Radiotherapy Flashcards
1
Q
What are photons?
A
wave like packets of energy
2
Q
What do photons do?
A
Deposit energy when they meet matter
Cause damage to DNA so kill cancer cells
3
Q
What do photons form?
A
- gamma rays emitted by radioactive decay
- xrays formed by interaction of electrons with nucelus
4
Q
What is the gray?
A
Unit of absorbed dose
5
Q
What does 1 gray mean?
A
Deposit of 1 joule of radiation energy in 1kg of matter/tissue
6
Q
What is the impact of 1 gray?
A
- > 1000 damage to DNA bases
- 1000 single stranded DNA breaks
- 40 double stranded breaks
7
Q
What are the types of radiotherapy techniques?
A
- photons
- electrons
- superficial x-rays
- brachytherapy
- radioactive treatments
- protons
