Nuclear medicine is emerging as a gamechanger in cancer treatment, offering precisiontargeted therapies that go beyond conventional methods. With the World Health Organization predicting 35 million cancer cases by 2050, the demand for highprecision nuclear technologies is skyrocketing.
Revolutionary Radiopharmaceuticals:
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Yttrium90 combats liver cancer with targeted radiation.
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Radium223 destroys bone metastases linked to advanced prostate cancer.
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Lutetium177, a cuttingedge isotope, detects and treats tumors simultaneously.
Global Adoption: Over 50 million nuclear medicine procedures are performed annually, proving its growing role in healthcare.
Early Detection Power:
SPECT scans (Technetium99m) identify earlystage oncological, cardiac, and neurological diseases.
PET scans (Fluorine18) help detect hidden tumors, improving survival rates.
Beyond Cancer: Nuclear medicine is also tackling cardiovascular, neurological, and endocrine disorders, expanding its impact beyond oncology.
Despite its promise, India lags in making nuclearbased cancer treatments widely accessible, highlighting the need for policy reforms and infrastructure expansion. As research advances, nuclear medicine is set to reshape the future of cancer care, offering hope for millions worldwide.
Sources: Hindustan Times, United Nations, Interesting Engineering.