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If intense exposure to xray or gamma radiation is so dangerous why do doctors use it to destroy cancerous tumors?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
The basic idea behind radiation therapy is very simple; destroy the cancer cells. Gamma Rays and Beta Rays (electrons) are very good at killing cells by tearing apart the molecules that make up the cell. Just like shooting someone with a bullet, but on a much smaller scale. The problem is that radiation also kills good cells so you just can't radiate the whole body. The radiation beam has to be aimed at the cancer and the dosage as small as possible.
---- Also there's a limit to how fast you can kill the tumour with radiation. The lysis products of even a small tumour can make you very ill if the concentration in your bloodstream becomes high.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIn the correct doses and with the correct precautions (such as lead vests that protect vital and reproductive organs), the benefits of treating the cancer outweigh the risks of exposure. Doctors must be careful to minimize exposure of healthy tissue, and they try to have the shortest treatment time possible that is still effective.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoGamma rays are frequently used in radiation therapy because they have very high energy. The energy is so high that we denote gamma rays as a type of ionizing radiation, and ionizing radiation can damage living tissue.
We see gamma rays used to treat different forms of cancer because those gamma rays can kill cancer cells. Healthy cells are also damaged, but health physicists and physicians perform a cost-benefit analysis before radiation therapy is prescribed.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoRadiation can, sometimes, cure cancer. Perhaps kill off cancerous cells is a better description.
It does not always work for a variety of reasons, some of which we do not understand.
Radiation kills the cancer cells but it also kills healthy cells too, so great care is needed before and when it is used.
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoBecause cancer cells are growing and dividing quickly while most other cells in the body are not.
Wiki User
∙ 16y agobecause radiation is the best tool to remove it, but not without killing some healthy ones.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe high energy emissions may be intercepted by the highly vulnerable Dna, and Mutations will then occur. These mutations will then inhibit normal cell functions in numerous ways.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agobecause it slows it down like with cancer
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What is bad radiation?
Radiation is bad for us because most of the types of electromagnetic radiations are high in energy. This high energy waves can cause damage to our cells. Prolonged exposure to gamma rays can be bad for health.
Why is breathing or swallowing a small amount of uranium compound fatal?
Because Alhpa radiation is by far most dangerous radiation, but it is very easily stopped be few cm of air or by a piece of paper. However if one swallows (or breathes in) a source of Alhpa radiation (uranium for example) it will do damage cells DNA beyond repair. The reason why alpha radiation is so much more dangerous than Betta and Gamma is because it's particles relatively large and able to destroy both of the DNA stands simultaneously.
Why does CO2 destroy the atmosphere?
It doesn't really "destroy the atmosphere", Carbon Dioxide traps solar radiation, if there is too much solar radiation being trapped, then the earth becomes much hotter, hence global warming.
What happens when you inhale uranium?
Deposits of uranium or uranium compounds in the lungs are very dangerous due to alpha particle radiation. The lung cancer is a long term effect.
How does the weather affect the world?
It depends on what weather! If you talking about hurricane then it destroy places like houses and its dangerous to human being!
Can radiation treat breast cancer?
Radiation therapy, when given in cancer, burns tumor cells as well as surrounding cells so that any harboring cancerous cells will be destroyed. But this is quite a painful process with many side effects, and nothing less life threatening than cancer justify its use. If its given in non cancerous tumors, it will destroy it. But its needless to use it in non cancerous conditions where surgery could do the work for you and with a lot less side effects. Use of radiation in non cancerous tumors is like using an atom bomb in place of a dynamite.
Can radiation kill pancreatic cancer?
When ionising radiation interacts with living cells is usually kills these cells. Thus yes, radiation can kill pancreatic cells that are cancerous. However the radiation will also destroy healthy cells (and destroy the pancreas) so the amount of radiation given has to be low and well targeted. This is difficult to achieve and if any cancerous cells remain alive they will regrow the cancer.
Why the Van Allen belts are hazardous to astronauts and satellites?
The Van Allen Belts are full of dangerous cosmic radiation. Radiation is harmful to humans and has a tendency to destroy electronic gear.
What is bad radiation?
Radiation is bad for us because most of the types of electromagnetic radiations are high in energy. This high energy waves can cause damage to our cells. Prolonged exposure to gamma rays can be bad for health.
Why is breathing uranium compound dangerous?
The alpha radiation of uranium and radon (evolved from uranium) can destroy the pulmonary alveoli inducing a lung cancer.
What does radiotherapy cure?
Cancer; it uses radioactivity to destroy the cancerous cells.
What type of cancer treatment uses X-rays to kill destroy or shrink cancer cells?
The type of cancer treatment that uses X-rays to kill, destroy, or shrink cancer cells is called radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy. In radiation therapy, high-energy X-rays are directed at the cancerous tumor or affected area to damage the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally or internally: External beam radiation therapy (EBRT): This involves directing radiation from outside the body toward the tumor. It is a non-invasive procedure and is one of the most common forms of radiation therapy. Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy): In this approach, radioactive material is placed directly inside or near the tumor site. This allows for a higher dose of radiation to be delivered to the cancerous cells while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. Radiation therapy can be used as a primary treatment for cancer, as part of a multimodal treatment approach (such as in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy), or to alleviate symptoms in advanced or metastatic cancer. The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Treatment planning is highly individualized, taking into account factors such as the type and stage of cancer, the location and size of the tumor, and the overall health of the patient.
What are the two types of cancer?
Malignantis cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.Benign is not cancerous. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body.
What part of the atmosphere protects life from radiation?
Radiation can destroy life. Ozone protects from it.
What are some dangers of gamma?
Gamma rays are ionizing radiations and cause almost similar damage like all other ionizing radiationsBut alpha and beta radiations are less penetrating and cause damages like burning of skinwhereas gamma radiations and neutrons are more penetrating and cause diffuse damage to the body and could cause cancer to a high extentAnswer 2: Radiation Biology is dedicated on the subject. Gamma rays can kill cancer cells. That is why the treatment called Radiotherapy is employed in Hospitals to destroy cancerous tissues. Body can tolerate exposure to ionizing radiation, if the exposure is not in excess. If exposure exceeds certain prescribed limits, then the exposed parts of the body show temporary damage, but if exposed to high levels then the exposed part of body would be permanent damaged. Chromosme aberations also are noticed at high levels of exposure.
Contributions of chemistry to the society?
medical scanners. The development of medical scanners and radiation therapy was made possible through the application of knowledge of the inner structure and behavior of atoms.Other than by surgery or in combination with chemotherapy (drugs), cancerous tissues can also be eliminated using radiation therapy. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are based on the fact that certain chemicals and high intensity radiation easily destroy rapidly dividing cells (like cancer cells).-Ma.Eve21
How long do lunar rovers on the moon last for?
They may last for hundreds or thousands of years. Without weather or atmosphere the only two forces that can destroy them are very long term exposure to solar radiation or meteor impact.
