When was radiation therapy discovered?

Radiation therapy is a widely recognized cancer treatment that involves using radiation to kill off abnormal cells in the body. But did you ever stop and wonder when this fantastic discovery happened? Well, get ready for some unexpected revelations as we take a journey through time and unravel the history of radiation therapy.

The Pre-historic Origins

Before scientists could even conceive the potential of radiation therapy, our ancestors were already utilizing it. Beneath medieval hospitals in England, skeletal remains show bony growths related to excessive sunburning. This dogged exposure of skin was due to solarium buildings that used coal fires along with patients lying on roofs hoping for wellness from solar radiance—a thoroughly misguided notion since inhaling charcoal fumes only compounded lung conditions

X-rays and Their Discovery

The year 1895 marked a significant milestone in radiology when Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays accidentally while experimenting next door on cathode rays being emitted by an electrolytic cell he had built. He quickly realized the potential application which led him to win Nobel Prize within months after sharing his discoveries about these mysterious “X” rays.¹

Later Max von Laue determined how x-rays interacted with crystals leading Werner Heisenberg down an path towards quantum mechanics but if I go into that now there will be little space remaining for more intriguing information.

Radiation Treatment Comes Of Age

By 1902 John Hopkins Medical School establishes America’s first department of radiumtherapy[ ^2]. Then three years later Marie Curie gets her second nobel prize demonstrating its effectiveness against cancers like sarcoma,. In two-odd decades’ time , between approximately 1910 until nuclear bombs were dropped upon Hiroshima& Nagasaki WWII produced rapid advancement & global impact upon medical applications

Example table detailing advancements during WWI:

It is ironic that so many physicians that I’ve spoken with have attributed persistent cough, shortness of breath, lung cancer etc. solely to former cigarette smoking while ignoring historical asbestos exposure (remember when they put it in insulation?!).

Cobalt Therapy Takes The Stage

Until the early ‘50s x-rays were generated by electrically powered tubes until electro-mechanical devices such as Van de Graaff generators produced ionising electron beams This enabled researchers at institutions like UC-Berkeley laboratory led by Paracelsan Shoemaker further develop into Cobalt teletherapy machines; initially using Iron but upgrading use to radio-active isotopes/controls over time Furthermore experiments Ray Martin investigated the influence of stem cells on tissue after he observed reduced epithelial cells caused by incorrect irradiation/modelling how medical physics could predict proper lethal dosage-delivery limits.

Merely a few years later, the team went ahead and built their very first telecobalt unit which revolutionized radiation therapy. In fact UNIRC professor Salvatore Torrisi informs me production only ceased last year considering advancements^³ since ’97 & notably one result from McGill was much lowering adverse side effects upon correctly dosing intensity modulated format around tumors

Conclusion

In hindsight, we can see that those bony growths found in medieval hospitals wasn’t just sunburnt skin records.Tiny amounts of elemental radiance happen constantly due spontaneous atomic motion naturally surrounding us even if not positioned next doors to an experimental apparatus Jokes aside, the discovery of radiation therapy has been extraordinary and life-changing for millions of people. And while there are still controversies surrounding its use, we cannot deny that it undoubtedly has helped save many lives.

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Dane Raynor

Hey there, I’m Dane Raynor, and I’m all about sharing fascinating knowledge, news, and hot topics. I’m passionate about learning and have a knack for simplifying complex ideas. Let’s explore together!