Using Radiation in Medicine

• What is radiotherapy used for?

  To treat cancer
• What are medical tracers used for?

  To detect problems inside the body
• How does ionizing radiation affect cells?

  It can damage cells by ionizing atoms
• What is the major problem caused by ionizing radiation?

  It can mutate our DNA
• What happens to cells that receive a large enough dose of radiation?

  They can be killed off completely
• What is radiation sickness?

  Illness from large doses of radiation
• What are common symptoms of radiation sickness?

  Vomiting, tiredness, and hair loss
• How can radiation be beneficial in medicine?

  It can destroy unwanted cells like cancer cells
• What is the process of using radiation to treat cancer called?

  Radiotherapy
• What are the two main methods of delivering radiation in radiotherapy?

  External and internal methods
• What type of radiation do external sources typically emit?

  Gamma rays
• How is radiation targeted in external radiotherapy?

  From different angles at the cancer site
• What type of radiation is usually used in internal radiotherapy?

  Beta radiation
• Why are beta rays used in internal radiotherapy?

  They are more damaging than gamma rays
• What is a downside of both external and internal radiotherapy?

  Healthy cells can also be damaged
• How do medical tracers work?

  They track the movement of radioactive isotopes
• How can radioactive isotopes be introduced into the body?

  By injection or swallowing
• What is the purpose of tracking radiation emitted by isotopes?

  To check if organs are working properly
• What isotope is used to check thyroid gland absorption?

  Iodine-123
• Why are gamma rays preferred for medical tracers?

  They are less harmful than alpha or beta
• What is the ideal half-life for isotopes used in medical tracers?

  As short as possible
• Why is it important to minimize radiation risk in medical tracers?

  To reduce harm while taking measurements
• What is a key consideration when using radiation in medicine?

  Weighing risks against benefits
• Why might some patients refuse radiotherapy?

  If it only extends life briefly
• What is the overall message about radiation in medicine?

  It can be useful but also harmful
• What are the side effects of radiotherapy?

  • Damage to healthy cells
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Hair loss
• What are the benefits of using medical tracers?

  • Diagnose diseases
  • Monitor organ function
  • Track movement of substances
• How do the uses of radiation in medicine compare?

  • Radiotherapy: treats cancer
  • Medical tracers: diagnose and monitor health
  • Both involve risks and benefits