More $ADMD info What is a medical isotope? A medical

New Post Public Reply Private Reply Replies (3) Message Board

Nov 30, 2013 at 8:40 AM

More $ADMD info>

What is a medical isotope?

A medical isotope is a very small quantity of radioactive substance used in safe, cost-effective imaging and treatment of disease. New technologies enable medical isotopes to be delivered directly to the site of diseased cells. This is different from external beam radiation treatment where radiation is directed from outside of the body.

Who uses medical isotopes?

The medical specialty that utilizes medical isotopes for diagnosis and treatment is called nuclear medicine. The doctors that perform nuclear medicine procedures for cancer are called radiation oncologists.

What can medical isotopes do in diagnosis?

Radioisotopes give off energy that can be detected by special equipment. When small quantities are introduced into the body, the imaging equipment tracks their location and movement. This enables the doctors to learn more about the diseased tissues than a diagnostic procedure that just takes a picture from the outside. Medical isotope diagnostic procedures often facilitate an earlier and more complete disease diagnosis and therefore more rapid and effective treatment.

What can medical isotopes do in cancer treatment?

The energy given off by radioisotopes is very effective at zapping diseased cells. When they are delivered straight to the cancer cells, healthy tissues are spared while cancer cells are eliminated. Medical isotopes are delivered to the cancer cells in several different ways.

What different types of medical isotope treatments are there?

Brachytherapy is a form of cancer treatment where tiny "seeds" containing medical isotopes are accurately placed within and near a tumor. Brachytherapy is FDA approved and used for localized prostate cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancers, gynecological cancers and others.

Radioimmunotherapy is a type of treatment where doctors inject antibodies that have isotopes attached like little backpacks. The antibodies (called monoclonal antibodies) then flow through the bloodstream and attach themselves to the cancerous cells. The energy from the medical isotopes is thus targeted straight to the cancer. This type of treatment is showing great promise for blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Most Radioimmunotherapy treatments are still in clinical trials.

Medical isotopes can also be directed to cancerous cells by a carrier that has an attraction to a certain part of the body. Chemical phosphonates can be paired with medical isotopes and sent to the bone, since phosphonate is a natural building block of bone matrix. FDA approved treatments for pain associated with cancer that has spread to the bone are based on this delivery system. The medical isotope Iodine has been used for thyroid treatment for years because the isotope itself is naturally attracted to the thyroid.

Where are medical isotopes made?

Medical isotopes are made in either accelerators or nuclear reactors. Today, the United States imports about 90% of the medical isotopes used in hospitals and clinics. Our supply of medical isotopes is at risk to global conditions and the internal conditions of other countries.

Do we have sufficient supplies of medical isotopes to meet growing demands?

No. A few key isotopes with the potential to take cancer therapy to a new level of effectiveness are simply not available. The researchers who want to explore their potential are unable to do so. In addition, the success of treatments currently in clinical trials and awaiting FDA approval could usher in a serious supply problem once FDA approval is obtained. The end result could be patients unable to be treated with an effective therapy.

Demand for medical isotopes are projected to grow in the range of 8% to 20% per year for the next 20 years. Current U.S. production resources are not adequate to meet the increasing needs for use of the isotopes in research, diagnosis, and treatment.

Is there a potential U.S. source for medical isotopes?

Yes. The United States has a number of small active providers of a few isotopes suitable for medical use. Most sources are small commercial accelerators or university research nuclear reactors such as the Missouri University Research Reactor. Other possibilities are the creation or use of reactors and accelerators which can produce the quantities and types to fully support all needs.

Is our country going to utilize this source of medical isotopes?

We don't know. Unless there is a demonstrated need, resources will not be built. But, without the resources, many attractive short lived isotopes are not available to researchers.

Is there anything I can do to support medical isotope research and treatments?

Yes. Let your voice be heard. Tell your Congressmen, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Health and Human Services that you support all efforts at furthering medical isotope research. Write, call, or email to let them know you support production facilities as well as increased funding for research. Secondly, join Citizens for Medical Isotopes. Your support will help us reach more cancer patients and their families. It will further our efforts to help researchers develop better ways to fight cancer and other diseases.

What if somebody I know has cancer?

Contact our office. We can provide information that may help your friend or family member make an informed decision about treatment options or clinical trials opportunities. We don't give medical advice and are not qualified to do so. However, we can direct people and their doctors to resources about medical isotope treatments.

Are there any other diseases treatable with medical isotopes?

Yes. Medical isotopes are proving very helpful in treating cardiovascular disease. They effectively prevent re-clogging of arteries (restenosis) when used in conjunction with angioplasty (balloon therapy). Rheumatoid arthritis is commonly treated in Europe with injections of medical isotopes. At the basic research level, medical isotopes have been shown to kill HIV/AIDS

I'm in it to win it!

NASDAQ DIP and RIP
Here is the best word that describes what i do here.
Intuitive;
means having the ability to understand or know something without any direct evidence or reasoning process.

I was born with it, I'm truly blessed!

Alway's searching for winners'

Newer

Older

Scroll down for more posts ▼

Top 10 Most Recent News Articles

Teamsters Strike: Chicago Parking Dispute Unfolds

Union Rumble: Parking Showdown in Chicago In the windy streets of Chicago, nearly 1,200 members of Teamsters Local 727 are striking, and folks, it's not just about parking cars. These workers have thrown down the gauntlet against parking operators throughout Chicagoland. They're not just peeved with a bad offer—they're downright firing back at labor law violations,...

Business Formations in 2026: A Blow-by-Blow Analysis

Surging Entrepreneurial Spirit in 2026 Just when you’d think economic jitters would slow us down, American entrepreneurship is out there smashing records like a bulldozer through a picket fence. September 2026 saw a staggering 562,579 new business formations—the highest September tally ever logged. That's no fluke. This momentum hasn’t let up all year, and it paints...

Abracon Unveils Engineer-Focused Website Features

Pushing the Needle in Digital Engagement Some days, the market talk brews hotter than a Texas barbecue, and today it’s Abracon serving up something new. They're tossing engineers a fresh digital bone with revamped website accounts. No bells or whistles, just a clean shot at making techies' lives easier as they tinker and design. It's a world where getting your hands on...

Autoliv Snaps Up MCF Safety Belts to Boost Growth

Strategic Moves in Vehicle Safety Listen up! Autoliv is playing its cards right by snatching up Italy's MCF Safety Belts. Even for us with skin in the automotive game, it's clear why this matters. We're not talking just any acquisition, but one that steers Autoliv beyond conventional passenger cars. By grabbing MCF's niche expertise, Autoliv is showing it's ready to...

Yuhang's Innovative Tech: Journalists Get A Front Row Seat

A Sneak Peek into Yuhang's Technological Leap Imagine strolling through a place where technology and nature coexist in harmony. That's exactly what journalists from around the globe got to experience during their recent jaunt to Yuhang District in Hangzhou. We're talking about reps from South Korea, Turkey, the U.S., and even Cuba getting a firsthand look at Yuhang's...

Orvana's Bolivian Ramps & Covenant Pressure

Orvana's Uphill Journey in Bolivia If you've been tracking Orvana Minerals (TSX: ORV, OTCQX: ORVMF), you know their Bolivian subsidiary, EMIPA, is in the thick of things. Filtration fixes are making noise, and EMIPA's scrambling to get its financial ducks in a row with some urgent maneuvers. Aiming Higher with Don Mario Orvana's Don Mario plant is trucking along with its...

Pudu Robotics: Mowing lawns, Automating Homecare!

Scaling Down: Robotics Meet Your Front Yard Imagine kicking back with a cold one while your new fancy robot takes care of the lawn. Sound like a sci-fi fantasy? Nope, that's the reality Pudu Robotics is peddling with their PUDU TOMO S Series. And boy, they're promising a lot more than just a breather from weekend chores. From Corporate Corridors to Quiet Suburbs Pudu's...

Tennessee Highlights Alarming COPD Rates This November

Tennessee Turns the Spotlight on COPD Here we are again, looking at Tennessee with its weary lung health woes. Governor Bill Lee's newest proclamation for November as COPD Awareness Month is shining a light on a crisis that's been disproportionately hitting the state harder than a sideswipe from a semi. Why the Proclamation Matters Let's cut through the fog—COPD,...

Gore Mutual Speeds Up Decisions with ProNavigator

Efficiency at the Core of Insurance Operations Gore Mutual Insurance is flipping the script on efficiency in the insurance world. They’ve embedded Guidewire’s ProNavigator right into their claims and underwriting systems to make fast, accurate decisions the new norm. No more scrambling around multiple screens, hunting down policy info—it’s like giving their staff...

Moberg Pharma Secures U.S. Patent for MOB-015 Innovation

Moberg Pharma's Fresh U.S. Patent: A Game Changer? Moberg Pharma just snagged a U.S. patent for their whiz-bang dosing of MOB-015. Yup, the FDA’s go-ahead is still out of reach, but this patent is like hitting a full house on the river—sweetening the pot significantly. It's all about onychomycosis, or nail fungus, if you're not up on your medical terms. With patent...