Nuclear medicine uses radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers
Why do you have a radioactive injection?
Radioactive scans
can help your doctors diagnose some types of neuroendocrine tumours
. You have an injection of a low dose radioactive substance, which can show up on a scan. Radioactive scans include: octreotide scans (or Octreoscans) – these are also called somatostatin receptor scintigraphy scans.
How long does radioactive injection last?
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.
Is radioactive injection harmful?
Yes,
nuclear medicine procedures are very safe
. We carefully select the radiotracer and radiation dose to ensure the minimum radiation exposure and maximum accuracy. You are exposed to about as much radiation in a nuclear medicine test as with a diagnostic X-ray.
What are radioactive drugs used for?
Systemic radiation therapy uses radioactive drugs (called radiopharmaceuticals or radionuclides)
to treat certain types of cancer, including thyroid, bone, and prostate cancer
. These are liquid drugs made up of a radioactive substance. They can be given by mouth or put into a vein; they then travel throughout the body.
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.”
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.
Can I drive after nuclear injection?
After your test you will be well enough to drive and return to work if you wish
. If your work involves using photographic film or any radioactive substance you may not be able to return to work immediately.
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
.
Can I drive after a nuclear scan?
Although you will be receiving a very small dose of radioactive material, certain precautions are advised. Avoid close physical contact with pregnant women and children (ages 12 and under) for 12 hours after the test. 9.
You will be able to drive yourself home from this test
.
Can a nuclear stress test damage your heart?
Although
extremely rare
, it’s possible that a nuclear stress test could cause a heart attack. Low blood pressure. Blood pressure may drop during or immediately after exercise, possibly causing you to feel dizzy or faint.
How long after PET scan are you radioactive?
After the test, you can go about your day unless your doctor gives you other instructions. However, because radioactive material will remain in your body for
about 12 hours
, you’ll want to limit your contact with both pregnant women and infants during this time.
Does radiation stay in your body forever?
After a radiographic, fluoroscopic, CT, ultrasound, or MRI exam,
no radiation remains in your body
. For nuclear medicine imaging, a small amount of radiation can stay in the body for a short time.
How is nuclear medicine useful in diagnosing illnesses?
Doctors use nuclear medicine to
diagnose, evaluate, and treat various diseases
. These include cancer, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine, or neurological disorders, and other conditions. Nuclear medicine exams pinpoint molecular activity. This gives them the potential to find disease in its earliest stages.
Are drugs radioactive?
The term “radioactive drugs” includes
radioactive biological products
. A radioactive biological product is defined as a biological labeled or intended to be labeled with a radionuclide. Radioactive drugs may be administered orally, by injection, or inhalation and may be either diagnostic or thereutic.
Are chemo drugs radioactive?
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.
