Luxor hospital opens Upper Egypt's first cyclotron unit for cancer care

The Shefaa Al-Orman Hospital in Luxor has inaugurated the first cyclotron unit in Upper Egypt, designed to produce short-lived radioisotopes used for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The facility is the third of its kind in Egypt and aims to provide advanced nuclear medicine services locally, reducing the need for patients to travel to Cairo for specialized scans and treatments.

By producing isotopes on-site, the unit supports PET-CT scanning technology, allowing for more precise tumor detection and faster treatment protocols. Officials noted that the project addresses the logistical challenge of transporting radioactive materials, which lose effectiveness quickly over long distances. The services provided by the unit will be available to patients at Shefaa Al-Orman and supporting medical centers in neighboring governorates, with many services offered free of charge to ensure healthcare accessibility.