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RADIATION THERAPY IN THE

TREATMENT OF CANCER

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Cancer is fast, uncontrolled division of cells.

Cancer cells

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Cancer cells differ structurally from normal cells.

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Radiation therapy kills cells during mitosis(M).

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Radiation therapy specifically harms cell DNA.

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Ionizing radiation is used in

cancer treatment.

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The first major type of ionizing radiation used in

therapy is photon radiation.

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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.

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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.

Prostatecancer

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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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Radiation’s big disadvantage is damage to healthy cells.

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Conformal radiation therapycan 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.