Radiation Therapy Research Paper

Radioactivity or radiation therapy uses high energy rays or radioactive substances to damage tumor cells or halt their growth, it has been used alone or along with other treatments as an effective tool for treating cancers for over one hundred years, It is estimated that about two-thirds of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy as a stand alone treatment or as part of a more comprehensive treatment protocol.

Before Ionizing particle beams, few options for both benign or malignant diseases were available. X-Rays discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Rцntgen quickly changed that. Before it was know how x-rays worked fully they were actually used by Wilhelm Conrad Rцntgen to treat a woman's breast cancer just a year after their discovery.

By the first years of the 1900's, an increased number of studies reported the use of X-rays and radium in medicine. Skin cancers were the most frequently treated, probably because of the low penetration of the tissue by the radiation.

New isotopes, types of rays and types of techniques were discovered, however it wasn't until the 1920's that doctors understood that the administration of one large dose into several smaller ones was better regarding overall cancer control and side effects.

Another important scientific progress was achieved in 1928 when the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) was created to address the question of radioprotection .

The Ionizing chamber was introduced in 1932, allowing doctors to measure how much radiation was delivered for each dose. From then until 1950 was continued scientific progress to treat patients with deep cancers, this was known as the Orthovoltage Era and characterized by the use of Radioactivity or radiation therapy uses high energy rays or radioactive substances to damage tumor cells or halt their growth, it has been used alone or along with other treatments as an effective tool for treating cancers for over one hundred years, It is estimated that about two-thirds of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy

X-Rays discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Rцntgen quickly changed that. Before it was know how x-rays worked fully they were actually used by Wilhelm Conrad Rцntgen to treat a woman's breast cancer just a year after their discovery.

In 1898, Maria Sklodowska-Curie and her husband Pierre Curie discovered radium as a source of radiation, 3 years later Maria Sklodowska- Curie reported on the physiologic effects of radium rays. By the first years of the 1900's, an increased number of studies reported the use of X-rays and radium in medicine. Skin cancers were the most frequently treated, probably because of the low penetration of the tissue by the radiation.

New isotopes, types of rays and types of techniques were discovered, however it wan't umtil the 1920's that doctors undertood that the administration of one large dose into several smaller ones was better regarding overall cancer control and side