Nuclear medicine therapy is an approach to treating cancer that might be used with or after other treatment options, such as chemotherapy and surgery. It won’t usually lead to a cure unless combined with other therapies.
What are examples of nuclear medicine?
Nuclear medicine procedures are used in diagnosing and treating certain illnesses. These procedures use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals. Examples of diseases treated with nuclear medicine procedures are
hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, lymphomas, and bone pain from some types of cancer
.
What is considered nuclear medicine?
What is nuclear medicine? Nuclear medicine is
a specialized area of radiology that uses very small amounts of radioactive materials
, or radiopharmaceuticals, to examine organ function and structure. Nuclear medicine imaging is a combination of many different disciplines.
Is all chemotherapy radiation?
Chemotherapy, or “chemo,” uses special drugs to shrink or kill cancer cells.
Radiation therapy
, or “radiation,” kills these cells with high-energy beams such as X-rays or protons.
Why nuclear medicine is bad?
Although
no harmful effects are expected
, your long-term risks of harm from this degree of radiation exposure might be as high as 1 in 1000. Harmful effects could include the development of cancer and genetic changes.”
Does nuclear medicine have side effects?
Are there side effects to nuclear medicine exams?
Very few people experience side effects from a nuclear
medicine exam. Allergic reactions are extremely rare. Any adverse reactions are usually mild, pass quickly, and need little or no medical treatment.
Does radiation shorten your life?
“Rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells, are
more affected
by radiation therapy than normal cells. The body may respond to this damage with fibrosis or scarring, though this is generally a mild process and typically does not cause any long-term problems that substantially affect quality of life.”
What foods should I avoid during radiation?
What Foods Should I Avoid During Radiation? Foods to avoid or reduce during radiation therapy include
sodium (salt), added sugars, solid (saturated) fats, and an excess of alcohol
. Some salt is needed in all diets. Your doctor or dietitian can recommend how much salt you should consume based on your medical history.
What comes first radiation or chemo?
In the standard treatment sequence, radiation therapy doesn’t
start until the chemotherapy regimen is done
. The traditional external beam radiation therapy treatment schedule usually requires daily trips to the hospital or cancer center — usually 5 days a week for 4 to 6 weeks.
How long does nuclear medicine stay in your body?
How long does the injection stay in my system? The nuclear imaging agent is out of your system
within 60 hours
, but it is always decaying so it becomes minimal in a relatively short period of time.
How does nuclear medicine leave the body?
The radiation exposure from a nuclear scan comes from the radionuclides used – the scanner itself does not put out radiation. The radioactive material in your body will naturally decay and lose its radioactivity over time. It may also leave your body through
your urine or stool within a few hours or a few days
.
Is nuclear medicine safer than CT?
Nuclear medicine technology has been used for more than 60 years, longer than CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and ultrasound. The tests that
are performed are very safe
, despite the daunting name, with 18 million procedures performed every year.
What are the disadvantages or side effects of nuclear medicine?
- persistent dry mouth/throat.
- swallowing dysfunction.
- increased risk of cavities or complications after dental procedures.
- stiffness or tanning of irradiated tissues.
- spinal cord or nerve damage – very rare.
- low thyroid.
Does nuclear medicine make you tired?
Nuclear medicine is very safe.
You should not experience side effects such as fatigue
, dizziness, nausea, or headache. You can leave the doctor’s office and resume your normal activities immediately. Radiation from the isotope typically leaves the body through normal excretion within one day.
What should I avoid after a nuclear stress test?
Do not eat chocolate or drink coffee, tea, soda, colas or other caffeinated beverages such Mountain Dew or energy drinks
. If you are unsure, do not drink it. See the table below for more details. The table below also has a list of medications containing caffeine.
What are the disadvantages of radiation therapy?
The disadvantages of radiation therapy include:
damage to surrounding tissues (e.g. lung, heart)
, depending on how close the area of interest is located to the tumor. inability to kill tumor cells that cannot be seen on imaging scans and are therefore not always included on the 3D models (e.g. in near-by lymph nodes.
