Philosophy of Cancer Theranostics.

ABSTRACT

Imagine a theranostic nuclear physician oncologist engaged in a Socratic philosophic dialogue. Questions that may be posed include the status of our current knowledge base of radiomolecular tumor biology, the meaning of precision in personalized dosimetry, the nature of responsibility for direct patient care, and the moral and ethical dimensions of individual quality of life (QOL) when survival is prolonged. This review invites reflective enquiry into one's personal practice of theranostics in cancer care, with the objective of optimizing clinical outcomes, not only in terms of prolonged survival but also individual QOL, in respect of its meaning for each patient, both physically and emotionally.