and international network of molecular imaging and therapy programs
BC Cancer operates two publicly funded PET/CT scanners in Vancouver, one in Victoria, and one in Kelowna.
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Your appointment
​Upon arrival to the Molecular Imaging and Therapy department, you will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire. 

A technologist will take you to a room, explain the procedure, answer your questions, and then give you the injection. For all PET/CT scans, you will be taken to the scan room about 60 minutes after the injection is given to start the imaging.
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Scanning procedure
​You will lie on the imaging table which will slowly move you through the scanner while collecting data. For most procedures, you will be able to listen to music during the scan. The scan itself will last approximately 20 - 30 minutes depending on the type of scan ordered by your doctor.

Once the scan has been completed and reviewed for technical quality, the appointment concludes and you will be free to leave. The entire procedure, from the time you arrive at BC Cancer until the time you leave, will last approximately 2 hours. A report will be sent to your doctor once the scan has been read by a nuclear medicine doctor at BC Cancer.

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Risks
​A PET/CT scan is a common diagnostic procedure, and no adverse reactions to the tracer have been reported. Although there is a small amount of radiation exposure involved in your PET/CT scan, the exposure level is small and within the acceptable limits mandated by Health Canada for these types of procedures. 

Also, tracers used in PET/CT have very short half-lives meaning they don't remain in your body very long. 

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PET Functional Imaging at BC Cancer
​Figure 1. PET/CT scanner used to take detailed images of how your body is working.

General PET/CT information
​Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is a procedure that, when combined with computed tomography (CT), help physicians to more accurately diagnose and manage disease, especially cancer.

PET detects changes in cellular metabolism (how active a cell is), often indicating the presence of disease. CT detects changes in the physical size or shape of a lesion and shows exactly where in the body the lesion is located. By combining these two imaging technologies into a single scanner, we are now able to more accurately detect cancer and pinpoint its location in the body.

Together, PET and CT can be very helpful, for example, in the preoperative staging of some cancer types and in localizing suspected cancer recurrence when standard tests are inconclusive. This type of information can help physicians improve treatment planning for individual patients.

What a normal PET scan looks like
What a normal CT scan looks like
What a fused PET/CT scan looks like
Normal PET Scan
Normal CT Scan
Fused PET/CT Scan

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How PET/CT works

Active cells such as malignant cancer cells will use sugar as an energy source. Inactive cells such as benign cells and scar tissue (both noncancerous) will not use sugar as an energy source.

In PET, a special type of sugar is combined with a safe radioactive component to produce the radioactive tracer called FDG (Fluorodeoxyglucose). Once injected into a vein, the tracer, which emits signals detected by the scanner, will be absorbed by malignant cells but will not be absorbed by benign cells and scar tissue. This will indicate whether or not a lesion could be cancerous.

Combined with the localizing abilities of CT, this information can be used, for example, to show a surgeon the exact location of a malignant lesion that needs to be removed.

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Patient pre-scan instructions
To prepare for your PET/CT scan, select (+) the applicable PET/CT scan for your pre-scan instructions.

If you have any questions or there is any chance you will not be able to make your appointment, please call PET Reception as soon as possible.
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FDG
Your PET/CT appointment will last approximately 2 hours. 

BC Cancer is a scent-free environment. In consideration of other patients and staff, kindly refrain from wearing perfume, scented hairspray, cologne, or other scented products. 

Mandatory preparation instructions (please read carefully)
  • If you do not follow all these instructions, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.​
  • Do NOT eat or drink (except plain water) for 6 hours before your PET/CT arrival time.
    • ​No juice or flavoured drinks.
    • No meal replacement drinks such as Boost® or Ensure®.
    • No gum, candies, or cough lozenges. 
  • ​Drink 3-4 glasses of plain water within 2 hours of arrival time for hydration (unless unable to tolerate). You may use the washroom at any time.
  • Do not do any difficult or tough physical activity for 24 hours prior to your appointment.
  • Bring a list of your medications and a list of any surgeries you have had in your lifetime.
  • If you are travelling over the border or by airplane within 24 hours after your PET/CT scan, please let the technologist know when you arrive. We will prepare a travel letter for you. Trace amounts of radiation will be detectable in your body up to 24 hours after your scan.
  • Please limit close contact with children under 16 years of age and pregnant women for 6 hours after your scan.
  • If there is any chance you may be pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding, please contact the PET/CT department for further instructions.
For diabetic patients only (in addition to the above instructions)
  • ​Your blood sugar level must be below 11.1 mmol/L at the time of your appointment (optimally below 8.3 mmol/L).
  • Please call the PET/CT department if your blood sugar level is above 11.1 mmol/L on the morning of your appointment.
  • If you do not follow all of the diabetic instructions, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.
​Instructions to follow if you take insulin:
  • ​Do NOT take insulin for 4 hours prior to your appointment
    • ​This includes short- and long-acting insulin.
  • ​If you have concerns, talk with your physician about the safest way to manage your blood sugar level before your appointment.
Instructions to follow if you have an insulin pump:
  • Ensure your insulin pump is turned to basal/night mode at least 4 hours before your appointment.
Instructions to follow if you take any diabetic pills (oral hypoglycemic pills):
  • Do NOT take Metformin for 48 hours before your appointment.
  • If you are taking any injections or pills for Type-2 diabetes or weight loss, please hold these medications for 6 hours prior to the scan (ex. Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Saxenda®, Rybelsus®)
  • If you have concerns, talk with your physician about the safest way to manage your blood sugar level before your appointment.
If you have any questions regarding these instructions, contact your Molecular Imaging and Therapy department.
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PSMA
Your PSMA PET/CT appointment will last approximately 2 hours. 

BC Cancer is a scent-free environment. We ask all patients and staff not to wear perfume, scented hairspray, cologne, or other scented products. 

Mandatory preparation instructions (please read carefully)
  • ​Drink 3-4 glasses of plain water within 2 hours of your PET/CT arrival time (unless unable to tolerate). You may use the washroom at any time.
  • Bring a list of your medications and a list of any surgeries you have had in your lifetime.
  • If you are travelling over the border or by airplane within 24 hours after your PET/CT scan, please let the technologist know when you arrive. We will prepare a travel letter for you. Trace amounts of radiation will be detectable in your body up to 24 hours after your scan.
  • Please limit close contact with children under 16 years of age and pregnant women for 6 hours after your scan.
If you have any questions regarding these instructions, contact your Molecular Imaging and Therapy department.
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DOTATATE
Your PET/CT appointment will last approximately 2 hours. 

BC Cancer is a scent-free environment. We ask all patients and staff not to wear perfume, scented hairspray, cologne, or other scented products. 

Mandatory preparation instructions (please read carefully)
  • Drink 3-4 glasses of plain water within 2 hours of your PET/CT arrival time (unless unable to tolerate). You may use the washroom at any time.
  • Bring a list of your medications and a list of any surgeries you have had in your lifetime.
  • If you are travelling over the border or by airplane within 24 hours after your PET/CT scan, please let the technologist know when you arrive. We will prepare a travel letter for you. Trace amounts of radiation will be detectable in your body up to 24 hours after your scan.
  • Please limit close contact with children under 16 years of age and pregnant women for 6 hours after your scan.
  • If there is any chance you may be pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding, please contact the PET/CT department for further instructions.
If you have any questions regarding these instructions, contact your Molecular Imaging and Therapy department.
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Frequently asked questions
For answers to frequently asked questions, click (+) on the questions below.

​​Before Your Appointment

What is a PET/CT scan and its benefits?
​PET (Positron Emission ​Tomography) is a safe, non-invasive scan that looks at the entire body.​

When PET is combined with CT (Computed Tomography), it helps doctors better diagnose your cancer:

  • It can show your doctor where the cancer is in your body and if it is progressing
  • Allows your doctor to choose the most effective therapy for your cancer
  • It can show​ how the cancer is responding to the treatment

For patients, this means clearer answers and fewer uncertainties. For health care teams, it helps them choose the best treatment plan for each person and adjust care as needed, ensuring the most effective treatment is provided.​

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How should I prepare for my PET/CT scan?
​Food​​
​If you are scheduled for a FDG scan, it is very important that you don't eat or drink anything for at least 6 hours before your scan. You can have plain water. Sugars that your body absorbs from food can affect scan quality and results. Fasting ensures that your blood sugar level is not too high before your scan. 

Medication
Most medications won't affect scan results and are okay to take. However, medications with sugar (such as cough or cold syrups, throat lozenges) can affect the scan results because they contain a lot of sugar. 

Diabetes
Depending on the type of PET/CT scan you are having, you may receive specific pre-scan instructions before you arrive.

Refer to patient pre-scan instructions​ for more information.

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What should I wear to my appointment?
​We recommend loose comfortable clothing without metal. Any metal items in clothing or worn as jewellery (metal buttons, zippers, piercings, hairpins, and others) will affect the scan quality. You will need to remove them before the scan. If necessary, you will be asked to change into a patient gown.
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What if I am calustrophobic or anxious?
​It is understandable to feel anxious or claustrophobic before a PET/CT scan. Many people share this concern. The scanner itself is a short, open tunnel, and most people find it more comfortable than they expect.

Our team is here to support you throughout the entire process. We will explain each step beforehand and you will be in constant communication with the technologist during the scan. If you ever feel uncomfortable, you can let us know right away.

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During the Scan

What happens during a PET/CT scan?
​​​When you arrive, a technologist and/or a doctor will explain the procedure in detail and answer any questions you have. An IV will be placed in one of your arm veins to check your blood sugar and to inject the tracer. There is then a 60 minute "uptake period" that allows the tracer to move throughout your body. We will then perform your PET/CT scan which will last for about 20-40 minutes. In total, you will be in the PET department for about 2 hours.​
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Will the scan hurt?
​​No, the scan is painless. The only part that may be uncomfortable is when we place the small IV into your vein.
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Can someone sit with me during the scan?
​No. During the scan, you will be exposed to a small amount of radiation. We do not want anyone else receiving radiation exposure, even if its a small amount. You should only receive radiation exposure when medically necessary.
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​​​Safety

Can I still have a PET/CT scan if I am allergic to the IV contrast used in CT scans?
Yes. The CT part of the scan is usually done without contrast. The tracer that is injected for the PET scan part is not contrast and will not cause an allergic reaction.
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Is the radiation harmful?

​The PET/CT scan is a very safe procedure. The amount of radiation exposure from the entire procedure is considered safe and medically necessary by your doctor. Also, the tracer leaves your body very quickly (within 24 hours). 

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​​​Results

Who interprets the scan?
​A qualified nuclear medicine doctor with PET/CT experience.
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When will I receive my results?
​Due to the large amount of data collected during your scan, data processing takes time and must be completed before our doctors can look at the images. Once the images are processed and evaluated, the results will be sent to the doctor who ordered the scan.
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​​​Appointments & Eligibility

How do I get referred for a PET/CT scan?
If your doctor feels that a PET/CT scan is medically necessary and your condition meets BC Cancer's criteria, your doctor will contact our centre to book an appointment. Once we book your appointment, w​e contact you to confirm the date and time as well as go over preparation instructions with you.
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Do I need to be a BC Cancer patient to get a PET/CT scan?

No. If you have never been to BC Cancer but have been approved to have a PET/CT scan done at one of our facilities, we will book your scan as soon as possible.

Do I have to pay for the scan?

If you are covered by the provincial health plan and your clinical indication meets BC Cancer's specific approved indications for PET/CT scanning, you will not be charged for your procedure done at our facilities.

How do I get to my appointment?

​BC Cancer currently operates PET/CT scanners at the following locations:

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Our Services