LUCKNOW, March 18 -- Advances in nuclear medicine, particularly the use of PET (positron emission tomography) scan technology, are significantly improving the early and accurate detection of cancer, experts said at a workshop organised by the Uttar Pradesh chapter of nuclear medicine physicians at King George's Medical University (KGMU) on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Dr PK Pradhan, head of the department of nuclear medicine at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), said modern imaging techniques now allow doctors to precisely identify cancerous growths and determine the organs affected within a shorter time frame, stated a press release shared with the media. He noted that nuclear medicine has emerged as a crucial tool not only in diagnosis but also in cancer treatment. "With advanced radiotracers and PET scans, early detection has become more reliable, enabling clinicians to assess disease progression and plan targeted therapies," he said, adding that the technology has shown particular effectiveness in diagnosing prostate cancer, where conventional methods often fall short. Dr Prakash Singh from the nuclear medicine department at KGMU highlighted the growing role of targeted radionuclide therapy. He said the technique delivers radioactive substances directly to cancer cells, ensuring precision treatment while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues. The therapy has shown promising results in thyroid and prostate cancer cases, it stated. Dr Satyavati Deshwal, head of the department of nuclear medicine at Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS), said bone pain palliation therapy is proving effective in relieving cancer-related bone pain. She also underlined the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing imaging accuracy and improving diagnostic outcomes, it stated further. Meanwhile, the UP chapter of nuclear medicine physicians was formally constituted during the event, with Dr PK Pradhan elected as its president. A vaccination campaign against cervical cancer was launched at Dufferin Hospital on Tuesday, with hospital director, Dr Jyoti Malhotra inaugurating the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme. Under the initiative, HPV vaccines will be administered daily to girls aged 14 to 15 years between 8am and 2pm at the vaccination unit near the outpatient department (OPD)....