Oncology & Radiobiology

Medical science often comes with side effects, and it is necessary for doctors, researchers and other academics to continually weigh the benefits and risks of specific treatments. Such a cost-benefit analysis is common in cancer treatment, wherein doctors consider a wide variety of health factors for each individual patient when making treatment recommendations.

Oncology Overview

• Oncology refers to the field of cancer treatment; an oncology team may include doctors, surgeons, radiation specialists, nurses and rehabilitation therapists. Oncologists undergo rigorous education and training and must earn an M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degree prior to becoming licensed and completing a multiyear residency training. A doctor may then undergo additional training in a specific subspecialty. All of this is to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

Radiobiology Overview

• Dictionary.com defines radiobiology as "the study of the effects of radiation on living organisms" or "the use of radioactive tracers to study biological processes." This branch of science combines radiation physics and biology and focuses primarily on the cells of organisms. Radiobiology seeks to understand the impact of different types of radiology in different doses on different types of cells and organs.

Radiation and Cells

• The Physics Hypertext notes that "any radiation that can disrupt the normal chemistry of a cell is dangerous to living things." Damage from nuclear radiation begins by affecting a cell's DNA, which can make the cell feel out of control. Radiation can kill cells or cause the cell to grow and divide abnormally. Many different types of radiation exist. While any type of radiation is dangerous in large doses, the type of radiation really determines much of the risk. Microwaves, infrared light and visible light are "normally harmless," while ultraviolet light, x-rays and gamma rays are "generally dangerous."

Radiation Dosage

• Radiobiology looks at the absorption of radiation into living tissue, a measure known as the "absorbed dose." Determining an absorbed dose involves the type of cell impacted, the length of exposure time and the type of radiation used. Doctors and researchers can determine an expected absorbed dose in order to weigh pros and cons of a specific treatment, determine expected side effects or evaluate potential long-term effects.

  The shortest dosages may cause nausea and temporary sterility, while higher dosages can cause damage to bone marrow, cataracts, radiation sickness and death.

Cancer Research

• The studies of radiobiology and oncology cross paths at many organizations and educational facilities, including the Academic Clinical Oncology and Radiobiology Research Network (ACORRN). Such groups work to balance any medical risks with the related benefits. They conduct clinical trials, engage in ongoing research and help inform educational organizations on related course design. In some cases, they may provide tumor-specific or task-specific advice related to radiation.