• Gallium-68 DOTATATE

    A better image can save a life.

    First patients scanned with donor-funded, cancer-tracing technology.

Local access to the most advanced care and technology is always important. A global pandemic only compounds that.

ATLANTIC CANADA’S FIRST GALLIUM-68 DOTATATE TECHNOLOGY
Discovering the undetectable.

Once considered rare, neuroendocrine cancer is one of the fastest rising cancers worldwide. It can develop anywhere within the body and has a wide range of symptoms, including abdominal cramps, diarrhea, wheezing, pounding heart rate, skin rashes and more. This makes it one of the most difficult cancers to detect, but local access to gallium-68 DOTATATE will now help provide a solution and, for many patients, offer long-awaited answers.

The radioactive tracer, known as gallium-68 DOTATATE, is the world’s best method for detecting neuroendocrine cancer. When injected into a patient and combined with the advanced imaging capabilities of a PET-CT scan, even the smallest traces of cancer – that otherwise wouldn’t be detected – light up on screen.

It’s a game-changer for patients who, as of September 2021, finally have access to this critical diagnostic tool at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.

This milestone was made possible by 1,321 donors who, together, contributed $340,000 – fully funding the project.

Video: See donor-dollars at work when Sharon Needham became the sixth patient in Atlantic Canada to undergo a gallium-68 DOTATATE scan at the QEII.

 

 

Left to right: Sharon Needham(neuroendocrine cancer patient), Dr. Daniel Rayson and Dr. Steven Burrell in front of the donor-funded PET-CT.
Left to right: Sharon Needham (neuroendocrine cancer survivor), Dr. Daniel Rayson and Dr. Steven Burrell in front of the donor-funded PET-CT.

A more precise image can save a life

Best-in-class imaging, here at home.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and the comparison photo here is a testament to that.

Both images are PET-CT scans of the same neuroendocrine cancer patient. The one on the left uses the former detection methods available in our region, while the right scan uses the gallium-68 DOTATATE tracer. As you can see, the gallium-68 DOTATATE scan (right) is able to detect the neuroendocrine tumour sites with unparalleled accuracy. This accuracy means a targeted treatment plan can be immediately put in place to address the needs of the patient.

Gallium comparisno

 

 

Here are some of the key benefits of gallium-68 DOTATATE and the impact our donors are having at the QEII:


LOCAL ACCESS to a cancer imaging scan that patients in our region previously travelled to Quebec and beyond to receive. This is critical, especially in a pandemic.

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SLASHING TOTAL SCAN TIME FROM FOUR HOURS TO 20 MINUTES, reducing the time a patient must lay still, improving comfort and reducing radiation exposure.

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MORE ACCURATE SCANS MEAN FASTER ANSWERS and that patients receive the most targeted treatments and avoid additional tests, such as MRIs.

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OPENS DOORS TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT PROSTATE CANCER and other cancers as gallium-based PET-CT scans are increasingly being used.

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LESS TIME SPENT IN HOSPITAL by reducing scan appointments from three to one, when compared to the former method.

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NEW TREATMENTS AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES thanks to best-in-class imaging; this can provide a lifesaving option for patients.

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Meet some of our community fundraisers...

Darlene Pomroy 
Bring advanced cancer detection to Atlantic Canadians.
Sharon Needham
Bring best-in-class cancer detection to the QEII.
 

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Your impact
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