The Problem with Denial “Lie still,” the radiation tech told me, “and whatever you do, try not to swallow!” Dread built in me as the motor on the CT scanner whirred and I slowly slid into the tube. The tech’s warning to not swallow immediately made me swallow convulsively. Again, and again. My mouth went dry and I struggled to produce saliva for a surreptitious swallow. I hoped that the tiny swallows wouldn’t completely mess up the CT scan, because…