Radiation Therapy

By ; Amber Stallings

History

• Emil Grubbe was the first person to use radiation to treat cancer

• Early radiation therapy used a single massive dose of radiation

• Scientist used the skin on their arms to test the radiation strength

• Towards the end of the 20th century computers made it easier to aim the radiation on the cancer

What is Radiation Therapy

• Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. This type of therapy can be delivered outside of the body by a machine or radioactive material can be placed inside of the body. Radiation therapy can also damage normal cells.

Pros of Radiation Therapy

• Destroys the cancerous cells • Shrinks many types of tumors• Stops the growth of cancer cells

Cons of Radiation Therapy

• Can damage/destroy normal cells• Side effects can happen after treatment• This therapy can harm an unborn fetus• Changes in skin can appear• Diarrhea can occur• Nausea and vomiting can also occur

Pictures

• http://images.lifescript.com/images/ebsco/images/AUhttp://images.lifescript.com/images/ebsco/images/AU00038.jpg00038.jpg

http://images.lifescript.com/images/ebsco/images/AU00038.jpg

External Radiation Therapy

Internal Radiation Therapy

Pictures• http://www.physio-pedia.com/images/9/9c/Internal-and-External-

Radiation-Therapy.png

http://www.fashion-era.com/images/Photosfam/veinsred.jpg

Internal Radiation Therapy

Effects

Pictures• http://mesotheliomacancer1.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/radiation-therapy-side-

effects.jpg

Effects

Sources

www.cancer.govwww.cancer.orgwww.royalmarsden.nhs.uk