Dr. Gisela Estrada Sanchez, President of the Mexican Federation of Nuclear Medicine, stated that nuclear medicine is a specialty in which radioactive materials are applied mainly to cancer patients, but also to some heart patients or those with problems such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
The doctor is participating in the XI International Congress of Nuclear and Molecular Medicine, which will be held from April 27 to May 1 in Puerto Morelos. In an interview, he explains that for the use of nuclear medicine, specifically PET/CT (positron emission tomography), he deals with cyclotron-type particle accelerators, of which there are only eight in all of Mexico and one of which is in Quintana Roo. , specifically in the municipality of Benito Juarez.
The doctor said, “You do a basic study, then you introduce a new treatment, you do the study again, and you can check whether this treatment is effective or not, and thus nuclear medicine studies have given great progress in the field of medicine.”
He emphasized that developments in nuclear medicine helped a lot because they could evaluate in the same patient, for example, the different treatments that would be carried out. The cyclotron allowed them to improve studies in tomography and molecular imaging and thus provide better medical care.
“The population did not have this resource, they had to travel to other cities, even abroad, and since we already have this type of equipment locally, it allows cancer patients, heart diseases and some neurological patients to be treated here without having to leave,” said Estrada Sanchez.
This technique can be used on anyone – regardless of age – as long as they are patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer, as this is one of the main follow-up studies.
The remaining seven stormtroopers are in Mexico City, Sonora, Nuevo León, Jalisco, Guanajuato and Queretaro, and if there aren’t more, it’s because it’s expensive equipment, but specialists are confident that when the government steps in or private companies see your need, more will be added.
is reading: Opening of the International Congress of Nuclear Medicine in Puerto Morelos
In this regard, Dr. Jose Cervera Ceballos, General Director of Computed Tomography and Molecular Imaging, realized that these studies are expensive, on average 50,000 pesos, because they involve the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals, the injection of the patient, the conduct of the study, and the analysis of the results.
Thus, those who cannot afford it should turn to the state government, as well as the foundations that deal with oncological cases, because they have many agreements and help these operations.
“We do about 35 to 40 PET/CTs a month. (Of all cancer patients) only 30 percent can go for this study, the rest have to look for the groundwork.”
Editing: Fernando Sierra
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