The Importance of Radioactive Materials in the Medical Field

With events such as the Chernobyl nuclear station explosion, the Three Mile Island accident, or the more recent aftermath of earthquakes in Japan at the Fukushima station, it's normal that people are worried about the need for nuclear stations and production of radioactive materials. However, nuclear medicine, which specializes in the use of medical isotopes, small quantities of radioactive substances produced by nuclear materials, is essential to diagnosing and treating a variety of illnesses and diseases.

Diagnosis of Diseases

• Medical isotopes are used to identify a wide range of diseases and foreign tissues. With the help of special equipment, small quantities of radioactive materials are introduced into our bodies which are then tracked by imaging equipment. Early detection of diseases is facilitated with the use of medical isotopes imaging methods, which allow for more rapid and effective treatments. Another important advantage of the use of medical isotopes is that nuclear imaging techniques can identify disease tissues in both bone and soft tissue, which is not possible with traditional X-ray techniques.

Cancer Treatment

• Once a disease such as cancer is identified, radioactive materials may help treat it. In cancer treatments, the energy from the radioisotopes zaps the diseased cells to kill them, while preserving healthy tissues. Radioactive medical treatments can be delivered in a variety of ways, depending on the type of cancer and the concerned organs and tissues. In 2010 alone, more than 1.5 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, so it is easy to see how widespread the treatments may be.

Cardiovascular Disease

• Cancer is not the only disease that can be diagnosed and treated with radioactive materials. Cardiovascular diseases also benefit from the use of medical isotopes. Radioactive treatments are used to prevent the re-clogging of arteries when it is used in conjunction with angioplasty treatments. Similar to cancer cases, the number of individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease in the U.S. is astounding. According to the American Heart Association, approximately 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year, justifying once again the need for radioactive materials in medicine.

HIV

• In recent years, radiotherapy has been used to target HIV-infected cells and eliminate them. Use of radioactive materials in HIV treatment is not considered a cure yet, but so far, testing and research on mice have been positive, according to a newsletter published by the Baylor College of Medicine. The main concern about this approach is to know if the treatment would work on humans, and the possible side effects of radiotherapy on HIV-infected cells. Even with the unknowns, possible progression in finding a treatment for a pandemic disease is important to the advancement in medical sciences.