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The radioisotopes are commonly used in radiation therapy, just for their radiations. They may also be used for the external radiation therapy but more commonly, they are used for the internal... |
The radioisotopes are commonly used in radiation therapy, just for their radiations. They may also be used for the external radiation therapy but more commonly, they are used for the internal radiation therapy. The radioisotopes for radiation therapy are the artificially prepared isotopes of the non-radioactive substances.
The radioisotopes for radiation therapy are the ones, which emit only the steady and desired amount of radiations. In addition to this, they should also fulfill a number of other conditions so that, they can be used for the radiation therapy.
One of the radioisotopes for radiation therapy used in the external radiation therapy is the cobalt-60. It emits radiations with sufficient amount of intensity. In addition to this there are also, some other radioisotopes for radiation therapy are used externally. However, more preferably, the linear accelerators are used for this purpose.
The wider application of radioisotopes for radiation therapy is in the internal radiotherapy. For this purpose the radioisotopes as the Cesium (137Cs), Cobalt (Co), Iodine (131I), phosphorus (32P), Gold (198Au), Iridium (192IR), Yttrium (90Y), and palladium (103) are used.
These radioisotopes for radiation therapy are implanted in the body of the patient right at a place next to the cancerous tumor. As they are radioactive, they emit the energetic radiations. When they are placed next to the tumor in the body, they continue emitting the radiations and these, radiations affect the cancerous cells. During the selection of the radioisotopes for radiation therapy, the various things as, the requirements for the therapy and safety of the nearby healthy tissues are taken into consideration.
The life of the radioisotopes for radiation therapy is generally short lived. They change into some stable isotope. This may be absorbed or it may be disposed out of the body. Alternatively, if they are among the substances that are generally required by the body, then they may be absorbed by the body as well.
The complete mechanism of radioisotopes for radiation therapy in the body is well known and therefore, while using them, the radiotherapists know about all the requirements, care measures, and the side effects, which though uncommon or very mild, may occur. They accordingly take all the precautions and therefore the use of the radioisotopes for radiation therapy in the internal radiation as well as external radiation therapy is a very useful and safe technique.