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The various uses of Axumin PET imaging in Prostate Cancer

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14
Mar
by theadmin | Press Releases | 0 Comment

Irving, TX – Mar 14, 2020 –Axumin is an imaging technique that helps to detect recurrent cancer early after radiation or surgery. For years, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test has been the standard testing for recurrent prostate cancer. Standard bone and body scans have not been able to find the location of the disease until the PSA levels have skyrocketed (10 to 30 or higher). Axumin can identify recurrent disease that has PSA levels of less than 10 and much lower.

“Axumin is able to detect metastatic disease early and help find its location,” explained the radiologist. “This can help doctors plan effective therapy that will limit the damage to other parts of the body. It also helps to tell whether cancer has metastasized or not, and if it has, to what degree. “

Here are some of the uses of the Axumin PET scan;

  • The scan helps to detect the metabolic activity of cancer after using standard bone scans to identify the location of a tumor. Bone scans use calcium-related radioactive substances that get irritated by cancer when concentrated in particular areas of the bone.
  • Axumin has a radioactive tracer that is linked to an amino acid. Since cancer cells absorb amino acids at a rapid pace, the radiation will concentrate inside the tumor cells. When the patient is under the scanner, high areas of radiation will able to pinpoint the location of the cancer in the body.
  • Staging cancer – Axumin can help to stage prostate cancer in men with Gleason scores of 8 and above or in those with PSA levels above 20. This will help to cure their disease through aggressive therapy.

“Axumin offers plenty of uses and benefits,” continued the radiologist. “It can work together with other technologies such as IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) to help doctors exploit their full capabilities. They will be able to target a lot of areas in the body that are inaccessible to radiation. This will help them target radiation beams with accuracy without damaging sensitive organs in people with lymph node disease within the abdomen.”