The role of the nuclear medicine for cancer diagnosis and treatment was discussed in this paper. Nuclear medicine technique has much usefulness for cancer diagnostic situations, such as; (1) cancer screening (cancer detection), (2) differential diagnosis, (3) staging, (4) selection of treatment, (5) treatment planning for radiotherapy, (6) monitor of the treatment, (7) follow up after treatment. Nuclear medicine also play an important role in the treatment of the pain of bone metastasis employing unsealed sources. In the near future, Sr-89 may be commercially available in Japan.
It is convinced that nuclear medicine make much contribution to cancer patients for their diagnosis and treatment, especially radiotherapy.
