Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Malaysian men, yet many only discover it when it has already spread. A powerful new tool, the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT scan, combined with targeted nuclear medicine, is transforming diagnosis and treatment – and making help easier to find.
WORDS LIM TECK CHOON
 FEATURED EXPERTDR ANDIK FADILAH ABDUL AZIZ Consultant Nuclear Medicine Physician Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara |
Prostate cancer often grows quietly, without obvious symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage.
According to Dr Andik Fadilah Abdul Aziz, 3 out of 4 Malaysian men only find out when the disease is already advanced, often when it has spread to the bones or other organs.
This late diagnosis means treatment choices are limited and outcomes less positive.
Hence, Dr Andik Fadilah stresses that awareness is critical and families, especially wives and children, play an important role in urging men to seek timely care.
PROSTATE-SPECIFIC MEMBRANE ANTIGEN (PSMA) PET/CT SCAN
- Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a protein found in high amounts on prostate cancer cells.
- By injecting a small amount of a radioactive tracer that “locks” onto PSMA, doctors can see tumours as small as 3 millimeters, even in soft tissue or distant organs.
- Once the cancer is visible, it can be targeted with radioligand therapy (RLT), a treatment that delivers radiation directly to cancer cells while sparing most healthy tissue.
- Most patients tolerate the procedure well, and many can go home the same day.
| For more information, join Associate Professor Dr Tan Teik Hin as he sheds more insight on this innovative procedure. |
MyNuCLEaR MAKES IT EASIER TO FIND CARE
Access to these advanced scans and treatments is still limited, with only about 50 to 60 nuclear medicine specialists nationwide.
To bridge this gap, the Malaysian Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (MSNMMI) has launched Malaysia Nuclear Medicine Care Locator, Education and Resources (MyNuCLEaR), a free online directory to help patients and doctors find centres offering these services.
| Click here to visit MyNuCLEaR (link opens in a new tab). |
IN CONCLUSION
While radioligand therapy does not cure prostate cancer, Dr Andik Fadilah emphasizes that it can delay disease progression and significantly improve appetite, mobility, and energy levels.
“That makes a huge difference, not only to survival, but to quality of life,” she said.
| This article is part of our series on the latest innovations in cancer treatment. |
