Treatment area I131 and BQSV machine extracting the most modern radioactive material in Vietnam, was put into operation by K Hospital in the morning of November 21.

I131 is a radioactive drug, used in the treatment of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer who have had total thyroidectomy. The radiopharmaceutical treatment area allows patients to be treated in a closed protocol without the need to wait or transfer.

"Patients after surgery will be treated immediately with radioactive drug I131", Associate Professor Ngo Thanh Tung, director of the National Radiotherapy Center, said.

Mr. Tung said that thyroid cancer is considered the lightest cancer, up to 80-90% belongs to differentiation. About a week after surgery, the patient will be transferred to the Department of Nuclear Medicine for the doctor to examine, advise and perform some other indications such as blood tests ... assessing hypothyroidism, bilan before radioactive pharmaceutical treatment.

"This is a cancer that can be cured. Even some patients with lung metastases are still cured," Tung said.

Dr. Nguyen Tien Quang, Deputy Director of K Hospital, said that the BQSV machine operates automatically and semi-automatically by a computer system, with high accuracy. In addition to extraction I131 can be used to extract other radioactive substances in liquid form (FDG, Tc99MDP ...) with high safety, avoid radiation incidents, and safety for medical staff during sports. cooperation.

"Patient I131 treatment is covered by health insurance, minimizing costs while ensuring benefits and effectiveness of treatment", Dr. Quang said.

Associate Professor Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of Medical Administration, Ministry of Health, said cancer is not a terrible disease as many fear. If found early, most can be cured.

"There are many techniques for cancer treatment, including internal medicine, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, iodine, immunotherapy ... The Ministry of Health is assigning leading hospitals to transfer advanced technologies to cancer, "said Mr. Khue.

Every year, Vietnam has nearly 165,000 new cases of cancer, nearly 115,000 deaths and more than 300,000 people fighting the disease. "The I131 treatment area helps improve the ability and quality in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer-related diseases, helping patients access modern and advanced treatments in the world", Quang said.

Hospital K will also transfer this treatment technology to satellite hospitals.