Who founded radiation therapy?

In 1898, Maria Sklodowska-Curie and her husband Pierre Curie discovered the radium as a source of radiations. Only three years later, Becquerel and Curie reported on the physiologic effects of radium rays [4].

When was radiation therapy invented?

The use of ionizing radiation for the treatment of cancer dates back to the late 19th century, remarkably soon after Roentgen described X-rays in 1895 and the use of brachytherapy after Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium in 1898.

How did radiation therapy start?

Radiotherapy has its origins in the aftermath of the discovery of x-rays in 1895 and of radioactivity in 1896. Through scientific discoveries, trial and error, and technology advances, standardised approaches in external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy were developed.

What was radiation first used for?

Within months, systems were being devised to use x-rays for diagnosis, and within 3 years radiation was used in to treat cancer. In 1901 Roentgen received the first Nobel Prize awarded in physics. Radiation therapy began with radium and with relatively low-voltage diagnostic machines.

What causes a radioactive glow?

The blue glow is given off by the water when charged particles, such as electrons, are emitted from the radioactive material at very high speeds. The water slows the charged particles down by absorbing some of their energy and the water then gives off this energy in the form of light.

Do you lose hair with radiation?

Radiation therapy can cause hair to be thinned or lost in the area being treated. For instance, radiation to your head may cause you to lose some or all the hair on your head (even eyebrows and lashes), but if you get treatment to your hip, you won’t lose the hair on your head.

What are the pros and cons of radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy can also cause problems with tissues, glands or organs near the site of the treatment. Long-term side effects can include the growth of scar tissue, infertility and damage to other areas the body, depending on the location of the radiation treatment.

What is radiation therapy and how is it used?

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to damage cancer cells’ DNA and destroy their ability to divide and grow . It may be delivered using machines called linear accelerators or via radioactive sources placed inside the patient on a temporary or permanent basis. Radiation therapy may be used to cure cancer, to relieve a cancer patient’s pain or alleviate other symptoms.

How long does it take to recover from radiation treatment?

The general effects of radiation therapy like fatigue, nausea, and headaches resolve fairly quickly after treatment. Your body just needs time to process the radiation but can recover within a few weeks.

How effective is radiation therapy?

For some cancers that are too advanced to be cured, radiation therapy is very effective for pain and other problems caused by cancer, such as bleeding from the lung or bladder. For example, pain in the bones from the spread of cancer can be improved significantly or be completely removed in around 75% of patients.