PET Scan: Whenever it comes to cancer, the biggest question is how to find it at the right time? Pet scan ie positron emission tomography is used for this work. This is a special medical test that scans the interiors of the body and tells that there is no abnormal activity (eg cancer presence). Doctors use it especially to see cancer identification, staging (spread) and the effect of treatment.

How does PET SCAN work?

During PET Scan, the patient is given a radioactive tracer, which is inserted through the injection in the body. This tracer is in the form of glucose (sugar) which the cells of the body are used as energy. Since cancer cells grow much faster than normal cells and use more energy, cancer affected areas in PET Scan start glowing. After this, the doctors find the cancer state after seeing the image of the scan.

What kind of diseases are used?

PET scan is not only done for cancer but also to identify many other serious diseases. As:

• cancer: To learn the effect of the presence, spread and treatment of cancer.
• Heart disease: To detect the problem of blood flow in the heart tissue.
• Neurological disorder: To examine Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other brain diseases.

Why PET SCAN is important in the treatment of cancer?

Early detection: Cancer is known in the initial stage itself.
Accurate Staging: It tells how much cancer is spread and which organs are affected.
Monitoring of treatment: Doctors can see whether the therapy being given is working or not.
Detection of relaxes: If the cancer comes back, it is also known soon.

What precautions should be taken during PET SCAN?

1. The patient should not eat food till a few hours before the test.
2. There are special guidelines for diabetes patients, which should be confirmed before the doctor.
3. Pregnant women should consult a doctor before conducting this test.

Price and availability of pet scan

The price of PET SCAN may vary according to hospital and location. Usually this test can be between 15,000 and 30,000 rupees. However, it can also be done cheaply under many government hospitals and schemes. Pet scan is an effective way to detect cancer and other serious diseases. It not only helps doctors in identifying the disease but also plays an important role in determining the right treatment. If someone is having problems such as unusual lumps, sudden weight loss or having a symptom for a long time, then it would be prudent to get this test done by consulting a doctor.