Medical uses of ionising radiation

How can radiation be used to help people medically?

Starter: What medical problems does ionising radiation cause and why?

QUESTION REVEALWill you get an easy or a hard one?10 seconds to answer:

Which is the most penetrating radiation?

Which radiation particle is 2 protons and 2 neutrons?

What is a beta particle?

What absorbs alpha radiation?:

What is the half life of a radioactive element?

What is an isotope?

Name 2 radioactive elements.

Name one radioactive gas.

Can you destroy radiation?

1 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

2

• Explain how ionising radiation could be used to treat cancer, sterilise surgical instruments, sterilise food, and as a tracer.

Learning Objectives

Use of Barium - tracer

John is your patient.

He’s pretty worried about having an enlarged thyroid gland.

Your job is to recommend John a treatment plan for dealing with his condition.

Task. • Go round the room to find information from

medical workers, to help you make a decision about the best course of treatment.

Treatment Options:

Read the information on these 4 treatments and decide which is the best course of action.

Chemotherapy• John had very nasty side

effects from the chemotherapy. He lost his hair and felt very ill.

• 3 years later John’s cancer came back. The next time he didn’t pull through.

Surgery

• John did not feel well after his surgery, but he soon recovered and all of the cancer was removed.

• John’s voice box was damaged and he has difficulty speaking because of his operation.

Radiation with gamma-rays

• John felt pretty sick, after the treatment. His throat was very sore, but at least the ice cream was soothing.

• John had to go back for several treatments and his cancer went into regression. He is still monitored regularly.

Radiation with Beta Particles

• John took Iodine tablets. He was not allowed to see his family and friends for a few days.

• The treatment cleared up John’s cancer, but he still has to be monitored just in case.

Task

Complete the DART exercise.

Radiation concept map

Radiation

Uses of radiation

Background radiation

Different types of radiation

Alpha

BetaGamma

Ionising

There are 3

Radiation concept map

Radiation

Uses of radiation

Background radiation

Different types of radiation

Alpha

BetaGamma

Ionising

There are 3