Sponsored by ALOMAR
February is International Cancer Awareness Month. It's a time to talk about prevention, research, and new treatments, but also to explain a medical specialty that, although less known to the general public, is changing the way this disease is diagnosed and treated: Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
Seeing what is unseen
When we think of medical tests, we usually imagine X-rays, scans, or MRIs that show organs and structures. Nuclear medicine goes a step further: it not only observes the shape of organs but also how their cells function by studying their metabolism.
To achieve this, they use small amounts of highly specific drugs, which act as "smart markers." These molecules travel throughout the body and concentrate in certain areas, such as tumor cells, which tend to have a more active metabolism.
A well-known example is PET-CT with 18F-FDG. This test allows for the highly accurate detection of tumors throughout the body. Thanks to it, today it is possible to:
- Identify tumors at earlier stages.
- Discovering metastases that are not seen in other tests.
- To evaluate whether a treatment is working a few weeks after starting it.
- Avoid unnecessary surgeries when the disease has already spread.
In complex tumors, such as pancreatic cancer or some types of lung cancer, this information can completely change the therapeutic strategy.
When diagnosis and treatment go hand in hand
Another field addressed by nuclear medicine is the so-called theranostic approach . The idea is as innovative as it is logical: to use the same "key" for both diagnosis and treatment.
First, an initial PET-CT scan is performed to confirm that the tumor has a specific target (for example, a specific receptor on its surface). If that target is present, a treatment is administered that is directed precisely at that same point, but with a therapeutic version of the drug used for diagnosis.
In this way, the treatment acts very selectively on tumor cells, respecting healthy tissues to a greater extent.
Personalized medicine: every tumor is different
Today we know that no two cancers are alike, even if they originate in the same organ. Molecular imaging helps us better understand the biological behavior of each tumor: what proteins it expresses, how it feeds, and how it responds to medication.
This information allows for much more individualized treatment. It's not just about treating cancer, but about treating that specific cancer in that specific patient.
More advanced, more optimized technology
New hybrid scanners, such as PET-CT, SPECT-CT, and PET-MRI, combine functional and anatomical information in a single scan. This results in faster, more accurate studies with optimized radiation doses.
Thanks to these technological advances, Nuclear Medicine has become a key component within multidisciplinary oncology teams.
Looking at the future
The Alomar Group has made a firm commitment to integrating Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging into its healthcare model.
Specialists in diagnostic imaging for more than 30 years, the group has more than 35 centers in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Huesca.
It has four Nuclear Medicine Units in Lleida, Blanes, Reus, and Vilanova i la Geltrú, equipped with advanced technology for molecular imaging studies and targeted therapies. The Lleida center is located just 20 minutes from Fraga, making it easier for patients in the Bajo Cinca region to access this technology without long journeys.
As Dr. Alberto Alomar, nuclear medicine physician and medical director of the group, explains, “the future of oncology lies in integrating diagnosis and treatment under the same biological strategy.”
Modern oncology is no longer solely focused on treating disease as it progresses, but rather on anticipating it, accurately measuring its progression, and tailoring each therapeutic decision accordingly. During Cancer Awareness Month, it's worth remembering that progress means not only having more treatments available, but using them more effectively. And in this evolution, nuclear medicine is playing an increasingly important role.
Initiatives such as the Race for Life, organized by the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Fraga on March 1, remind us that the fight against cancer is also a collective commitment.
