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Irradiating Tumours

Key Stage 4

Meaning

The Irradiation of tumours is the exposure of tumours to ionising radiation.

About Irradiating Tumours

Cancer cells are more sensitive to ionising radiation than healthy cells so they can be targeted by a stream of ionising radiation to kill those cells.
One method to irradiate tumours is to place a pellet of radioactive material into the centre of a tumour. This pellet is encased in a protective layer (to prevent contamination) of other tissues. Once the pellet has destroyed the cancer cells it can be removed.
Another method is to send multiple beams of ionising radiation from different directions so that they all cross over at the same point in the body (the location of the tumour). Where the beams cross over there will be a very high intensity of ionising radiation which will destroy the tumour.