Final answer:
The physician should use imaging techniques such as PET imaging, fMRI, SPECT, or MRS to study the uptake of nutrients by cancer cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physician should use imaging techniques that can study the uptake of nutrients by rapidly multiplying cancer cells. One such technique is positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, which uses a radioactive tracer to detect the metabolic activity of cells. Cancer cells typically have higher metabolic activity than normal cells, so PET imaging can help identify areas of increased nutrient uptake. Another technique that can be used is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which measures changes in blood flow and oxygenation levels. Cancer cells may have altered blood flow patterns due to their rapid growth, so fMRI can provide insights into nutrient uptake. Lastly, molecular imaging techniques such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can also be used to study the metabolic activity of cancer cells.