How does cobalt 60 therapt work?

Answer 1

The average life of this radionuclide is 5.27 years. The radiation is absorbed by the shieldof the head and not useful. What matters is radiation. This radiation has a mean energy of 1.25 MeV. The device itself consists of a radioactive source buried in a lead pipe that hasa side opening with a collimator adapted complex. When using the device, the radioactive source is moved laterally to coincide with the opening and there is where you passradiation. Security measures are designed to release radiation at any time while notcarrying out this treatment, then automatically, the radiation source is hidden in the lead pipe, for example, when you open the door of the room. Very schematically cobalt is as follows:

The biggest problem with cobalt is its half-life, because radiation loses energy and becomes useless in a relatively short period of time. This does not make radioactive cobalt lose their ability to produce harmful radiation, but does so useless in therapy. The need for spare parts and expensive (having to handle radioactive materials) is the major drawback

Answer 2

Cobalt-60 therapy works by using a radioactive form of cobalt, Cobalt-60, to deliver targeted radiation therapy to cancerous tumors. The high-energy gamma rays emitted by Cobalt-60 can destroy cancer cells by damaging their DNA, halting their ability to divide and grow. This helps shrink tumors and slow down cancer progression.