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Chemistry Applications Essay

Radiation Therapy

When many people hear the word “radiation”, they often only associate it with the negative health effects that it causes. This is often the result of exposure to radiation; however, it can also be used as a form of therapy for those suffering from cancer. Cancer is a group of rapidly reproducing abnormal cells. This rapid growth can result in a mass of tissue called a tumor. There are two types of tumors, malignant and benign. The type of tumor that would require radiation therapy is called malignant. Benign tumors are often left untreated. This is because malignant tumors are detrimental to not only the healthy cells around it, but they also often travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream causing harm there. Benign tumors are not able to travel, therefore, do not cause as much harm. It is estimated that in 2012 about 1,638, 910 people were diagnosed with some form of cancer in the US. There is no guaranteed cure for cancer; however, some medical treatments have shown success in curing patients of the disease. One of these treatments is radiation therapy. The three main types of radiation used are X-rays, gamma rays, and charged particles. The radiation effectively kills the cells by destroying the DNA of the cell. The destruction of the DNA can happen by several means. One way that it can break the strand is by severing the bonds. This break usually happens in either the phosphodiester bond(a strong bond between two nucleotides, specifically between carbon and nitrogen) or the bond between the nucleotide base(Adenine, guanine, thymine, or cytosine) and the deoxyribose sugar. The radiation can also denature the DNA, ultimately causing the hydrogen bonds between the two backbones to break away from each other and separate. X-ray and gamma do this by targeting the nucleus of the hydrogen atoms, specifically the protons. Because hydrogen atoms are what hold the two strands of the DNA together, this destroys it. It can also affect the cells through the process of ionization. Ionization occurs when the rays of radiation removes the valence electrons of an atom, changing its chemical reactivity. This can be extremely destructive in the DNA of a cell. Overall, the main effects of the types of radiation is to destroy the DNA of a cell. Without the DNA, the cell is unable to replicate, thus stopping any further growth of the tumor. However, the rays can not be controlled enough to guarantee that it only affects one type of cell, so it may also damage the healthy cells in a person’s body, leaving them sick for long periods of time. In conclusion, the use of radiation to treat people affected by cancer is a possibility that has shown great success, but needs to be further researched and tested to help subdue the negative effects that it may cause.

works cited:

American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts &Figures 2012. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2012.

"How Radiation Affects Cells." - Radiation Effects Research Foundation. US-Japan Research Organization, 2007. Web. 04 Jan. 2013.