RADIATION THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER

Cancer is fast, uncontrolled division of cells.

Cancer cells
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Cancer cells differ structurally from normal cells.

Radiation therapy kills cells during mitosis(M).

Radiation therapy specifically harms cell DNA.

Ionizing radiation is used in cancer treatment.

The first major type of ionizing radiation used in therapy is photon radiation.

Photons come from radioactive elements such as cobalt and cesium, or from a linear accelerator.
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The second major type of radiation therapy uses particle radiation.

Electrons, alpha particles, and beta particles penetrate tissues to varying depths.

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Like photons, particle beams are produced by a linear accelerator

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Proton beams are also used but require special expensive equipment available at only a few centers.

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Brachytherapy, or internal radiotherapy, is also used to treat cancer.

Prostate cancer
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The future of internal radiation therapy is nanoshells.

Computer simulation of nanoshell with

silica core, gold layer, and antibodies.

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Radiation therapy is effective on early-stage tumors

but not on metastatic tumors.

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Radiations big disadvantage is damage to healthy cells.

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Conformal radiation therapy can help prevent this damage.

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Another problem is solid tumors resist radiation.

(Black is off tissue)

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QUIZ
Which of the two main types of radiation

is used in radiotherapy? What does radiation do to cancer cells? Which particle causes the least damage to healthy tissue during treatment? Which method seems the best to you?

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Works Cited
"Fact Sheet: Radiation Therapy for Cancer."

National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 30 Jun 2010. Web. 13 May 2011.
"Genitourinary Oncology Program Patient and

Family Education: Radiation Therapy." University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 20 Nov. 2009. Web. 16 May 2011.
Hager, Melissa. "Radiation in Medicine." Physics

is Everywhere, Especially in Medicine. Rockhurst University, 7 Apr. 2011. Web. 18 May 2011.
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 Killing Tumors with Nanotechnology. Nanotech News: The Next Wave. n.p. 14 Apr. 2008. Web. 17 May 2011.
"Precision Radiation therapy Yields Rare Success

for Liver Tumors." ScienceDaily. University of Rochester Medical Center, 24 Oct. 2005. Web. 15 May 2011.
"Pummeling Cancer with Protons." NYTimes. The

New York Times, 14 Dec. 2007. Web. 16 May 2011.

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 "Radiation Therapy and Principles." Cancer.org.

National Cancer Society, 20 Aug. 2010. Web. 16 May 2011.

"Radiation Therapy (External, Internal & Systemic Radiation), How It Works, Side Effects." Themesotheliomalibrary. Mesothelioma Treatment

Cancer Library, 5 Aug. 2008. Web. 13 May 2011.

"Solid Tumor Cells Not Killed by Radiation and

Chemotherapy Become Stronger." DukeHealth. Duke University Health System, 9 Jun. 2008. Web. 18 May 2011.
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