NorCal CarciNET Letter to DOE on Germanium-68
In response to the Department of Engery's request for comments on the consideration of withdrawl from the commercial production of Germanium-68, NorCal CarciNet's board submitted the following on behalf the support group.
To submit your own comments please visit the Federal Register website. Comment period ends April 30, 2013.
UPDATE: April 2, 2014. The Department has concluded that it will not withdraw from the market for Ge-68 for the manufacture of generators, however, because it has determined that there are no suppliers of bulk Ge-68 qualified for use in Ge-68/Ga-68 generators.
To read the final rulling please click here.
Discover MI Patient Event
On Sunday June 9th, 2013 the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging will be holding a patient education day at their annual meeting. The patient program is designed for patient and those who support them as well as the general public to learn more about molecular imaging and treatments. There will be a special NETs breakout in the afternoon covering specific imaging and treatments available for those with NETS delivered by international experts. Click here to download the full brochure, registration is free and includes lunch. The conference will be at the Vancouver Convention Center.
Running for a cause
NorCal CarciNET President to Speak at Nuclear Medicine Conferences In Asia
Josh Mailman, NorCal CarciNET's President will be traveling to India and Singapore at the end of February to speak at the 2nd World Congress of Ga68 and PRRNT in India and the 22nd Annual Singapore Radiological Society Meeting in Singapore. Josh, who was recently elected to chair the Patient Advocacy Advisory Board for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging will be speaking on the role of patient support groups for those with NETs and patient education for those looking seeking Ga68 and PRRNT. Josh co-manages a separate site PRRTInfo.org for those wishing to learn more about PRRNT.
The Evolving Landscape of Neuroendocrine Tumors
Dr. Emily K. Bergsland NETs Oncologist at UCSF's Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center published an overveiw of Neuroendocrine Tumors "The Evolving Landscape of Neuroendocrine Tumors" in the Seminars in oncology Journal 1 February 2013. (volume 40 issue 1 Pages 4-22 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2012.11.013)
One-third of patients unaware of rad exposure with CT, SPECT
Patient knowledge and understanding of radiation from diagnostic imaging is lacking, according to a research letter published online Dec. 31, 2012, in JAMA Internal Medicine . More than half of patients surveyed heard nothing in the media about radiation from medical imaging, and many of those aware of radiation exposure substantially underestimated dose.
Read more at healthimaging.com
We at NorCal CarciNET are working with the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging to provide information for patients on the benifits and risks of nuclear diagnostic and treatment. To learn more about molecular imaging please see discovermi.org.
ISI plasma 5-HIAA Now Avialable
Clinical Significance for NETs:
The ISI plasma 5-HIAA assay correlates well with the 24-hour urinary 5-HIAA assays. This test has been clinically validated for NET patients who previously relied on the 24-hour urinary 5-HIAA. The plasma 5-HIAA saves time, alleviates the need to collect urine in a collection container, and provides equivalent clinical information. The CPT code for this test is 82542.
For more information download the following information sheet or call InterScience Institute at 800-255-2873
NorCal CarciNET at SNM Meeting
On June 8-12, 2012, NorCal CarciNET Support Group exhibited at the Society of Nuclear Medicine annual meeting in Miami. While there we handed out over 200 pamphlets and CDs of information to those in the Nuclear Medicine profession.