RADIATION AND CANCER CELLSBy: Jack Urban

CANCER

One of the worst diseases

Various forms of it

Involves unregulated cell growth

RADIATION THERAPY

Uses high-energy radiation to: Shrink tumors Kill cancer cells

Types of radiation: X-Rays Gamma Rays Charged particles

HOW?

Outside the body from external beam radiation Inside the body from radioactive materials placed inside

the body

HOW DOES IT KILL?

Damages the cell’s DNA Can damage DNA directly Can create charged particles that damage the DNA Cells will then:

Stop dividing Die

HOW IT KILLS

Could take awhile to kill, like: Days Weeks Or even months

Certain tissues can be affected immediately Other tissues show later effects

THE BAD PART

Radiation also kills normal cells Pros:

Still kills cancer cells “Got to take the good with the bad”

Cons: Shortens life Less cells

MATERIALS

Computed Tomography Scanner Radiation Therapy Head Mask Linear Accelerator used for External-Beam Radiation

Therapy

RADIATION

Does the radiation make the patient radioactive? No Only radioactive when the patient has the radioactive

material in their body for the certain amount of time

SIDE EFFECTS

Diarrhea

Hair loss in treatment area

Mouth problems

Nausea and vomiting

SIDE EFFECTS

Sexual changes

Swelling

Trouble swallowing

Urinary or bladder problems

SOURCES

"About This Book." cancer.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http:/http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/radiation-therapy-and-you/page1>.

"Radiation Therapy Principles." cancer.org. N.p., 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http:/http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/radiation/radiationtherapyprinciples/radiation-therapy-principles-how-does-radiation-work>.

"Radiation Therapy for Cancer." cancer.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http:/http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopic