Ontario's medical community has "dodged the bullet," learning today that cancer treatments that depend on nuclear isotopes will be back to full strength by the end of the week.
The nuclear reactor in Chalk River, Ont. which produces the isotopes was shut down on Dec. 4 for scheduled maintenance, and wasn't restarted until Dec. 11 -- two days later than expected due to "unanticipated technical challenges."
The reactor, operated by Atomic Energy of Canada, produces half of the medical isotopes used around the world. The blip in production has put a major strain on the province's supply and there were fears that treatments would have to be put on hold.
But Dr. Christopher O'Brien, president of the Ontario Association of Nuclear Medicine, said he was told on Monday that the isotope supply will be back to full strength by Thursday and "dire" situation has been avoided.
O'Brien, who is also medical director of nuclear medicine at Brantford General Hospital, said his staff worked over the weekend to treat as many patients as possible before their isotope supply expired.
Because the staff worked through the weekend to reduce patient load this week, the clinic is able to handle the reduced supply, he said.
The isotope supply will return to full strength on Thursday.
"We are down to 50 per cent today, 40 per cent tomorrow and approximately 30 per cent capacity on Wednesday. Then on Thursday we will be back to full 100 per cent capacity," O'Brien told CTV.ca.
"If we weren't getting them Thursday or Friday we would be in dire straights, but because we are getting them this is a bump in the road we can handle without affecting patient care," he said.
The Chalk River facility, known as the National Research Universal reactor, underwent a controversial shutdown in 2007 over safety concerns, prompting a worldwide shortage of the radioisotopes.
The substance can be injected into patients to allow nuclear imaging equipment to produce scans of the body to help diagnose diseases such as cancer, heart disease and bone ailments.
Prior to that shutdown, the medical community had little or no warning that their supply was about to be shut off.
O'Brien said there was some warning this time around, and his clinic was able to prepare. However, the strain caused by the shutdowns shows the federal government needs a backup plan to ensure the isotope supply isn't cut off.
"That's a concern because the government doesn't have a long-term plan to replace Chalk River and you have a 51-year-old reactor that's going to need more and more maintenance."
O'Brien said the reactor has a review coming up with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and he hopes the facility passes, and that its operating license is renewed.
"We dodged the bullet is the best way to say it. Next time we may not be so lucky," he said.
