Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals

<p> Last year when the facility shut down in Canada shutdown about 50,000 medical tests and procedures were canceled.  This week Petten reactor in The Netherlands went down with technical problems.  There are only 5 major facilities in the world that product Isotopes.  A reactor in Belgium that produces much of the same material closes this week.  </p> <p>Why is this an issue?</p> <p><u>These isotopes are used in over 30 million different medical procedures around the world each year.</u>  Four out of five were down this week, leaving the facility in Canada to carry the load.  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SLywDEthGKI/AAAAAAAAIzg/hyoezobHop4/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="114" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SLywEOdtL6I/AAAAAAAAIzk/bxLx3wb0Qdw/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="159" /></a> </p> <p>The plant in Canada produces molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which is the most widely used isotope in nuclear medicine. Mo-99 is artificially produced through the fission process and has a half-life of 66 hours.  <u>We have no Isotope facilities in the US.</u>  <u>Covidien, a pharmaceutical manufacturer which distributes the isotopes</u>, said it is warning clients to expect shortages starting  Aug. 31. </p> <p><a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/01/isotopes_supplies_threatened/">Isotopes such as Mo-99 are</a> used in diagnostic techniques, where they are taken into the body by injection or ingestion and absorbed by certain body cells and tissues. <strong>Technicians can then track the cells' movement by the trace radioactivity the isotopes give off. The isotopes are seen as essential tools against various kinds <u>of cancer, nervous diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and cardiac complaints.</u></strong></p> <p><strong>Maybe it's time for venture capitalists to start thinking about investing in nuclear medicine so we can have our own plant in the US.  </strong></p> <p>Here's some of what Isotope therapy and treatment is all about:  used for treatment of many types of cancer.  If you have been scheduled for any cancer therapy related to the use to Isotopes, be ready for potential delays or re-scheduling at it was predicted there may be shortages all the way until October.  BD</p> <p><em><a href="http://menstuff.org/issues/byissue/isotopes.html#whouses">Brachytherapy</a> is a form of cancer treatment where tiny "seeds" containing medical isotopes are accurately placed within and near a tumor. <strong>Brachytherapy is FDA approved and used for localized prostate cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancers, gynecological cancers and others.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SLywE9XsiGI/AAAAAAAAIzo/wmiO890IVYA/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="117" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SLywFwGKGqI/AAAAAAAAIzs/K2fje3wm-Os/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="146" /></a></strong></em></p> <p><em><a href="http://menstuff.org/issues/byissue/isotopes.html#whouses">Radioimmunotherapy</a> is a type of treatment where doctors inject <strong>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. </strong>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.</em></p> <p><em><strong>Medical isotopes can also be directed to cancerous cells</strong> 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. <u>FDA approved treatments for pain associated with cancer that has spread to the bone are based on this delivery system. The medical isotope</u> Iodine has been used for thyroid treatment for years because the isotope itself is naturally attracted to the thyroid.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=7c408ae7-832e-40a6-b96f-be4785c46558">This week's series of closures</a> set up a "perfect storm in isotope availability," the effects of which have been felt with U.S hospital shortages, and could reach Europe next week, said Robert Atcher, president of the U.S.-based Society of Nuclear Medicine, on Wednesday.</p> <p><a href="http://winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2008/08/28/6594001-sun.html">winnipegsun.com - Canada News - Isotope supply squeeze</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4c8a30e0-6448-49c0-960d-2d5ac8e49ef6" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Isotopes" rel="tag">Isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer%20Treatment" rel="tag">Cancer Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuclear%20Medicine" rel="tag">Nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinson's" rel="tag">Parkinson's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a></div>

Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals

Last year when the facility shut down in Canada shutdown about 50,000 medical tests and procedures were canceled.  This week Petten reactor...

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Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays

<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SLywDEthGKI/AAAAAAAAIzg/hyoezobHop4/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="114" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SLywEOdtL6I/AAAAAAAAIzk/bxLx3wb0Qdw/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" width="159" /></a></p> <p>The facility was shut down last Thursday after a power outage.  What this means to patients and hospitals are delays, depending on how long the plant is down.  We don’t produce any isotopes here in the US, but certainly use a lot of them with nuclear surgery, seeding procedures to target tissue areas for radiation and MRI imaging.</p> <p>Hopefully the down time won’t be too long this time, but the report said by Saturday if things are not up and running, they will have problems meeting the order demands.  BD  </p> <p><font size="2">The plant in Canada produces molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which is the most widely used isotope in nuclear medicine. Mo-99 is artificially produced through the fission process and has a half-life of 66 hours.  <u>We have no Isotope facilities in the US.</u> <u>Covidien, a pharmaceutical manufacturer which distributes the isotopes.</u></font></p> <p><a href="http://menstuff.org/issues/byissue/isotopes.html#whouses"><font size="2">Brachytherapy</font></a><font size="2"> is a form of cancer treatment where tiny "seeds" containing medical isotopes are accurately placed within and near a tumor. <strong>Brachytherapy is FDA approved and used for localized prostate cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancers, gynecological cancers and others.  BD</strong></font></p> <p>OTTAWA (AP) — Canadian officials have again shut down a nuclear reactor that produces much of the world's radioactive isotopes used to diagnose cancer patients through medical imaging.</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Patients in line for medical tests to diagnose cancer and heart ailments may have a longer wait as hospitals try to conserve a scarce supply of isotopes, doctors say.</strong></p> <p>The latest shutdown of an Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. nuclear reactor at Chalk River, Ontario — which provides about<strong> half the global supply of isotopes used in medical imaging</strong> — is expected to last about a month as technicians repair a leak of heavy water.</p> <p>Government-owned AECL said Tuesday it has enough medical isotopes for the coming week, but will unable to meet demand by Saturday.</p> <p>Radioactive isotopes are injected into patients so radiologists can pinpoint areas of higher radiation and spot changes in the body so they can make more accurate diagnoses.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gc8IG8v8daT99zRBD-ZoHcZ0yUQAD989MQ000">The Associated Press: Isotope shortage could delay cancer tests</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related  Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medical-isotopes-will-there-be-enough.html"><font size="1">Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/rev-jesse-jackson-touts-medical-isotope.html"><font size="1">Rev. Jesse Jackson Touts Medical Isotope Technology</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/canada-set-to-order-restart-of-isotope.html"><font size="1">Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:db672fca-7831-4e0a-bae4-a7e7b978be22" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Isotopes" rel="tag">Isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Treatment" rel="tag">Cancer Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuclear+Medicine" rel="tag">Nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinson's" rel="tag">Parkinson's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radiation+Treatment" rel="tag">Radiation Treatment</a></div>

Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays

The facility was shut down last Thursday after a power outage.  What this means to patients and hospitals are delays, depending on how lon...

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In 2 Weeks Shortages of Molybdenum and Iodine Isotopes Expected (Update)

<p> The reactor shut down in the Netherlands on Saturday for annual maintenance so we are down to 3 plants in the world that produce isotopes.  Plants <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SmeztMjlz1I/AAAAAAAAZDA/0mvR2vv8abA/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="178" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Smezvb1UQUI/AAAAAAAAZDE/ySdtHbV_eSE/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="147" /></a>in Australia and South Africa will be picking up the slack to meet supply demands.  Nuclear medicine is already seeing shortages in the US and Canada already so the wait could get a bit longer.  Some nuclear medicine tests have been cancelled all together at some hospitals that are both follow up and diagnostic procedures.  BD  </p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/isotope-shortage-beginning-to-be-felt.html"><font size="2">Isotope Shortage Beginning to be Felt at USC Medical and other Facilities in US and Canada - Update</font></a> </h6> <blockquote> <p><strong>A global shortage of medical isotopes is expected to get worse in two weeks as supplies run down after nuclear reactor closings.</strong></p> <p>The Petten nuclear reactor in the Netherlands closed for scheduled maintenance Saturday. Together with a Canadian reactor (pictured) in Chalk River, Ontario, that was <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/06/05/again-with-the-nuclear-medicine-shortagey/">shut down in May</a> because of a leak, the idled reactors account for two-thirds of the world’s supply of molybdenum-99, the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090715/full/460312a.html">Nature reported</a> last week. </p> <p>The isotope, which decays to technetium-99m, is used for diagnostic tests for heart disease and cancer. When injected into the patient, it gives off energy and is used in diagnostic tests. About 70,000 medical imaging tests use Tc-99m every day. </p> <p>Supplies may be replenished from reactors in Australia and South Africa, but not all demand will be met, according to Graham. Patients may have to chose more expensive diagnostic techniques, and in some cases, wait it out.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/07/22/shortage-of-medical-isotopes-ramps-up-after-reactor-closing/">Shortages of Molybdenum, Iodine Isotopes Expected - Health Blog – WSJ</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/sexy-isotopes-ask-prime-minister-of.html">Sexy Isotopes – Ask the Prime Minister of Canada And the Natural Resources Minister What It’s all About</a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-plant-could-be-down-for.html">Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-factory-shut-down-again-in.html">Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medical-isotopes-will-there-be-enough.html">Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-nuclear-radiation.html">Isotope Update – Nuclear Radiation Treatments Could be Delayed As Other Plants Close Down for Scheduled Maintenance</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:362692a8-d846-4514-b763-c8aabdaf70ef" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Isotopes" rel="tag">Isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Treatment" rel="tag">Cancer Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuclear+Medicine" rel="tag">Nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinson's" rel="tag">Parkinson's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radiation+Treatment" rel="tag">Radiation Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Canada" rel="tag">Canada</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sexy+Isotopes" rel="tag">Sexy Isotopes</a></div>

In 2 Weeks Shortages of Molybdenum and Iodine Isotopes Expected (Update)

The reactor shut down in the Netherlands on Saturday for annual maintenance so we are down to 3 plants in the world that produce isotopes. ...

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Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays

<blockquote> <p>The United States does not produce isotopes so the alternatives are the Netherlands, Belgium, France and South Africa.  there are only 5 plants in the world that produce isotopes.  As Mo-99 generators have a half life of just 66 hours, supply disruptions occur quickly. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/ShYi5fDcEJI/AAAAAAAAPzY/trUQ0a74UBY/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="129" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/ShYi6XdQYhI/AAAAAAAAPzc/mSGwgKEodeM/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="178" /></a> Hospitals not getting any generators next week may have to delay radiation treatments, such as those for cancer.  Isotopes are widely used for cancer radiation treatments for breast and prostate cancer.  <strong>This plant supplies about half the half the clinics and hospitals in the US and one third of the world’s supplies.</strong>  BD  </p> <p>Also, prices may increase during this time as well as longer order times as the other facilities are not as close as Canada. <strong> In September of 2008 the Petten reactor in The Netherlands went down</strong> with technical problems too.  The last time the facility went down in Canada was in 2007 and it was closed for a month, see the related reading below for more details.  BD   </p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p>CHICAGO, May 21 (Reuters) - Makers of medical isotopes used in scores of diagnostic imaging tests are scrambling to find new suppliers after Canadian health officials temporarily closed a nuclear reactor last week that produces a third of the world's supply.  <br />Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd shut down its 50-year-old reactor at Chalk River, Ontario, after a small leak of heavy water, used as part of the nuclear reaction. <br /><strong>It expects the reactor to remain out of operation for more than a month but some analysts think it could be months.</strong> <br />Only five nuclear reactors in the world produce molybdenum-99 or Mo-99, which is used in diagnostic tests for cancer, heart disease and a host of other ills. <br />"It's going to cause a shortage and it's going to cause a price rise. Those are unavoidable negative consequences," Stephen Brozak, president of WBB Securities in New Jersey, said in a telephone interview.</p> <p><strong>"That reactor supplies about half of the clinics and hospitals in the United States," he said. "About 8 million of our studies are imperiled because that reactor is offline."</strong></p> <p>"It's going to mean that a large percentage of the procedures that would normally be completed and a large number of the patients that would be served will be left unserved for the duration of this shutdown," he said, adding that some patients "will perish."</p> <p><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/05/21/edmonton-medical-isotopes-alberta.html">Cancer and heart patients in smaller Alberta</a> cities who need isotopes for diagnostic procedures may need to go to Edmonton and Calgary while the Chalk River nuclear plant in Ontario is shut down.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN21305956">Hospitals brace for shortage of medical isotopes | Reuters</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related  Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-factory-shut-down-again-in.html"><font size="1">Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medical-isotopes-will-there-be-enough.html">Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/rev-jesse-jackson-touts-medical-isotope.html">Rev. Jesse Jackson Touts Medical Isotope Technology</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/canada-set-to-order-restart-of-isotope.html">Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor</a></h6> <blockquote> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:b4553dbf-d2fc-439d-aee0-159025d0215f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Isotopes" rel="tag">Isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Treatment" rel="tag">Cancer Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuclear+Medicine" rel="tag">Nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinson's" rel="tag">Parkinson's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radiation+Treatment" rel="tag">Radiation Treatment</a></div></blockquote>

Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays

The United States does not produce isotopes so the alternatives are the Netherlands, Belgium, France and South Africa.  there are only 5 ...

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Sexy Isotopes – Ask the Prime Minister of Canada And the Natural Resources Minister What It’s all About

<p> If you are not aware of the isotope nuclear plant closure, read the related reading below as there may end up being some long waits for some nuclear cancer treatments due to the closure.</p> <p>Now, back to the story here, this is strange as to why it was called “sexy”.  If you are going to record a conversation, whether or purpose or by accident, don’t leave the device in the restroom for reporters to find!  She still has her job though, sexy isotopes and all.  I’ve never heard of Cancer and Radioactive leaks being sexy before myself.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Canadian Prime Minister <strong>Stephen Harper</strong> on Tuesday expressed confidence in Natural Resources Minister <strong>Lisa Raitt </strong>and accused the opposition of playing “cheap politics” after she came under heavy fire from the opposition during question period in the House of Commons. <br />On Monday night, a judge refused to grant an injunction against<em> </em>the <a href="http://thechronicleherald.ca/News/1126411.html"><em>Halifax Chronicle Herald</em>,</a> allowing the paper to publish a story on the contents of private conversations contained on a digital recorder, in which<strong> Raitt is heard describing a shortage of medical isotopes as “sexy”. </strong></p> <p><strong>"But it’s sexy," says Ms. Raitt. "Radioactive leaks. Cancer."</strong> </p> <p>"Nuclear contamination," says Ms. MacDonnell.</p> <p>"But it’s only about money," says Ms. Raitt.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Si8eyose3qI/AAAAAAAAQJI/Vj6wbS0aq_I/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="280" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Si8e0leiKGI/AAAAAAAAQJM/b1X4pmRO--Q/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="331" /></a> <strong> <br /></strong>The news broke less than a week after a Canadian television station reported that documents from Raitt's department – some marked 'secret' - <strong>were left at its Ottawa studio for six days without any sign from Natural Resources Canada that they had been missed</strong>. <br />Although Raitt kept her job, her 26-year-old director of communications, <strong>Jasmine MacDonnell</strong>, took the blame for the breach and resigned. <br /><strong>In fact, it was MacDonnell who apparently misplaced the audio recorder in a bathroom at the House of Commons, where it was found earlier this year by a reporter.</strong> </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.miningweekly.com/article/canadas-harper-stands-by-raitt-after-sexy-isotopes-recording-2009-06-09">Canada's Harper stands by Raitt after 'sexy' isotopes recording</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related News:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-plant-could-be-down-for.html">Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-factory-shut-down-again-in.html">Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medical-isotopes-will-there-be-enough.html">Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/rev-jesse-jackson-touts-medical-isotope.html">Rev. Jesse Jackson Touts Medical Isotope Technology</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/canada-set-to-order-restart-of-isotope.html">Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-nuclear-radiation.html"><font size="1">Isotope Update – Nuclear Radiation Treatments Could be Delayed As Other Plants Close Down for Scheduled Maintenance</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5616f731-6014-4b91-abf1-7b0de6ceab3a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Isotopes" rel="tag">Isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Treatment" rel="tag">Cancer Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuclear+Medicine" rel="tag">Nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinson's" rel="tag">Parkinson's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radiation+Treatment" rel="tag">Radiation Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Canada" rel="tag">Canada</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sexy+Isotopes" rel="tag">Sexy Isotopes</a></div>

Sexy Isotopes – Ask the Prime Minister of Canada And the Natural Resources Minister What It’s all About

If you are not aware of the isotope nuclear plant closure, read the related reading below as there may end up being some long waits for som...

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Isotope Shortage Beginning to be Felt at USC Medical and other Facilities in US and Canada - Update

<p>Nuclear medicine is feeling the crunch at USC Medical Center where other methods for testing are being explored even though they are more costly.  Tests for cancer to see if it has spread to the bones are put on hold.  PET scans can be used, but are not covered by Medicare for some procedures<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SjUsT6YQSMI/AAAAAAAAQMU/d7WxGPLjjtw/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="171" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SjUsWMQUwbI/AAAAAAAAQMY/Tg7ugOHxzXg/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="302" /></a> and screening.  There are only 5 facilities in the world that make isotopes and the one in the Netherlands is scheduled for maintenance shut down next month for 4 weeks, so this leaves us 3 supplies, worldwide. </p> <p>There has been talk for years to convert a facility in Missouri to create <strong><a href="http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes/">isotopes,</a></strong> but so far nothing has been done, as everything else it costs money, so it appears we wait until the dollars someday arrive.  With all the nuclear medicine treatments and diagnosing we do in the US, we have no facilities to create our own and depend on global suppliers to meet the demand.  A continued shortage also stands to delay clinical trials that rely on nuclear medicine as well.  The University of Chicago is looking at the same alternatives to deal with the shortage.  Be aware as you could be informed of delays for planned treatments if you are a cancer patient, hopefully the world and US will address this soon.  BD  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-nuclear-radiation.html"><font size="2">Isotope Update – Nuclear Radiation Treatments Could be Delayed As Other Plants Close Down for Scheduled Maintenance</font></a></h4> <blockquote> <p>CHICAGO, June 12 (Reuters) - A North American shortage of medical isotopes has forced many U.S. hospitals to begin rationing scores of diagnostic tests, and doctors said on Friday they see no quick solution.  <br /> <br />Repairs of a leak of heavy water at the Chalk River reactor, first estimated to take a month, may now take three, and Canadian officials say they eventually may leave the isotope business altogether.</p> <p> <br />The Canadian plant is one of five aging reactors worldwide -- <strong>none located in the United States</strong> -- to produce molybdenum-99, the most <strong>commonly used medical isotope.</strong> The rapidly decaying substance has a shelf life of just 67 hours, making it impossible to stockpile.</p> "We are seeing a shortage," said Dr. Peter Conti of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. <br />Conti said the university's three hospitals have begun rationing supplies, and they are not alone.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN12549083">U.S. hospitals rationing nuclear imaging tests | Reuters</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related News:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-plant-could-be-down-for.html">Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-factory-shut-down-again-in.html">Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/sexy-isotopes-ask-prime-minister-of.html"><font size="1">Sexy Isotopes – Ask the Prime Minister of Canada And the Natural Resources Minister What It’s all About</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medical-isotopes-will-there-be-enough.html">Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/rev-jesse-jackson-touts-medical-isotope.html">Rev. Jesse Jackson Touts Medical Isotope Technology</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/canada-set-to-order-restart-of-isotope.html">Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4658dc85-04bc-4066-9308-4fff4f0d0c58" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Isotopes" rel="tag">Isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Treatment" rel="tag">Cancer Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuclear+Medicine" rel="tag">Nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinson's" rel="tag">Parkinson's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radiation+Treatment" rel="tag">Radiation Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Chalk+River" rel="tag">Chalk River</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/USC" rel="tag">USC</a></div>

Isotope Shortage Beginning to be Felt at USC Medical and other Facilities in US and Canada - Update

Nuclear medicine is feeling the crunch at USC Medical Center where other methods for testing are being explored even though they are more co...

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US medical Isotope Shortage Getting Worse – Update

<p>Next week things could get worse too as the reactor in the Netherlands goes offline for it’s annual scheduled maintenance.  The Chalk River reactor and the one in the Netherlands have been producing 70% of the world’s supply of isotopes.  I was at a hospital yesterday listening to the nuclear medicine department having to re-schedule a patient due to lack of isotopes, so the shortage is alive and well here in the US.  We need to at some point in time have our own created in the US, and it appears the Obama administration is now addressing the situation too.  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sla0vjsrhMI/AAAAAAAAYMg/k3ncQ2geRrY/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="181" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sla0xKTJSqI/AAAAAAAAYMk/s2SWrw0H_Do/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="150" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.vitabeat.com/plane-with-isotopes-delayed-in-paris-leads-to-cancellation-of-medical-tests-in-canada/v/10596/">In a related story,</a> patients in Canada were re-scheduled for treatment as the plane was delayed for take off.  BD      </p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/isotope-shortage-beginning-to-be-felt.html"><font size="2">Isotope Shortage Beginning to be Felt at USC Medical and other Facilities in US and Canada - Update</font></a></h6> <blockquote> <p><strong> US hospitals and patients are now suffering “the most significant shortage that we have seen to date” according to a letter sent yesterday to customers of one of the larger distributors of medical radioisotopes.</strong></p> <p> The shortage, reported <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-9303-Miami-Health-Care-Examiner~y2009m6d19-Radioisotope-shortage-a-crisis-for-patients">here</a> on June 19, was first created by the May shutdown of Canada’s 52-year-old Chalk River reactor in eastern Ontario which produces half of the US supply of medical isotopes used in scans that help diagnose heart disease and the spread of cancer. Initially thought to be offline for only a month, this second shutdown in less than two years will likely be much longer. <a href="http://www.isotopeworld.com/newsmedia/industrynews/504/">Hospitals</a> around the country have begun to ration many important diagnostic tests and even close down clinical cancer trials.</p> <p>In an open presentation yesterday at the <a href="http://www.nationalacademies.org/">National Academies</a>, the <a href="http://www.energy.gov">Department of Energy</a> (DOE) revealed that the Obama Administration has allocated $120 million over 4 years to develop the US production of medical isotopes using safer low-enriched uranium (LEU), rather than the nuclear weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium (HEU) that is used by the existing producers.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-9303-Miami-Health-Care-Examiner~y2009m7d9-Critical-US-medical-radioisotope-shortage-sparks-Obama-administration-response">Critical US medical radioisotope shortage sparks Obama administration response</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related News:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-plant-could-be-down-for.html">Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-factory-shut-down-again-in.html">Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a6a8de9f-3cd5-4975-b66a-d1308d768d8d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/brachytherapy" rel="tag">brachytherapy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer+treatment" rel="tag">cancer treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/radiation" rel="tag">radiation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/isotopes" rel="tag">isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nuclear+medicine" rel="tag">nuclear medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Canada" rel="tag">Canada</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+devices" rel="tag">medical devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/seeding" rel="tag">seeding</a></div>

US medical Isotope Shortage Getting Worse – Update

Next week things could get worse too as the reactor in the Netherlands goes offline for it’s annual scheduled maintenance.  The Chalk River ...

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Isotope Update – Shortage Still Taking a Toll With Scans Missed, Rescheduled or Cancelled

<p> The City of Hope is reporting that many scans are sometimes delayed for weeks due to the shortage and the closing of the 2 plants.  With lack of <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SoEKNiYprWI/AAAAAAAAZW0/TPW-hFnYZN0/s1600-h/image%5B27%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SoEKPI48cHI/AAAAAAAAZW4/g_SHchQlMEE/image_thumb%5B17%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="137" /></a>imaging the doctors state that some individuals are undergoing surgery for cancer that could have been a procedure done with isotopes instead, i.e. seeding.  The UCLA Cancer Center is repeatedly rescheduling patients as they never know exactly how much they will have on hand, depending on quantities shipped.   In Canada, tests have been delayed for weeks.  </p> <p>Hospitals are also incurring additional costs as tests are scheduled at late or odd hours to use the isotopes before they expire, so some overtime pay is accumulating and due to the shortage, cost has gone up, 20-30% which is being absorbed by the hospitals.  Fluorine-18 is being used instead but does not have the accuracy and <strong>Medicare and insurance companies do not cover the replacement of technetium-99m.</strong>  The alternatives may also result in exposing the patient to higher levels of radiation.   BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>The abrupt shutdown of two aging nuclear reactors that produce a radioisotope widely used in medical imaging has forced physicians in the U.S. and abroad into a crisis, requiring them to postpone or cancel necessary scans for heart disease and cancer, or turn to alternative tests that are not as accurate, take longer and expose patients to higher doses of radiation.  <br />Because of limits on testing produced by the shortage, <strong>some patients will undergo heart or cancer surgeries that could have been prevented by imaging, and others will miss needed surgeries because of the lack of testing,</strong> said Dr. Michael Graham of the University of Iowa, president of SNM, formerly the Society of Nuclear Medicine. "It's possible that some deaths could occur," he said.</p> <p>The focus of this shortage is a short-lived radioisotope that most patients have probably never heard of -- technetium-99m, the "m" <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SoEKQOEaRyI/AAAAAAAAZW8/UQgOVXPMq30/s1600-h/image%5B26%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="148" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SoEKRZ7M37I/AAAAAAAAZXA/VA5YaBApD3Q/image_thumb%5B16%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="119" /></a>standing for metastable. With a half-life of only six hours, the isotope allows physicians to examine bones and blood flow, among other things, then quickly disappears from the body, minimizing the dose of radiation received by the patient. Because of its short half-life, the isotope cannot be stockpiled and must be used within a day or two after it is produced. </p> <p>When the target is removed from the reactor, it is processed by one of the <strong>world's three major isotope</strong> suppliers: <strong>MDS Nordion, Covidien, or Lantheus Medical Imaging</strong>. They dissolve the molybdenum in an acid solution, then bind it onto a column inside a trash-can-sized container called a technetium generator, which is delivered to radiopharmacies. The pharmacies run saline through the column to remove technetium-99m and attach it to other drugs for use in imaging. </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-isotope9-2009aug09,0,6453741.story?page=1">Isotope shortage means a healthcare crisis - Los Angeles Times</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related News:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/isotope-shortage-beginning-to-be-felt.html"><font size="1">Isotope Shortage Beginning to be Felt at USC Medical and other Facilities in US and Canada - Update</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-plant-could-be-down-for.html">Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-factory-shut-down-again-in.html">Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/sexy-isotopes-ask-prime-minister-of.html">Sexy Isotopes – Ask the Prime Minister of Canada And the Natural Resources Minister What It’s all About</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medical-isotopes-will-there-be-enough.html">Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:100fae2c-812c-4547-ab82-068d5205cd5f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Isotopes" rel="tag">Isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Treatment" rel="tag">Cancer Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuclear+Medicine" rel="tag">Nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinson's" rel="tag">Parkinson's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radiation+Treatment" rel="tag">Radiation Treatment</a></div>

Isotope Update – Shortage Still Taking a Toll With Scans Missed, Rescheduled or Cancelled

The City of Hope is reporting that many scans are sometimes delayed for weeks due to the shortage and the closing of the 2 plants.  With la...

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Brachytherapy Therapy – Flexitron Lessens the Number of Treatments without Hospitalization in Canada

<p>Just yesterday it was in the news about the <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/va-hospital-in-philadelphia-prostate.html">botched brachytherapy procedures at the VA in Philadelphia.</a>  From what I read here the device offers the patient fewer treatments and better targeting for the procedure.  Brachytherapy is used for breast and prostate cancer procedures too, although this device in this article is being used for uterine cancer treatments, so there could be possibilities for use with other treatments.  Hopefully we will have enough isotopes available too as with the reactor in Canada being closed, shortages are being noticed at hospitals in the US.  BD  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/isotope-shortage-beginning-to-be-felt.html"><font size="2">Isotope Shortage Beginning to be Felt at USC Medical and other Facilities in US and Canada - Update</font></a></h4> <blockquote> <p>The Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario at Kingston General Hospital recently performed its first high dose rate brachytherapy radiation treatment using the newest and most innovative technology. The Flexitron – the piece of equipment used to deliver the treatment – is the first of its kind in North America. Its technology allows increased comfort and convenience for patients.</p> <p>With the new technology using high dose rate radioactive isotopes, the treatment can be given much faster and does not require hospitalization. “Now we are able to offer an equally effective treatment with a procedure that can be done as an outpatient,” says Wendy. “Patients now get three treatments at weekly intervals and each one takes about 15 minutes. It is much more convenient and comfortable for the patient.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sj_o6z3-IjI/AAAAAAAAR2c/uQBIgEBVy3g/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="328" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sj_o-YImVMI/AAAAAAAAR2g/1hXnYQzD1sA/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="359" /></a> </p> <p>“The Flexitron allows us to deliver radioactive material to the patient and adhere to safety and quality guidelines,” says medical physicist Dr. John Schreiner. “It also uses specialized software to calculate the specific dose delivery for each individual patient.”</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.osl.uk.com/index.php?option=com_deeppockets&task=catContShow&cat=12&id=197&Itemid=46"><img alt="image" border="0" height="228" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sj_pAtWBKgI/AAAAAAAAR2k/7_YStOwCbD0/image%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="369" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.osl.uk.com/index.php?option=com_deeppockets&task=catContShow&cat=12&id=198&Itemid=46"><img alt="image" border="0" height="238" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sj_pDAkAJCI/AAAAAAAAR2o/yBTABEBNmDc/image%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="362" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.hospitalnews.com/modules/magazines/mag.asp?ID=3&IID=123&AID=1591">http://www.hospitalnews.com/modules/magazines/mag.asp?ID=3&IID=123&AID=1591</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related News:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-plant-could-be-down-for.html">Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-factory-shut-down-again-in.html">Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays</a></h6> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:bd02b72b-245a-4a4c-bfaa-c835012cd95d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/brachytherapy" rel="tag">brachytherapy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer+treatment" rel="tag">cancer treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/radiation" rel="tag">radiation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/isotopes" rel="tag">isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nuclear+medicine" rel="tag">nuclear medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Canada" rel="tag">Canada</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+devices" rel="tag">medical devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/seeding" rel="tag">seeding</a></div>

Brachytherapy Therapy – Flexitron Lessens the Number of Treatments without Hospitalization in Canada

Just yesterday it was in the news about the botched brachytherapy procedures at the VA in Philadelphia.   From what I read here the device o...

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Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor

<p>Cancer tests may be back in order shortly in Canada..BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian Parliament was set to overrule the country's nuclear watchdog on Wednesday and order a reactor that makes crucial radioisotopes for cancer tests be restarted immediately. The Chalk River reactor -- which makes more than two-thirds of global supply of the medical isotopes -- was shut down in November, quickly triggering shortages. <p>Once the reactor is restarted it will take three or four days before operator Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd can begin delivering isotopes. When injected into the body, the isotopes give off radiation that can be seen by a camera to diagnose cancer, heart disease and other medical conditions.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071212/hl_nm/cancer_dc_7">Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor - Yahoo! News</a></p>

Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor

Cancer tests may be back in order shortly in Canada..BD  OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian Parliament was set to overrule the country's ...

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What is the Status of Nuclear Diagnostics and Supplies – A Request for Information From the Front Lines

<p> This is perhaps an area that many may not be aware of, but yet has an immediate impact on Cancer and other diagnosing and treatments for patients.  <strong>There may be delays and some services temporarily not available.</strong>  I have been attempting to keep updates here, but thought I would put a request out there for<strong> anyone who may want to comment to perhaps make some additional information available from the front lines</strong>.  I heard back the other day from the New Mexico Medical Association on how the rural areas in that state are feeling the shortage and just a few days ago reported on how USC is feeling the shortage.  </p> <p>If anyone wants to add information here to advise, that would be great, just add a comment and yes you can still be anonymous if you like as the purpose here is to hopefully share information and get the word out on what is taking place and what adjustments are being made.  Thanks to anyone who can add some information here to help others.  BD</p> <blockquote> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/06/isotope-shortage-beginning-to-be-felt.html"><font size="2">Isotope Shortage Beginning to be Felt at USC Medical and other Facilities in US and Canada – Update</font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SjUsT6YQSMI/AAAAAAAAQMU/d7WxGPLjjtw/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><font size="2"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="171" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SjUsWMQUwbI/AAAAAAAAQMY/Tg7ugOHxzXg/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="302" /></font></a></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-nuclear-radiation.html"><font size="2">Isotope Update – Nuclear Radiation Treatments Could be Delayed As Other Plants Close Down for Scheduled Maintenance</font></a></h6> <p>Nuclear medicine is feeling the crunch at USC Medical Center where other methods for testing are being explored even though they are more costly.  Tests for cancer to see if it has spread to the bones are put on hold.  PET scans can be used, but are not covered by Medicare for some procedures and screening.  There are only 5 facilities in the world that make isotopes and the one in the Netherlands is scheduled for maintenance shut down next month for 4 weeks, so this leaves us 3 supplies, worldwide. </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/search?q=isotopes&x=0&y=0">The Medical Quack: Search results for isotopes</a></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f1cbb476-9bac-4e13-b64d-54600ff65d49" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/isotopes" rel="tag">isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nuclear+Medicine" rel="tag">nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/USC" rel="tag">USC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/treatments" rel="tag">treatments</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/diagnosis" rel="tag">diagnosis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospitals" rel="tag">hospitals</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+imaging" rel="tag">medical imaging</a></div>

What is the Status of Nuclear Diagnostics and Supplies – A Request for Information From the Front Lines

This is perhaps an area that many may not be aware of, but yet has an immediate impact on Cancer and other diagnosing and treatments for pa...

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Axxent Brachytherapy System Recall-Device Released Particles of Tungsten Throughout Woman’s Breast During Treatment-Lawsuit

<p>I can only imagine what the patient is going through after specifically waiting for this device to become available as a safe method of treating her breast cancer.  <strong>This </strong><a href="http://www.soundvet.com/products/radiation-therapy/axxent-electronic-brachytherapy-system"><strong><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="87" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TXUPXTA65YI/AAAAAAAAs6Y/FAlln-4Cy4A/image%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="159" /></strong></a><strong>happened at Hoag Hospital in Orange County and luckily enough the particles were found on a check up and now she may need to have her breast removed as a result of the malfunction.</strong>  As you can read below the treatment was new in the fact that it does no require isotopes, which are used commonly with most radiation treatments.  The device was being used in clinical trials being conducted at Hoag.  </p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.soundvet.com/products/radiation-therapy/axxent-electronic-brachytherapy-system"><u>From the website about the device:</u></a></strong></p> <p><em>“The <strong>Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy System®</strong> is a leading-edge technology that utilizes a proprietary miniaturized X-ray source to apply radiation directly to a tumor bed within the body. The Axxent® X-ray Source delivers high-dose rate, low energy radiation treatment without the use of radioactive isotopes. Axxent does not use radioactive isotopes, so it can be used without the need for a lead-shielded room. This enables veterinarians and therapists to remain with their patients during treatment, ensuring their safety and the treatment's accurate delivery.”</em></p> <p><strong>Below is what was recommended from the manufacturer and Hoag Hospital immediately reported to the FDA.</strong>  This goes to<u> further substantiate a national registry of incidents with medical devices, especially those treating patients for cancer.</u>  The toxicity of the tungsten in her breasts is stated to be low but it appears from what I am reading here that the only way to be sure the particles are gone is to remove her breasts.  As you can see now from the recommendations below MRIs will now be required as a follow up.  The patient was the first to undergo the new treatment and there’s no mention of any other patients in the article and hopefully there won’t be more.  BD  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TXUPX5_3Y2I/AAAAAAAAs6c/SAeWgKoo7Jc/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="191" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TXUPYYAtW1I/AAAAAAAAs6g/hKD4lsQ8eDk/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="399" /></a></p> <p>iCAD recently acquired Xoft, Inc., developer of the Axxentbrachytherapy system <a href="http://www.icadmed.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="81" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TXUPYhzsN7I/AAAAAAAAs6k/0Ve2-_kuBCE/image%5B15%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="111" /></a>Axxent uses non-radioactive miniaturized X-ray tube technology and is FDA-cleared for treatment of early stage breast cancer, skin cancer and endometrial cancer, so you can see device might face some scrutiny in other areas of treatment.  At any rate you can almost be assured that additional inquiries and reports may follow.  BD   </p> <blockquote> <p>A woman treated for cancer at <strong>Hoag Hospital</strong> in <strong>Newport Beach</strong> may end up losing her breasts because of a flaw in a new radiation system, which has been recalled, according to a lawsuit.</p> <p>The 58-year-old “Jane Doe” was the first person at Hoag to undergo the treatment on her left breast and had specifically waited for the system to become available.</p> <p>Now doctors want to remove her breasts after a shield used with the system shed tiny particles of tungsten throughout her chest, said her attorney, <strong>Jeff Milman</strong> of Irvine. The tungsten was found as part of her six-month checkup.</p> <p>“There are no definitive studies that talk about long-term risk,” Milman said.</p> <p><strong>Jane Doe, a clinical psychologist, filed suit in February, targeting the manufacturer, Xoft Inc. and Hoag Hospital.</strong></p> <p>The device in question is the <strong>XOFT/iCAD Axxent Flexishield Mini</strong>, which protects parts of the body from unwanted radiation during use of the <a href="http://www.soundvet.com/products/radiation-therapy/axxent-electronic-brachytherapy-system"><strong>Axxent Brachytherapy System</strong></a>. After conducting an <a href="http://www.xoftinc.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TXUPZJQriMI/AAAAAAAAs6o/AxbvYJqtnEk/image%5B20%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="116" /></a>investigation, the company recalled the flexishield device in <strong>February</strong>.  Patients are advised to follow up with their physicians to help them monitor for side-effects.</p> <p>“We believe this issue has no impact on the safety and efficacy of the radiation therapy delivered by the Axxent system,” said the recall notice. To see the full notice click here <a href="http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/files/2011/03/Xoft_recall_02-04-11.pdf">Xoft_recall_02-04-11</a>.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/03/07/flawed-therapy-endangers-womans-breasts/77043/">Flawed therapy endangers woman’s breasts - OC Watchdog - The Orange County Register</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:84775153-df9c-4de1-9fc8-4376bf28fe9f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/breast+cancer" rel="tag">breast cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/radiation" rel="tag">radiation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/shield" rel="tag">shield</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Axxent+Brachytherapy+System" rel="tag">Axxent Brachytherapy System</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hoag+Hospital" rel="tag">Hoag Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/recall" rel="tag">recall</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA+treatment" rel="tag">FDA treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Xoft" rel="tag">Xoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/iCAD" rel="tag">iCAD</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer" rel="tag">cancer</a></div>

Axxent Brachytherapy System Recall-Device Released Particles of Tungsten Throughout Woman’s Breast During Treatment-Lawsuit

I can only imagine what the patient is going through after specifically waiting for this device to become available as a safe method of trea...

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Isotope Update – Nuclear Radiation Treatments Could be Delayed As Other Plants Close Down for Scheduled Maintenance

<p> No doubt there will be shortages if the reactor in Canada ends up being down for 8 months potentially.  It appears that France, Argentina and Belgium will be holding up the show with production as there are only 5 facilities in the world who manufacture the product.   If you are being scheduled for treatments, be aware there could be some delays as two other reactors are scheduled to be pulled off line for scheduled maintenance.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Nuclear medicine specialists say the crunch for patients is coming after it was announced yesterday that the Canadian reactor responsible for one-third of the world's medical isotopes will be shut down for at least three months. </p> <p>The 51-year-old NRU unit at Chalk River, Ont., will be offline though July when the <strong>reactor in the Netherlands</strong>, which produces another third of the world's supply, is scheduled to <strong>shut down for a month of maintenance.</strong> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sh7bFN76lKI/AAAAAAAAP8k/LL-6k4w0djM/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="257" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sh7bG1jsPaI/AAAAAAAAP8o/FKrL4H8tta0/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="306" /></a> </p> <p>But the South African reactor that is providing additional amounts of the material to make up for the shortage caused by the loss of the NRU <strong>will shut down next week for required maintenance.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/chalk-river-shutdown-expected-to-last-three-months/article1156028/">Chalk River shutdown expected to last three months - The Globe and Mail</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related News:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-update-plant-could-be-down-for.html"><font size="1">Isotope Update: Plant Could be Down for Months – Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics Can Expect Delays</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/isotope-factory-shut-down-again-in.html">Isotope Factory Shut Down again in Canada – Surgeries and Procedures could Face Delays</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medical-isotopes-will-there-be-enough.html">Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/rev-jesse-jackson-touts-medical-isotope.html">Rev. Jesse Jackson Touts Medical Isotope Technology</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/canada-set-to-order-restart-of-isotope.html">Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:59516bcd-0b29-4277-a51d-c973e31dfe9a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Isotopes" rel="tag">Isotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Treatment" rel="tag">Cancer Treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuclear+Medicine" rel="tag">Nuclear Medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cardiology" rel="tag">Cardiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinson's" rel="tag">Parkinson's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRI" rel="tag">MRI</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Radiation+Treatment" rel="tag">Radiation Treatment</a></div>

Isotope Update – Nuclear Radiation Treatments Could be Delayed As Other Plants Close Down for Scheduled Maintenance

No doubt there will be shortages if the reactor in Canada ends up being down for 8 months potentially.  It appears that France, Argentina a...

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Zinc Zipper' Plays Key Role In Hospital-Acquired Infections - MRSA

<p> What is interesting is that the FDA has approved IV injections only for those who have radio isotope poisoning, perhaps from isotopes used in nuclear medicine an diagnostics, but if the process of removing zinc can help in the prevention of MRSA with coating devices in the future, this could be one big boost on the war with hospital acquired infections.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>"We've shown that if you remove the zinc, you prevent the biofilm from forming, and if you add zinc back, the biofilm can grow," says Herr. "So we're hopeful that we can use this sort of approach to prevent these biofilms from ever taking hold in the first place." The most practical applications, Herr says, might involve<strong> coatings for implanted medical devices,</strong> or rinses that a surgeon could use to clear the area around the implant.</p> <p>Systemic removal of zinc, such as through an intravenous injection, is impractical for now because DTPA is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only for people with radio isotope poisoning. In addition, zinc is known to activate immune cells and play many other important roles in the body, so a proper balance would need to be developed.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/131955.php">Zinc Zipper' Plays Key Role In Hospital-Acquired Infections</a></p> <p><u><strong>Related Reading:</strong></u>  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medical-isotopes-will-there-be-enough.html"><font size="1">Medical Isotopes - Will there be enough, treatment delays through October possible at US Hospitals</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/12/canada-set-to-order-restart-of-isotope.html"><font size="1">Canada set to order restart of isotope reactor</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1442c168-7e8f-4b13-a900-77cf3566a3cd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/R+and+D" rel="tag">R and D</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Zinc" rel="tag">Zinc</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRSA" rel="tag">MRSA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital+Acquired+infections" rel="tag">Hospital Acquired infections</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a></div>

Zinc Zipper' Plays Key Role In Hospital-Acquired Infections - MRSA

What is interesting is that the FDA has approved IV injections only for those who have radio isotope poisoning, perhaps from isotopes used ...

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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan Drug Recalled Due To Radiation–CardioGen-82

<p>The active ingredient is generated by isotopes and the cause it not yet clear and the <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CrYkV7RX8MI/Ti9ogL1yG5I/AAAAAAAA2VI/RAvOHjoER2M/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="54" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Cbt971x1LU4/Ti9ogfRoxVI/AAAAAAAA2VM/OF0DArid-v4/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="188" /></a>FDA stated it has not ruled out manufacturing facilities in their research.  Doctors should stop using the drug according to the FDA warning.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Positron emission tomography (PET) scan drug CardioGen-82 may cause increased radiation exposure, the Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday, and the agency is warning doctors to stop using the drug.</p> <p>The drug, manufactured by Italian company <a href="http://usa.braccoimaging.com/">Bracco Diagnostics Inc</a>., is used in positron emission tomography scans to diagnose heart disease. On July 15 the FDA found that two patients who had undergone these scans months earlier had detectable levels of radiation.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.thirdage.com/news/positron-emission-tomography-pet-scan-drug-recalled-due-to-radiation_07-26-2011">Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan Drug Recalled Due To Radiation | ThirdAge</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:26226960-dc58-43dc-ba06-0ca58dba07c5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CardioGen-82" rel="tag">CardioGen-82</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bracco" rel="tag">Bracco</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PET+scans" rel="tag">PET scans</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/radiology" rel="tag">radiology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/istotopes" rel="tag">istotopes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/radiation" rel="tag">radiation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/patients" rel="tag">patients</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/recall" rel="tag">recall</a></div>

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan Drug Recalled Due To Radiation–CardioGen-82

The active ingredient is generated by isotopes and the cause it not yet clear and the FDA stated it has not ruled out manufacturing faciliti...

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Evidence Based e-Ordering Coalition Formed to Promote Solutions for Appropriate Diagnostic Tests

<p>This is an interesting press release as now a new area is coming in to focus due to cost and the quest to find a solution to provide services and yet <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SjfQzy-n3TI/AAAAAAAAQOg/7MJldbuR93k/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="139" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SjfQ1__MpaI/AAAAAAAAQOk/DlDPMMBKUI0/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="157" /></a>keep the cost down.  Just as e-Prescribing has been included in the EHR/EMR solution, this is the targeted area here with the coalition.  I have posted in the past about the tools such as speech recognition that make it easier for physicians to use when ordering tests, which is a big help, but back on the subject here, this appears to be one big task, especially today with adjustments being made for the shortage of isotopes we are encountering, how can you keep cost down when a shortage in this area requires immediate shifting of decision processes?   </p> <p><strong>I see this too as a very hot political issue as well</strong>, being cities like McAllen, Texas were recently in the news with a focus on why their care is higher in that city and questions about their imaging requests from doctors and hospitals.   Perhaps a study will create some new information that can help with the processes,<strong> and not interfere with what the doctor recommends</strong>.  <u>If used wisely instead of perhaps another news exploit</u> of how someone is costing people money, then the information evaluated could prove to be useful, <strong>teamwork and not pointing fingers is the answer.</strong>  Let’s not also forget the emerging technology of genomics that is coming in to play with personalized medicine, <strong>another element to add to the final decision making software presented to a physician,</strong> a very big job all the way around and perhaps in time all these elements can meet together for the ultimate data solution.   BD</p> <p><u>Press Release:</u></p> <p><b>Imaging e-Ordering Coalition Formed to Promote <br />Evidence-based Solutions for Ordering Appropriate Diagnostic Tests</b></p> <p><i>Healthcare Leaders Promote HIT enabled Decision Support Tools to Assure Medically Appropriate Imaging Tests for All Patients: The Right Test, at The Right Time</i></p> <p><b>WASHINGTON, D.C. June 16, 2008</b> — An alliance of leading healthcare providers, technology companies and diagnostic imaging organizations have joined forces to form the Imaging e-Ordering Coalition (The Coalition).  This national initiative will promote Health Information Technology (HIT) enabled decision-support (e-Ordering) as a solution to assure that all patients receive the most medically appropriate diagnostic imaging test for their specific condition. Members of the Coalition are devoting their energies to help educate policy makers and healthcare providers about the patient-centered efficiencies of e-Ordering, as well as recommending to lawmakers that the efforts to build incentives for prescribing medications electronically (e-Prescribing) should be broadened to include diagnostic imaging e-Ordering solutions.   </p> <p>“As the healthcare industry, federal government and various regulatory bodies evaluate strategies to contain the rising cost of healthcare, e-Ordering is increasingly recognized as a cost-effective and data-driven approach to assure clinical best practices are applied to all ordering decisions,” said Bibb Allen, M.D., of the American College of Radiology, and founding member of the Imaging e-Ordering Coalition. “Expanding on the e-Prescribing model, e-Ordering will do for diagnostic imaging what e-Prescribing has done for the drug prescription process - simplify the way physicians’ decisions for patient care are verified as medically appropriate and safe without compromising the physician-patient relationship.” </p> <p>There are a variety of active legislative and regulatory proposals that attempt to address the utilization of imaging services for publicly subsidized programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.  The Coalition is focused on the following components and has achieved measured progress within each:</p> <ul> <li>Promote existing HIT legislative concepts to inform policy makers on the value of e-Ordering to enable the appropriate use of imaging.</li> <li>Ask lawmakers to include e-Ordering in the development of healthcare system efficiency incentives.</li> <li>Act as a resource for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on its Medicare Imaging Demonstration Project established by Congress in Section 135(b) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). </li> <li>Work with policy makers to have the Coalition’s e-Ordering proposal for CMS scored to validate long-term value and savings for the healthcare industry. </li> <li>Work with stakeholders to establish standards to accelerate e-Ordering as a meaningful and valuable application with EHRs.</li> </ul> <p>According to the Coalition, e-Ordering prevents many of the potential issues associated with radiology benefit managers (RBMs), which are organizations employed by some healthcare insurers to manage utilization and costs associated with high-tech diagnostic exams.  Concerns with the RBM model, include regulatory oversight and a manually burdensome “prior authorization” system whereby physicians must receive approval before ordering an imaging service.  Under prior authorization, patients are often denied the imaging studies their physicians believe are warranted, are steered towards lower-precision tests that may not provide needed clinical information, or are forced to wait days or weeks to receive vital imaging services.  e-Ordering, on the other hand, provides physicians real-time, electronic access to pre-exam, case-by-case decisions that are linked to published, evidenced-based clinical studies and are tailored to a patient’s specific circumstances.   </p> <p>“The growing emphasis at all levels of the federal government to encourage adoption of HIT presents an opportunity for the Coalition to elevate e-Ordering as a much more provider-friendly, patient-centered alternative to the radiology benefit managers (RBM) model,” said Liz Quam, Director, Center for Diagnostic Imaging Institute, and founding member of the Imaging e-Ordering Coalition.  “As a provider of diagnostic imaging services in nine states, my company has seen the inconsistencies in insurers’ utilization efforts.  None of those efforts are without hassle for the healthcare providers striving to offer patient-centered care. Using an electronic decision support tool offers regulators and insurers the assurance that the patient is receiving appropriate care without adding unnecessary time or administrative expense.”</p> <p>The Imaging e-Ordering Coalition is represented by legal authority and lobbying firm, <a href="http://www.hklaw.com/">Holland & Knight</a>. For information on membership <b>please call </b>+1 (202) 457-7004. To date, the following organizations are members of the Imaging e-Ordering Coalition: <a href="http://www.acr.org/">American College of Radiology</a> (ACR), <a href="http://www.cdiradiology.com/">Center for Diagnostic Imaging</a> (CDI), <a href="http://www.gehealthcare.com/usen/index.html">GE Healthcare</a>, <a href="http://www.medicalis.com/">Medicalis</a>, <a href="http://www.merge.com/">Merge Healthcare</a> and <a href="http://www.nuance.com/healthcare/">Nuance Communications, Inc.</a></p> <p>****</p> <p><b>Imaging e-Ordering Coalition</b></p> <p>The Imaging e-Ordering Coalition has been established to proactively interact with policymakers and health care providers on certain issues related to imaging services. In particular, the Coalition proposes to advance the use of electronic decision-support technologies that provide clinicians with guidance regarding the ordering of patient-appropriate imaging services.</p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>American</b><b> College</b><b> of Radiology</b></p> <p>The 32,000 members of the American College of Radiology include radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians. For over three quarters of a century, the ACR has devoted its resources to making imaging safe, effective and accessible to those who need it. The mission of the ACR is to serve patients and society by maximizing the value of radiology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics by advancing the science of radiology, improving the quality of patient care, positively influencing the socio-economics of the practice of radiology, providing continuing education for radiology and allied health professions and conducting research for the future of radiology.</p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>CDI </b></p> <p>Headquartered in Minneapolis, Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) has been a leader in high-quality, cost-effective, outpatient radiology imaging services since 1981, and currently owns and/or operates 51 diagnostic imaging centers in nine states, including Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Washington and Florida. CDI partners with hospitals and health systems to offer physician-led, outpatient radiology services and the expertise of sub-specialized radiologists focused on neurological, spine, musculoskeletal, body and cardiovascular imaging, in addition to advanced diagnostic injections and pain management procedures. CDI is owned by CDI physicians and management along with Onex Partners, a subsidiary of Onex Corporation in Toronto, Canada. For more information, visit CDI’s Web site at <u><a href="http://www.cdirad.com/">www.CDIrad.com</a></u>.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SjfQ2pxWJcI/AAAAAAAAQOo/v_-9_EQtqMg/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SjfQ3lBuq0I/AAAAAAAAQOs/5h5WKAgnSh4/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="104" /></a> </p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p><b>GE Healthcare</b></p> <p>GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.</p> <p>Our <strong>“healthymagination”</strong> vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at <u><a href="http://www.gehealthcare.com/">www.gehealthcare.com</a></u>.</p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p><b>Medicalis Corporation</b></p> <p>Medicalis is a leading provider of healthcare information technology and Clinical Decision Support for diagnostic imaging. Medicalis delivers web-based clinical and integration services to physicians, providers and health plans to provide advanced diagnostic imaging solutions that improve quality and efficiency of diagnostic services. Medicalis delivers solutions that provide clinical guidelines for use at the point-of-care, point-of-service and point-of-analysis that address the issues of unnecessary testing, resource utilization and patient safety. For more information visit <a href="http://www.medicalis.com/">www.medicalis.com</a>.<b></b></p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Merge Healthcare</strong></p> <p>Merge Healthcare Incorporated<b> </b>builds software solutions that automate healthcare data and diagnostic workflow to build a better electronic record of the patient experience. Merge products, ranging from standards-based development toolkits to fully integrated clinical applications, have been used by healthcare providers worldwide for over 20 years. Additional information can be found at <a href="outbind://79/www.merge.com">www.merge.com</a></p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>Nuance Communications, Inc.</b></p> <p><a href="http://www.nuance.com/">Nuance Communications, Inc.’s</a> (NASDAQ: NUAN) <a href="http://www.nuance.com/healthcare/">healthcare portfolio</a> includes closed-loop radiology management solutions to support the radiology practice from start to finish. Nuance’s solutions significantly improve the diagnostic imaging workflow by adding radiology decision support (<a href="http://www.nuance.com/healthcare/products/radport-for-radiology.asp">RadPort</a>) to enable data driven, real-time e-Ordering, speech recognition reporting (<a href="http://www.nuance.com/healthcare/products/powerscribe-for-radiology.asp">PowerScribe</a> and <a href="http://www.nuance.com/healthcare/products/radwhere-for-radiology.asphttp:/www.nuance.com/radwhere/">RadWhere</a>), critical test result management (<a href="http://www.nuance.com/healthcare/products/veriphy.asp">Veriphy</a>) communication, and a business intelligence solution (<a href="http://www.nuance.com/healthcare/products/radcube-for-radiology.asp">RadCube</a>) for utilization management, patient and outcomes analysis, as well as clinical and operational trending.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:fe293993-e1be-42f5-8a22-8dec57b30106" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nuance" rel="tag">Nuance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medicalis" rel="tag">Medicalis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/GE+Healthcare" rel="tag">GE Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+imaging" rel="tag">medical imaging</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthmagination" rel="tag">healthmagination</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospital" rel="tag">hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/business+intelligence" rel="tag">business intelligence</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/diagnostic+imaging" rel="tag">diagnostic imaging</a></div>

Evidence Based e-Ordering Coalition Formed to Promote Solutions for Appropriate Diagnostic Tests

This is an interesting press release as now a new area is coming in to focus due to cost and the quest to find a solution to provide service...

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Rev. Jesse Jackson Touts Medical Isotope Technology

<p> We haven't heard much from him lately...now the Reverend is in healthcare research too...BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>KENNEWICK -- He's walked with Martin Luther King Junior, ran for the White House, and now he's an advocate for medical research.<a href="http://lh4.google.com/DucknetServices/R-vdx1KN9qI/AAAAAAAAEW0/YhEu_Tb1O5o/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R-vdylKN9rI/AAAAAAAAEW8/wh1DZmB3DYg/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="185"></a><br>Reverend Jesse Jackson was in the Tri Cities, Wednesday, trumpeting technology that some promise could help win a fight against cancer and HIV. <br>Jackson celebrated with the first company in the nation to produce medical isotopes, the Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation (AMIC).<br>Wednesday was the ribbon cutting for the building scientists will use.<br><strong>"Insurance will not save your life, research will save your life," Reverend Jesse Jackson said.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/17037191.html">Rev. Jesse Jackson Touts Medical Isotope Technology | KEPR CBS 19 - News, Weather and Sports - Pasco, WA - Pasco, Washington | Local & Regional</a></p>

Rev. Jesse Jackson Touts Medical Isotope Technology

We haven't heard much from him lately...now the Reverend is in healthcare research too...BD  KENNEWICK -- He's walked with Martin...

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Hoag Hospital Lays Off 175 Staff Members- St. Joseph Cutting 144–Layoffs Occurring Even Within the Affluent Areas of Country–All Comes Back to Reimbursement

<p>Even in Newport Beach, California hospitals are feeling the pinch and you can read below it all comes back around to reimbursements.  Hoag hospital works with Aetna Insurance’s IT subsidiaries (Medcity) to connect doctors and health data.  In Health IT areas it’s getting down to the linking and competiveness of the insurance IT infrastructures going way beyond just processing medical claims with all the various subsidiaries that are out there today and sometimes hard to recognize as some have some pretty long daisy chains.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NOOnq4srvWM/ToDIQCUqiUI/AAAAAAAA32U/RIwW8_K5grw/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Mj_Uvg0JkAE/ToDIQfmfEYI/AAAAAAAA32Y/poPfJiVsPTc/image_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="228" /></a></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/12/aetna-to-acquire-medcity-health-it.html"><font size="2">Aetna to Acquire Medcity-Health IT Connectivity Vendor-Former CEO Takes Position on Board at Boeing</font></a></h6> <p>They are doing a lot in the way of new technologies as shown below so robot’s in and employees out, but the article indicated that the layoffs are not in the clinical areas, just in the administrative side. The ER room uses modern RFID technology to keep track of patients too, again a lot invested here and they do a good job.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/09/hoag-hospital-using-davinci-robot-for.html"><font size="2">Hoag Hospital Using daVinci Robot for Gynecologic Surgery Procedures</font></a></h4> <p>Hoag is a good hospital but has it’s incidents like any other in the US, but items as such always make the press but realize any of this can happen at any hospital at any time so hospital ratings really don’t do much that we see on the web, plus they in the case of HealthGrades they can’t even keep the doctors names straight with where they practice.  I have clients of mine listed a hospitals they have never set foot in so use reference on the web wisely.  The situation below is really sad as they were doing a good thing to try out breast cancer therapy that didn’t use isotopes and the machine had issues and patients were harmed.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/03/axxent-brachytherapy-system-recall.html"><font size="2">Axxent Brachytherapy System Recall-Device Released Particles of Tungsten Throughout Woman’s Breast During Treatment-Lawsuit</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/01/mri-accident-at-hoag-hospital-wrong.html"><font size="2">MRI Accident at Hoag Hospital – Wrong Gurney Used - MRI Sucked the Patient in and Fractured Her Leg</font></a></h4> <p>In addition one other large Untied Healthcare acquisition of Monarch IPA is making all hospitals in the OC nervous as it represents such a huge chunk of the HMO business here and at charity functions for Hoag they have always been present so it goes to say that Hoag has a large number of patients under the Monarch umbrella.  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nmeLCJNLNiQ/ToDIQglC3pI/AAAAAAAA32c/qbKypqrL6LM/s1600-h/image%25255B11%25255D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="149" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8Pmu_STNpnc/ToDIQ4SMH5I/AAAAAAAA32g/FdEN1DqEpZs/image_thumb%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="219" /></a></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/08/united-healthcare-to-buy-huge-chunk-of.html"><font size="2">United Healthcare To Buy Huge Chunk of Orange County, California Managed Care Business with the Purchase of Monarch Healthcare–Subsidiary Watch</font></a></h6> <p>Actually with some big conglomerates like United and the long daisy chains of subsidiaries they own enough companies to theoretically be able to bring a drug or device to market to include consulting with the FDA and so forth if they were awarded contracts in every aspect of the process, pretty scary to think that the big insurers have grown this big in a short amount of time via acquisitions.  Pay attention to this fact if you want to know where your dollars spent go.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/09/united-healthcare-optum-owns-consulting.html"><font size="2">United Healthcare (Optum) Owns A Consulting Firm for FDA Drug and Device Approvals, Clinical Trials–CanReg - Subsidiary Watch</font></a></h4> <p>I just received a mailing the other day that Hoag is opening up another clinic in Huntington Beach soon, which is an extension of their services with offices with provider care, i.e. doctors:)  So expansion seems to be in the clinic area while the administrative areas of the hospital are cut back and we can’t forget that clinics who are affiliated with hospitals get a bit different compensation from Medicare so thus the reason for expansion and some hospitals buying up medical practices. </p> <p>Anyway you can see how even hospitals in affluent areas of the US are being hit with economic conditions and the costs involved with IT Infrastructure upgrades and how costly they are.  Harvard Medical said their ICD10 costs were ranging up around $5 million, <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2011/09/icd-10-one-of-largest-most-expensive.html"><u>a far cry from what HHS has estimated too,</u></a> so we need some folks here in the government to work a little bit harder on their data I think as it’s not panning out the way they thought.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.hoag.org/"><b>Hoag Hospital</b></a> has cut 3.5% of its staff, mostly in non-clinical positions, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday. That's about 175 of the 5,000 people who work for Hoag systemwide.</p> <p>The hospital had been preparing for changes in the industry as the government plans major reforms in medical coverage and reimbursement.</p> <p>Last year Hoag <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/news/hospital-264674-irvine-hoag.html"><b>renovated and reopened the former Irvine Regional Hospital</b></a> and also has developed a community-based network of facilities and services.</p> <p>"What we could not predict was how the combination of the weak economy, high unemployment and the shift in the way insurance companies pay for care would force us to take action sooner than anticipated and accelerate our transition plans," said Nina Robinson, spokeswoman for Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hospital-318059-hoag-joseph.html">http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hospital-318059-hoag-joseph.html</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:53a907fc-1cda-4ac5-bbb8-4c2d4645fe43" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hoag+Hospital" rel="tag">Hoag Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/layoffs" rel="tag">layoffs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HealthIT" rel="tag">HealthIT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/St.+Josephs+Hospitals" rel="tag">St. Josephs Hospitals</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/economy" rel="tag">economy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/insurance" rel="tag">insurance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/reiumbursement" rel="tag">reiumbursement</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/orange+county" rel="tag">orange county</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospial" rel="tag">hospial</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/health+insurance" rel="tag">health insurance</a></div>

Hoag Hospital Lays Off 175 Staff Members- St. Joseph Cutting 144–Layoffs Occurring Even Within the Affluent Areas of Country–All Comes Back to Reimbursement

Even in Newport Beach, California hospitals are feeling the pinch and you can read below it all comes back around to reimbursements.  Hoag h...

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FDA Clears Hologic's MammoSite(R) Multi Lumen Radiation Therapy – Breast Cancer

<p>The Mammosite procedure has been approved for a few years and now the improved process with <strong>multi-lumen design</strong> has been approved by the <a href="http://www.mammosite.com/physicians/radiation-therapy/how-it-works.cfm"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="54" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4H3bJdhdI/AAAAAAAAZsU/9EP4vi3pm2c/image%5B22%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="171" /></a> FDA.  So far, procedures have been provided with a <strong>single lumen device.</strong>  The website has a lot of information and a video to explain further how it works.  The difference with the Mammosite and other seeding procedures is that the “seed” does not stay inside your body, as which is done with prostate cancer procedures. <strong>Brachytherapy</strong> is widely used to treat <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/prostate-cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier">prostate cancer</a> because it allows high doses of radiation to be directed to a small area.  Accuracy is important and in the news of late reference to prostate treatment we had the VA and a few of their doctors questioned as some of the seeds missed their targets, in other words were not placed properly and caused damage with radiation exposure in other areas.</p> <p>The Mammosite has the “balloon” which is inserted after the removal of a tumor or lump and is placed in the cavity where the tumor had been located prior to removal.  I had originally posted about the Mammosite procedure a few months ago.  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/breast-cancer-treatments-what-is.html"><font size="2">Breast Cancer Treatments – What is a MammoSite?</font></a></h4> <p>The procedure is complete in 5 days.  With the current closure of nuclear reactors, isotopes may delay treatment, depending on availability.  BD</p> <p><em>“When used as primary radiation therapy, 2 treatments are administered per day, for up to 5 days, to deliver the prescribed radiation dose (typically 34 Gy). When used as a boost with external beam radiation, a typical prescription requires treatment for 1-2 days.”</em></p> <p>There is also a lab now that can test for “cancer of the unknown” with breast biopsies.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/05/genomics-lab-opens-in-huntington-beach.html"><font size="2">Genomics lab Opens in Huntington Beach – Cancer of the Unknown Primary with Breast Cancer</font></a></h4> <p>BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hologic, Inc. (Hologic or the Company) (Nasdaq: HOLX), a leading developer, <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4H4tlvj4I/AAAAAAAAZsY/YwNs_jEpwhM/s1600-h/image%5B16%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="79" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4H5r-pkrI/AAAAAAAAZsc/2PwmK-Ljh3Y/image_thumb%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="114" /></a> manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Company's 510K application for the MammoSite((R)) ML radiation therapy system. <strong>With its multi-lumen design,</strong> this new device gives radiation oncologists the ability to shape the radiation dose for typical cases and treat patients who are otherwise not appropriate candidates for traditional brachytherapy. Hologic's <strong>MammoSite therapy system, first cleared by the FDA in 2002 as a single-lumen device,</strong> is the most widely used form of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) in the United States. It has been used to treat more than 50,000 breast cancer patients in the U.S.</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4H8ZiAvdI/AAAAAAAAZsg/5KRZo5NHF9E/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="188" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4H-HEyVxI/AAAAAAAAZso/LoqJ4bYdvdU/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="370" /></a> </p> <p>The MammoSite systems are comprised of an inflatable balloon catheter in which a radioactive source is introduced for therapy delivery. The inflatable balloon is inserted into the surgical cavity remaining after removal of the tumor. This local placement of the balloon provides for therapeutic delivery of a five-day course of radiation to the tissue most likely to contain residual cancerous cells following surgery, while reducing radiation exposure to adjacent healthy tissue. Using the MammoSite multi-lumen catheter, the radiation oncologist has the ability to shift the radiation dose to the areas that need it most and shift the dose away from areas that do not require it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4H_ChgLAI/AAAAAAAAZss/LOKqoPpSXAw/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="124" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4IAMIT-GI/AAAAAAAAZsw/koYrTJ-fl_k/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="372" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4IB7HTTrI/AAAAAAAAZs0/QOSGULzABG4/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="206" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/Sp4IC0iTfHI/AAAAAAAAZs4/YXFlpK5EoGQ/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="377" /></a> </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS220738+01-Sep-2009+PRN20090901">FDA Clears Hologic's MammoSite(R) ML Radiation Therapy System for the Treatment of... | Reuters</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/breast-cancer-treatments-what-is.html"><font size="1">Breast Cancer Treatments – What is a MammoSite?</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/personalized-treatment-for-breast.html">Personalized treatment for breast cancer</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-is-lymphedema.html">What is Lymphedema?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/cancer-isn-one-size-fits-all-robin.html">Cancer Isn't One Size Fits All – Robin Roberts from ABC and Breast Cancer</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/breast-cancer-may-regress-on-own.html">Breast Cancer May Regress On Own, Controversial Report Says Up To 22 Percent Of Cases May Disappear Without Treatment</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:364959d0-81f2-4120-8cf2-65af37849dc6" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Breast+cancer" rel="tag">Breast cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer+studies" rel="tag">cancer studies</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/family+disease+history" rel="tag">family disease history</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mammosite" rel="tag">Mammosite</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/nuclear+medicine" rel="tag">nuclear medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/radiation" rel="tag">radiation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/biopsy" rel="tag">biopsy</a></div>

FDA Clears Hologic's MammoSite(R) Multi Lumen Radiation Therapy – Breast Cancer

The Mammosite procedure has been approved for a few years and now the improved process with multi-lumen design has been approved by the FD...

Read more »