Radiocative!!!
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Originally Posted by JeremyH
Thanks for the info, I have not read much about equivalent dose delivered from radon as it isnt clinically used to treat cancer.
BTW, what do you do that you know so much about the transportation of radiation?
Sounds like you are more involved with radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Do you run accross lung cancer much such as mesothelioma?
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From: Houston, Texas
Nope, I cant say that I remember a single case of lung cancer caused by asbestos come through any of the clinics in which I have worked. Most of the lung cancer patients we see are small cell or non-small cell carcinoma which we treat with external radiation therapy (hard x-rays). Sometimes we see a few bronchial cancers which we will treat with internal radiation (high dose rate Ir-192 source through the nose).
Currently, the facility in which I work (where I am the RSO and Medical Physicist) treats only prostate cancer with external radiation. We are about to expand to partial breast irradiation and prostate with internal radiation (brachytherapy).
During most of my schooling and training, we simply discussed natural radon production. Nothing very detailed.
Most of the vendors who sell us radioactive materials are responsible for packing and shipping the sources....so my knowledge in that aspect is limited and used infrequently.
What are you guys using at your school and what is it used for??
Currently, the facility in which I work (where I am the RSO and Medical Physicist) treats only prostate cancer with external radiation. We are about to expand to partial breast irradiation and prostate with internal radiation (brachytherapy).
During most of my schooling and training, we simply discussed natural radon production. Nothing very detailed.
Most of the vendors who sell us radioactive materials are responsible for packing and shipping the sources....so my knowledge in that aspect is limited and used infrequently.
What are you guys using at your school and what is it used for??
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Well I'm not at liberty to publicly discuss what is used and what it is used for due to security reasons. All I can say is that it is typical of scientific research and nothing out of the ordinary but is still subject to strict regulations (both Federal and State)
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Not that it is private information, there are regulations that we follow. For our use, NRC mandates that the state program dictate what is allowable and thus we are licensed to do so. What I am saying is that I myself cannot address our use in a public forum. This is because I am not in a position to do so as per our policy. For example, if a news reporter would ask me to comment on a certain issue the only thing I could say is no comment. The public in general is not informed on the particulars of safety when it comes to radiation and the start of this particular thread is evident of how people can jump to a conclusion. My comments run the risk of being misunderstood by the general public so its best that specific information not be said. We do not keep anything from the NRC or the state licensing program. To be licensed is a very strict and detailed process as I am sure you are aware of.
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From: Houston, Texas
Yep, I have written quite a few licenses for many different radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. I knew your position. I was just saying that the NRC requires notification of certain RAM at specific activities and I am fairly certain that they make that info known.
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