The Reading Room: Isotope Shortage Means A Healthcare Crisis

Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut Member Posts: 336 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
For the many people on this board whose doctors use scans to monitor their health:

LATIMES: Isotope Shortage Means A Healthcare Crisis

Hatshepsut

Comments

  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    The article says this
    The article says this isotope is used because of its very short lifetime after being injected into the body. But the CT scans that are commonly used in testing CRC patients don't involve injection of a radioactive isotope, do they?
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    PGLGreg said:

    The article says this
    The article says this isotope is used because of its very short lifetime after being injected into the body. But the CT scans that are commonly used in testing CRC patients don't involve injection of a radioactive isotope, do they?

    Isotopes
    I have had a few scans over the years where they gave me the radioactive isotope. They even gave me a card stating so just in case I set off any Geiger counters. It has been a while since I had that type of scan done, maybe a year. Most of my CT scans do not involve it but I have had at least 1/2 dozen over the past 5 years that did require it.

    Interesting article, what will they have a shortage of next.
    I hope it's a shortage of cancer!
    -p
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    Great Idea
    Hatshepsut, It's a great idea that you had to give information posts the title "The Reading Room". This way everyone will know that this is something of importance for all/most of us. It's so thoughtful that even though your husband is doing well and no longer in treatment, that you take the time to care about us and research this topic even though you do not have to.
    You're really someone special and I can't thank you enough.
    Warmest thanks
    -phil