Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of radiation delivered through radiopharmaceutical or via an external source

Answer 1

Radiation can damage living tissue by changing cellular structure and damaging an organism's DNA. The amount of damage depends on a number of variables, including the type and quantity of radiation absorbed and its energy.

Because radiation damage is done at cellular level, the effect of minor or even moderate exposure may be difficult to detect, and often can be successfully repaired by the body. However, certain types of cells are more sensitive to radiation damage than others, and with greater exposures, cellular recovery might be less successful and turn cancerous. Radiation can kill cells outright, as well as damaging their DNA. This obviously creates a hazard, but also opportunities for medical intervention, if cellular death can be precisely targeted (e.g. in radiation therapy for cancer)

Radiation control is a concern both in the case adults and children. However, with regard to children and fetuses, three unique considerations apply, which must inform our actions:

• Children are considerably more sensitive to radiation, as demonstrated in numerous epidemiological studies of exposed populations.

• Children have a longer life expectancy than adults, resulting in a longer window of opportunity for radiation damage to be expressed.

• [Children may receive a higher dose of radiation than necessary, if equipment settings and dosages are not adjusted for their smaller body size

Targeted radiopharmaceuticals to have a larger role in cancer treatment.