Conclusion Week!

I am very excited about what I am going to study because I know that I will help many people in my life. The nuclear medicine will help that people that does not know about their conditions and also can help to cure them. 
I really liked to dedicate my blog to my future profession. At the beginning was really difficult because I did not know what to write but with the time I start to have great ideas about what to write. I look forward my future and I expect to help many people like I think.

Week#9: Why to study Nuclear Medicine?

According to http://www.universia.pr/estudios/upr-rcm/bachillerato-tecnologia-medicina-nuclear/st/171919, the nuclear medicine technologist can offer their services in hospitals and / or laboratories of public and private nuclear medicine.
The only university that brings this bachelor degree it is the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus.
There are many places to pursue this profession. Some of them are:

• Children's Nuclear Imaging Center in San Jorge Children's Hospital in Santurce, PR.
• LivMo in Menonita's Hospital in Caguas, Cayey and Aibonito, PR.
• San Francisco Nuclear Imaging in Puerto Nuevo, PR.
• Advanced TechnoNuclear Imaging Center in Hato Rey, PR.
• Among Others.

The nuclear medicine it is a profession that pays very well but also it is a direct impact to help others. My dream it is to work in San Jorge Children's Hospital, to help that little kids that are growing up. I want to be the someone who helped them. Someone said of cowards has not been written, so let's do this.

Week#8: Society of Nuclear Medicine

There exist a society of nuclear medicine, according to http://www.snmmi.org/AboutSNMMI/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=11395&RDtoken=37969&navItemNumber=671,in March 1953, sharing an interest in forming a nuclear medicine organization, five radiologists, a cardiologist, two internists, a physicist, an engineer, and a nuclear medicine physician from the Pacific Northwest met in Spokane, Washington. They founded the Society of Nuclear Medicine; all interested in nuclear medicine would be eligible for membership.

Thomas Carlyle was chosen as the first president. The first meeting of the society was held in Seattle, Washington, in 1954. The society soon became a national organization, and the original organization became the society's Pacific Northwest Chapter.

In 2012, the society changed its name to the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging to embrace the growing field of developing probes (radioactive or otherwise) for imaging molecular processes both in the clinic and in basic research.

Over the years, the SNMMI has sponsored various continuing education sessions dedicated to the history of nuclear medicine/molecular imaging and the society itself. 

In addition, in 2013, through the leadership of the SNMMI History Committee, a "Wall of Remembrance" was created. The wall is on display during the Annual Meeting and features short obituaries of some of the most prominent leaders in the field. Each year, the list of individuals recognized on the wall changes.

This society accept new members and they have an annual meeting. 

Week#7: Why Radioisotopes?

According to http://www.cnea.gov.ar/Produccion-Radioisotopos the radioisotopes are elements (isotopes) that emit radiation and are used for different purposes. Each of these isotopes have different characteristics such as the type of radiation emitted (alpha, beta, gamma) and the period of semi-decay, among others.

Applied in the area of health, radioisotopes have two main uses:

• To diagnose: Radioactive isotopes of elements like carbon, iodine and molybdenum are used to explain the operation of certain organs. They are called "tracers". After being administered to the patient (orally or intravenously), generate a contrast that allows obtaining a series of images with a gamma camera or positron emission tomography (PET). The main applications of these techniques are related to the detection of cancer in thyroid, liver, gall bladder, intestines, heart and lung, among others.
• To treatment: Ionizing radiation is used to kill cancerous lesions. To do this, the tumor is exposed to doses from external sources of radioactivity (X-ray equipment, radiation therapy with cobalt-60 source) or internal (brachytherapy, metabolic radiotherapy). 

Just as there are radioactive elements in nature, there are also others that are artificially created by man making use of certain techniques an example of these are the radioisotopes.

The radioisotopes are the agent that are used in nuclear medicine and it is the principal ingredient both diagnosis and treatment. Without it the nuclear medicine it is impossible. 

Week#6: The Beginning

According to http://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-Nuclear-Medicine.aspx , researchers believe the birth of this medical specialty probably occurred somewhere between 1934 when artificial radioactivity was first discovered and 1946 when radionuclides were first produced for medical use by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Nuclear medicine first became recognized as a potential medical specialty in 1946 when it was described by Sam Seidlin in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Seidlin reported on the success of radioactive iodine (I-131) in treating a patient with advanced thyroid cancer. Later, the use of I-131 was expanded to applications such as thyroid gland imaging, hyperthyroidism treatment and quantification of thyroid function.

By the 1950s, the clinical use of nuclear medicine had become widespread as researchers increased their understanding of detecting radioactivity and using radionuclides to monitor biochemical processes. Several researchers worked tirelessly to establish the efficacy, safety and diagnostic and therapeutic potential of this speciality.

In 1971, the American Medical Association acknowledged nuclear medicine as an official medical specialty and in 1972, the American Board of Nuclear Medicine was formed.

Today, there are approximately 100 different nuclear medicine imaging procedures which provide information about nearly every organ system. Nuclear medicine is now an integral part of patient care and is extremely valuable in the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of numerous medical conditions.

The nuclear medicine it is a breakthrough for science and medicine. Even when its beginning it is not clearly, the truth is that the important is than someone discovered it. This type of medicine can save lives and it is the important.

Week#5: What is it used for?

The nuclear medicine it has many utilities. Is it to detect many illness and many other things not just for diseases. According to http://carolinanuclear.com/que-es-la-medicina-nuclear-y-para-que-sirve/ 

In the heart:

• Assess the damage to the heart after a heart attack.
• Evaluate treatment options, such as heart bypass surgery and angioplasty.
• Evaluate the results of revascularization procedures.
• Detect transplanted heart rejection.
• Evaluate heart function before and after chemotherapy.

In the lungs:

• Explore the lungs for possible respiratory or blood circulation problems.
• Assess differential reduction lung function or lung transplant surgery.
• detect lung transplant rejection.

In bones, examine bone fractures, infections, and arthritis and many other things.

In brain, evaluate abnormalities in the brain, such as seizures, memory loss and abnormalities in blood flow; also detect the early onset of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, among others detection. 

Other of it functions are identify inflammation or abnormal function of the gallbladder, identify bleeding in the intestine, assess fever of unknown origin, locate the presence of infection, etc. 

The nuclear medicine gives us many helps, are more that the disadvantages. In general helps us in many ways to preserve our health and can help us to detect the diseases on time before that we cannot do anything.  

Week#4: Advantage and Disadvantage of Nuclear Medicine.

The procedure of nuclear medicine it is like any other of medicine, so also it has advantages and disadvantages. According to http://www.adviseamerica.com/5-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-nuclear-medicine/ this are some of his advantages:
1. Detailed and Accurate: There are many pros to using nuclear medicine. The first of these is the ability to make other wise complex procedures, simple simple and safer for the patient. They are able to examine the most sensitive areas in great detail. All of this can happen without have to subject patients to invasive or possible dangerous surgeries and procedures.
2. Increase methods of early detection: Due to the enhanced capabilities provided by nuclear medicine, doctors have a greater chance of detecting serious illnesses and conditions earlier.


3.Provides additional treatment plans: Nuclear medicine has expended treatment options for patients that suffer from serious diseases such a cancer by form of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. For some patient this makes the difference between life and death.
Also there are some disadvantage:
1. Associated health risks: For those that are exposed to too much, certain health issues can arise. The highest risks occurs in patients that are young, pregnant, or elderly. In these instances, alternative treatment plans are recommended. 
2. It produces mild radiation. If its users are not careful, it can develop cancer in the health of several patients.
3. High costs to operate: When it comes of the medical industry, purchasing, installing, maintaining, and operating some of these machines can be costly. In rare cases, forms of nuclear medicine can make certain health issues even worse in patients.  
The nuclear medical procedure it is effective but like everything requires the proper care to prevent bad management. This type of medicine can save lives with the correct procedure.