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X-ray study and radiation oncology were born
- Roentgen observed a new kind of ray which was x-ray, that could penetrate through black cardboard.
- First therapeutic used of x-rays in cancer quickly followed the first explore.
- Earliest treatments were for Eczema and Lupus.
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More cancers got treated by radiation
- Gastric carcinoma first time benefited from radiotherapy.
- Skin cancers got treated successfully.
- A malignant sarcoma of the abdomen.
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Radium element had been used
- Becquerel (physics professor) experienced a severe skin burn because of carrying a tube of radium in his pocket for 14 days.
- Radium had been used to treat Pharyngeal carcinoma
- Radium acted as a "wonder drug" and was applied into many medical products.
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Fractionated radiotherapy
- Large exposures of x-ray to close proximity of tumors were found that were not useful for the treatment and brought tissue damage
- Claudius Regaud found that without burning to the skin, if 3 x-ray doses divided into 15 days apart, that would lead to better result.
- Continuous low-dose rate radium treatments were born.
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1930-1950: Orthovoltage Era
- Advances in brachytherapy and super voltage x-ray treatment
- Brachytherapy: radium-based interstitial radiation to specifically target tumors while limiting exposure delivered to surrounding normal tissues.
- Super voltage x-ray: 50 kV to 200 kV energy delivered to deep tumors.
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Protracted, fractionated treatment got more common
- 23% cure rate in the head and neck cancer treatment
- 1935, hospitals started to follow this treatment of Henri Coutard
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X-ray machine obtained
- 1 million voltage x-ray machine was obtained
- Delivered focused beams of radiation to deep tumors inside the body
- 1939, modern radiation facilities were opened
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1950-1980: Megavoltage Era
- Focused on more innovative radiotherapy devices
- Most notable discovery: the Cobalt teletherapy
- 6 megavoltage x-rays used to treat patients
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Proton beam therapy
- The treatment successfully applied to treat cancer but actually discovered in 1946
- A form of external radiotherapy using proton beam to treat cancer
- Better target radiation to the size and shape of tumor
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IMRT introduced
- Advanced process of radiation therapy used to treat malignant and nonmalignant diseases.
- Goal is to shape the radiation dose to avoid/reduce exposure to healthy tissue
- 1999, IMRT become more effective on many kinds of cancer treatments (breast, prostate, lungs, etc.)