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‘Nuclear medicine tech
explains new tools

by Betty Barton

By late August or early Septem-

ber Mills Memoriat Hospital will

have a nuclear medicine unit, says
Susan Winther, a nuclear medicine
technician.

Winther explains nuclear niedic-

ine: "We're x-rays in reverse." The
diagnostic imaging is done by in-
jecting a trace amount of radioac-
tivity into the blood stream to look
at the functions of the organs,
including bones, liver, kidneys,
heart and brain. The radioactivity
used is equal to or less than that
used in x-rays. Winther says diag-
nostic imaging is half-way between
radiology and lab work.

With the nuclear medicine capa-
bilities cancer diagnostic work can
be done as well. By this means,
changes in bone function can be
seen five to seven months prior to
the time when an x-ray would pick
it up — any growth or irritation
shows up sooner through nuclear
medicine techniques.

At the present time, patients have
to travel to Prince George or
Vancouver for testing. Or they
could wait for one of two mobile
units in the province - one based

-in Fort St. John and the other at

Roya! Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.
When the local unit is operational,
Susan will do the actual tesls and
the images will be read in
Vancouver.

Dr. R. Morrison, a nuclear phys-
ician at Shaughnessy Hospital, will
be able to give a same-day verbal
report of his findings. Susan

assures area residents that "every-
thing will be safely transported by

air. I. know péople are leery

because it’s an unknown, but it is
very safe." The radioactive

‘materials will be stored in a lead -
" storage room at the hospital. There
will be two labs - a “hot lab" for |

drawing dosages and: preparation
of patient kits, and a "cold lab" for
blood work.

Initially Winther will work alone

and see five to six patients in an
eight-hour day. They will soon be
thinking about hiring another tech-
nician and extend the working
hours to accommodate more
patients and people working shifts.

Winther, originally from Port

Alberni, has lived with her -hus-

band in Prince Rupert forthe past
two years. There, she worked as a
certified ultrasound technician. She
has a diploma in nuclear medicine
from BCIT. She recently moved to
Terrace to start the process of
introducing the nuclear medicine
clinic to the community, setting
minds at ease, doing public infor-
mation sessions and making up the
manuals for the hospital staff.

She says it’s exciting coming in
right at the beginning and being
part of the initiation process. She’s
eager to talk to patients, students
and the general public about the
capabilities of nuclear medicine.
Susan Winther adds, "Between us
(nuclear medicine), lab, x-ray,
ulirasound and CT scanner work-
ing together, you’ve got it made
here - a really good diagnostic
team!"

" NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION WEEK « JUNE 3—9, 1990

I (0 marks the introduction of a
new Transportation Plan

for British Columbia, a plan that brings all

of B.C’s transportation agencies together

with the goal of moving people and goods

quickly and efficiently.

Now, during National Transportation
Week, we can look on some of the recent «
achievements In aur trarisportation
industry. in May, B.C. Ferries demonstrated
their on-going commitment to improved
service with the introduction of The
Mid-Island Express, a new route linking
Nanaimo on Vancouver Island with
"Fawwassen in the Lower Mainland, Plans
are also underway for the building of four
new stilps and additional terminal upgrades
that will keep our ferry fluct in step with
growing demand.

with Peachland,

The Ministry of Transportation und
Highways is also hard at work on hundreds
of new projects including the Vancouver
Island Highway Project, the Cassiar
Connector Project in Vancouver and the.
Okanagan Connector Project, linking Merritt

_ ‘Together with B.C, Ferries, B.C. Transit,
and B.C. Rail, we will continue to explore
efficient and innovative ways of providing
the “freedom to move.” And together, we
salute the thousands af men and women in
British Columbia's transportatlon industry
who ultimately make it all happen.

FREEDOM Provinceot’

Ss British Cotumbla

MOVE we rigrweye fe eaton

Hon. Rita Johnston, Minlater

Terrace Review — Wednesday, June 6, 1990 A9

1989 T-Bird Supercoupe

— like new, 2400 km, CD player, bra and car
cover

Terrace Totem Ford

SPRING SALE
Used Cars and Trucks

1989 Bronco Il,

blue — standard, 22,500 km

1985 Pontiac Grand Am

— automatic, stereo

1986 Aerostar,

red, — 7-passenger, cruise control, 97,000
km

1987 Nissan Multi

— 4x4, automatic, air cond., crusie control

7.

1987 Chev $10 pickup,

‘. jblood red — one owner, like new, automatic,
456,000 km

1987 Nissan King Cab,

blue — 2-wheel drive, stereo, 80,000 km

1985 Pontiac Sunbird,

red — 5-speed, perfect sports car for the} -
graduate ~

1986 Sable GS,

car

TERRACE DL #5548

red — automatic, 88,000 km, perfect family;

“oTEM FORD

4631 KEITH AVENUE, TERRACE, B.C. 635-4984

$7,495

1986 Ford E350,

"| grey — 15-passenger van, 1- ‘ton, automatic,
perfect for the sports team ‘

LINCOLN |

Ls CALL TOLL FREE - 1-800-772-1128