Will the RadScanner Model 500 detect any remaining radioactivity after medical radiation therapy ?
The medical profession is careful to choose radioactive isotopes that have short half-lives to minimize exposure. Radiation is used for two separate purposes — therapy and diagnostic testing. Externally applied radiation therapy often used for cancer therapy uses highly concentrated beams of energy from a nuclear isotope source or a particle beam generator. Every attempt is made to expose only the area being treated by moving a narrow concentrated beam in a constantly moving pattern. The motion of the beam crosses through the treatment area while dodging through the surrounding tissue. Once the treatment session is over, no nuclear radiation remains in the treated area. Internally applied needles with radioactive tips or tiny radioactive pellets are placed in the center of solid tumors are left in place only for the duration of the radiation treatment. The radioactive isotope is chosen so that the radiation remains mostly within the tumor avoiding damage to the surrounding tissue. Rad
