1. Radioisotopes: Finding and Killing Cancer
By Maddie P, Rosie M, and Natasha A

2. What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a way to diagnose and treat diseases using radioactive substances11
One of its most common uses it diagnosing and treating cancer11
It allows doctors to detect problems within the body without having to do invasive surgery11
To diagnose, machines use properties of radioactive elements to create an image of the body11
to treat Cancer doctors uses radiation11
Maddie

3. What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells divide uncontrollably8
There are many different types of cancer8
In some types of cancer, the abnormal cells spread to other parts of the body8
Normal cells divide, and when a cell is old or damaged it dies8
In cancer, the mutated cells keep dividing instead of dying and they create a tumor8
Maddie, Natasha explain differences between benign and malignant

4. maddie

5. How Cancer is Detected
Doctors give a patient radioisotopes by injection, inhalation, or orally1
The radioisotopes will spread and gather in certain parts of the body2
By using PET, SPECT, gamma cameras, bone scanners, and other machines an image of the body can be created based on the properties of the radioactive element and where it is gathering in the body9
These machines sense the gamma rays(energy) which are being given off3

6. How Cancer is Detected
Doctors choose different isotopes depending of where they think the cancer is2
Some isotopes would not have an effect in certain parts of the body2
PET Scans
Natasha

7. Common Radioisotopes Used to Detect Cancer1
Type of Isotope
What type of Cancer it Detects
Technetium-99
Brain Tumors
Iodine-131
Thyroid Cancer
Phosphorus-32
Skin Cancer
Holmium-166
Liver Cancer
Gallium-68
Pancreatic Cancer
Rosie

8. Nuclear Decay Equations!
3215P S+0-1e
6831Ga Zn+0-1e

9. Treating Cancer
Once the cancer has been found it is treated using radiation3
The radiation damages the cancer cells when it gives of large amounts of energy4
Radiation is not harmful to the patient because
The radioisotopes used have a short half life, so the patient is not affected for very long5
It is minimally invasive11
Healthy cells are less affected by the radiation then the cancer cells are5
rosie

10. Treating Cancer
Radioisotopes damages rapidly dividing cancer cells because they are sensitive to and easily damaged by radiation3
rosie

11. Different Types of Radiation
Skin Cancer is treated using External Beam Radiation Therapy (Teletherapy) 10
This type of radiation uses low energy radiation and focuses it on the cancer10
The machines used areorthovoltage x-ray machines, Cobalt-60 machines, linear accelerators, proton beam machines, and neutron beam machines12
Cancers in the eye, head, neck, and uterus are treated using Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy)13
In Brachytherapy radiation is placed close to the cancer in a seed, wire, or rod13
This can be used with Teletherapy to give an extra boost of radiation to the large mass of cancer cells13

12. During Cancer Treatment
During treatment doctors use machines like gamma cameras to make sure the cancer is regressing
Radioactive tracers like Copper-64, Iodine-124, and Flourine-18 are used to trace the cancer
During these procedures the size and shape of the cancer can be determined
If the cancer is not regressing doctors know that they must try a different type of radiation

13. Disadvantages to Nuclear Medicine
Healthy cells that reproduce rapidly, like hair, can be killed during radiation. This causes hair to fall out5
It is very expensive7
The radioisotopes can be dangerous to handle and dispose of7
The procedures must be fast because the radioisotopes have a short half life7
Pregnant women can not be treated
Allergic reactions can occur7
Radiation can not treat all cancers because sometimes it needs to be combined with surgery or chemotherapy7
natasha

14. Common Radioisotopes in Treating Cancer1
Cancer Used to Treat
Techtinium-99
Liver disorders, brain tumors
Holomium-166
Liver Tumors
Iodine-131
Thyroid Cancer
rosie
Cesium-137, and Cobalt-60 are used to destroy other types of cancer

15. More Nuclear Decay Equations!
9943Tc Ru+0-1e
16667Ho Er+0-1e
13153I Xe+0-1ee

16. Bibliography
1Sterling, Toby. "European shortage of isotope used to detect cancer - International Business Times - ." International Business News | Online Business News - International Business Times. 8 Sep Oct
2Boyd, Rex. "Radioisotopes in Medicine." Radioisotopes in Medicine: WNA. 8 Oct <ihttp://
3Bergman, David L. "Radioisotopes: Frequently Asked Questions." RADIOCHEMISTRY SOCIETY - Specialized Courses in Radiochemistry. 31 Oct <
4"Radioactive Sealed Source Management | Radiation Protection | US EPA." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 8 Sep Oct. 2008
5Boyd, Rex. "Radioisotopes in Medicine." Radioisotopes in Medicine: WNA. 8 Oct <ihttp://
6Galik, Rich. "CCMR - Ask A Scientist!." Cornell Center for Materials Research. 21 Nov Oct <
7Commitee, (American College Of Radiology. "Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Scanning." Radioology Info. 16 Sep Oct <

17. More Bibliography
8Specialist, Nci. "What Is Cancer? - National Cancer Institute." Comprehensive Cancer Information - National Cancer Institute. 8 Apr Oct <
9Alteri, Rick. "ACS :: Cancer Facts & Figures 2008." American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms. 31 Oct < 10Publications, Nci. "Leukemia Home Page - National Cancer Institute." Comprehensive Cancer Information - National Cancer Institute. 30 Mar Oct <
11Freudenrich, Craig C. . "HowStuffWorks "How Nuclear Medicine Works"." HowStuffWorks - Learn How Everything Works!. 18 Oct Oct <
12Commitee, (American College Of Radiology. "Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Scanning." Radioology Info. 16 Sep Oct < 13Specialist, Nci. "Melanoma Home Page - National Cancer Institute." Comprehensive Cancer Information - National Cancer Institute. 31 Mar Oct < 14Usa, American Cancer Society. "Cancer Screening Overview - National Cancer Institute." Comprehensive Cancer Information - National Cancer Institute. 10 Apr Oct. 2008<