Verified Document

History Of Radiation And Complications Term Paper

The skin round the roots of these become red, irritable and cracked, and the nails themselves thin and brittle. Most constant workers suffer in this way" (Guy). This is one reason early committees were formed to study the affects of X-rays. There were already reports of deaths from over-exposure to x-rays, which many researchers pooh-poohed. However, one researcher, Dr. John Hall-Edwards of England, suffered such dramatic results that both of his hands had to be amputated, one all the way to the forearm (Guy). After this, many operators began to use lead shields, aprons, and/or gloves, such are still in use today. As technology and understanding has improved, so has the safety of radiology. Another writer notes, "Today, a woman receives one-tenth the dose of radiation that was given just 20 years ago in a typical mammogram, with virtually no risk statistically" (Fishman). In fact, studies indicate that a patient receiving a typical X-ray at the dentist's office receives far less radiation than we are normally exposed to in nature over a year. Author Fishman continues, "According to Geise, the amount of man-made radiation to which the average American is exposed in one year, including medical care, is less than one-fifth the amount of natural radiation exposure" (Fishman). In addition, radiation treatments for cancers are now so precise that usually no other organs or tissues but the cancerous ones are affected by the treatment. Most patients who understand the risks of radiology also believe the benefits are worth the risks. Author Fishman notes, "Although risks increase with higher doses of radiation, the chance that radiation therapy will cure a certain type of cancer almost always outweighs the theoretical risk for the patient. Many cancer patients feel that, what ever risk there may be, the chance of being cured is worth it" (Fishman). There can still be many side affects of radiation, including hair loss, nausea, a general lack of energy, and many others, but the fact that so many people survive cancer after radiation therapy is a testament to the...

Thus, radiation treatment has become much more safe and effective for patients and practitioners, and new technologies that are continually being developed ensure even more safe radiological practices in the future of radiology.
Radiation safety is understood much more effectively than it was when Roentgen made his discovery. Unfortunately, many people had to die or become terribly disfigured for scientists to understand the true implications of the process on the health and safety of those who use it. Today, X-ray safety has evolved so that most people know the dangers of over-exposure and avoid it at all costs. X-ray and imaging machines have lead shields, exposure is kept to a minimum, and operators sit behind shields or wear shielded equipment. X-rays changed the face of medicine, and the safety concerns surrounding them are now understood and managed, so patients and operators are protected and assured they are safe from radiation poisoning.

In conclusion, the field of radiology has altered dramatically over the last one hundred years. In the future, many researchers believe 3-D imaging will become much more prevalent, and new ways of utilizing X-rays will continue to be discovered. The history of radiology is varied, and its discovery helped create a new way of practicing medicine and diagnosing illnesses. Radiology is still evolving, and the future of radiology is only limited by the limitations of those studying it themselves.

References

Assmus, Alexi. Early History of X-rays. Stanford University. 1995. 4 Sept. 2007. 10-24. http://www.slac.stanford.edu/pubs/beamline/25/2/25-2-assmus.pdf

Fishman, Elliot. "Radiology: The Second 100 Years." USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Jan. 1997: 84+.

Guy, Jean. "The X Factor in X-Rays." History Today Nov. 1995: 9+.

Stack, Martin, Myles Gartland, and Timothy Keane. "The Offshoring of Radiology: Myths and Realities." SAM Advanced…

Sources used in this document:
References

Assmus, Alexi. Early History of X-rays. Stanford University. 1995. 4 Sept. 2007. 10-24. http://www.slac.stanford.edu/pubs/beamline/25/2/25-2-assmus.pdf

Fishman, Elliot. "Radiology: The Second 100 Years." USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Jan. 1997: 84+.

Guy, Jean. "The X Factor in X-Rays." History Today Nov. 1995: 9+.

Stack, Martin, Myles Gartland, and Timothy Keane. "The Offshoring of Radiology: Myths and Realities." SAM Advanced Management Journal 72.1 (2007): 44+.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Radiation Oncology the Basics Radiation
Words: 852 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

This technique is not as effective as a primary method of treating cancer Side Effects of Radiotherapy Fatigue, changes to the skin, and loss of appetite are all common side effects of radiation treatments. For treatments in the head and neck region, saliva production is also often inhibited, exacerbating appetite issues Loss of appetite also contributes to fatigue, and doctors recommend eating small meals more frequently as well as taking frequent short

History of Radiology the Field
Words: 1338 Length: 5 Document Type: Thesis

[MSIT] the fact that X-rays are not used in MRI make it much safer for the patients as the radiation hazard is not there. Also, MRI provides greater contrast between the different tissues in comparison to a CT scanner offering more detailed anatomical review, better diagnostics, and improved interventional radiology. By adjusting the contrast mechanisms and other imaging parameters, the MRI allows the radiologist to obtain a highly detailed

Dealing With Side Effects of Treatment and Diagnosis: Approach to...
Words: 1816 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

Care of Cancer Cancer has overtaken HIV / AIDS and malaria to top the list of headaches for medical departments and policy makers alike. In 2012, cancer claimed a massive 8.2 million lives, with breast, colorectal, stomach, lung, and liver cancers accounting for more than three-quarters of these. Alcohol and tobacco use, lack of physical activity, low vegetable and fruit intake, and high body mass index have been found to

Occupational Health and Safety There
Words: 4258 Length: 14 Document Type: Term Paper

Combined with the human development index these studies showed that using parameters that affect the standards like education, longevity, and standard of living it is possible to predict the environmental health factors, and find the actual health indicators. (Corvalan; Briggs; Zielhuis, 2000, p. 159) The first problem is the distinguishing between health promotion and health education. Work place health actions tend to be concerned about disease prevention. So far it

Capital Purchase, Costing More Than 5,000, Which
Words: 2490 Length: 9 Document Type: Essay

capital purchase, costing more than $5,000, which your company could benefit from. Background of the technology The Da Vinci robot is one of the most recent innovations that I think would be extremely helpful for my organization. The robot, created only a few decades ago and invented in 1985 with the PUMA 560 for helping surgeons conduct neurosurgical biopsies, has all the signs of an instrument straight out from some science fiction

Cystic Fibrosis
Words: 1804 Length: 5 Document Type: Research Paper

Cystic Fibroids Cystic fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is a disease that can be passed down from one generation to the other. It affects secretary glands that produce mucus and sweat. The disease results after the fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that is found on chromosome 7 has undergone some sort of mutation. Mutation on chromosome 7 alters the production and function of CFTR glycoprotein (Scott, 2013). Studies have identified more than 1600

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now