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Focussed bursts of gamma rays are used in radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. (From Science8 book Mcgraw-Hill Ryerson text book-page 160)
AnswerThe type of radiation used depends on the type of cancer and the type of treatment prescribed.Gamma rays are best for deep-seated cancers, where the radiation is directed from a source outside the body. Gamma rays can pass through a good deal of tissue before being absorbed.
Sometimes, a particular trace element is absorbed by just one organ in the body - for example, iodine is specific to the thyroid gland. So, radioactive iodine can be ingested in food as a radiation source to treat thyroid cancers, because the radiation will not affect other organs in the body. In this case, short-range alpha radiation is used. Alpha rays are actually high energy particles, rather than electromagnetic radiation.
AnswerIt is inoizing radiation that is used to kill cancer cells, and it comes in two "flavors" for our use. One is electromagnetic, like X-rays or gamma rays. The other is particulate, like high energy neutrons, protons and electrons (to name some). The former is broadly applied to treating cancer, and there are a number of approaches as discussed above. We don't use particulate radiation - or at least we didn't, other than alpha particles. Remember that alpha particles don't have much penetration power. A sheet of paper will stop them, and an alpha source must be implanted right on top of a cancerous body to provide effective therapy.The proton is being used now in radiation treatment. It has pretty good penetration power, and it has this very "friendly" plot of its ability to go through tissue. In looking at a beam of protons in proton therapy, protons penetrate outer layers easily, and do some damage. The farther they penetrate, the more damage they do, and the damage increases dramatically. Then it peaks quickly (the so-called Bragg peak) and drops like a rock. There is a very strict limit on the "range" of the particle stream as far as what gets damaged. The beam won't "go through you" like an X-ray or gamma ray. Recall that the difference between those two forms of electromagnetic radiation is that the latter have higher energies and greater power to penetrate tissue.
Note that ionizing radiation doesn't kill every cell it passes through, but it does more damage and is more lethal to cells with "high rates of function" than other cells. That means cells that are "really active" like cancer cells (or cells of the digestive tract, the bone marrow and the hair folicles to name a few) take the most damage.
What else can I help you with?
Good things about radiation?
Chemo radiation kill cancer cells.
What is radiation treatments?
Radiation treatments use high-energy beams to target and kill cancer cells. The goal is to damage the DNA of the cancer cells to prevent them from growing and spreading. Radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy.
Does radiation kill cancer cells?
Yes, radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA within cancer cells, which prevents them from dividing and growing. This ultimately leads to the death of the cancer cells.
How does samarium help kill cancer cells?
Samarium doesn't kill cancer cells. A radioactive isotope of samarium (samarium-153) is used in a chemotherapy agent, but it's the radiation, not the samarium, that kills the cancer cells.
What type of electromagnetic waves can be used to kill cancer?
Ionizing radiation, such as X-rays and gamma rays, are used in radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. These high-energy electromagnetic waves can damage the DNA within cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and growing.
What are Radiation sensitizers?
Radiation sensitizers are substances that increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation therapy, making the treatment more effective. They can enhance the damaging effects of radiation on cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy cells, ultimately improving the overall outcome of radiation therapy for cancer patients.
What therapies are used to treat vulvar cancer?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation from x rays and gamma rays to kill the cancer cells.
Radiation most likely destroys cancer cells by inducing a process called?
Radiation destroys cancer cells by inducing a process called treatment planning. Treatment planning is essential, because radiation can damage normal cells as well as cancer cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
How does radiation treat colorectal cancer?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other sources of radiation to destroy cancer cells in the affected area. In the case of colorectal cancer, radiation therapy may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor, after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells, or to relieve symptoms in advanced cases.
How can pills for radiation be used effectively in cancer treatment?
Pills for radiation, also known as radiopharmaceuticals, can be used effectively in cancer treatment by delivering targeted radiation directly to cancer cells. This helps to destroy the cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The pills are typically taken orally and travel through the bloodstream to reach the cancer cells, where they release radiation to kill the cancer cells. This targeted approach can help improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects compared to traditional radiation therapy.
How can gamma rays can cause and treat cancer?
Gamma rays can cause cancer by damaging the DNA within cells, leading to uncontrolled growth. In cancer treatment, gamma rays are used in radiation therapy to target and kill cancer cells. The high-energy radiation helps to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Why exposure to radioactivity is used as a therapy to treat some kinds of cancer?
Radiation has the capacity to kill cells, both cancer cells and normal cells, but cancer cells are less healthy than normal cells, and they are more easily killed, so radiation can kill cancer cells while not killing the patient (although the patient will suffer side effects). Doctors are always looking for what is known as the "magic bullet" which is something that kills only cancer cells but does not harm normal cells; so far we have not found it. If we do invent a magic bullet, than radiation treatments will no longer be used.
