RADIO-THERAPY METHODS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26211, 7 September 1950, Page 3

RADIO-THERAPY METHODS

TREATMENT of SKIN CANCERS PROGRESS IN RELIEVING SUFFERERS e P r -t the Sdio-'i'hMapy ol o? C U anterb«y P bJanch last tv?ntag. tV New Zealand " x don ’t want to claim that w» al n ays so successful,” he said °y f ou S °S e ' “u^ 1 do wSI optimism Bo We Yh o^ h $ cure rate with skfn cancers !ur o a - V i anced “alfgnancy we can often offer less pain and longer expecta” tipn of life lor the sufferer " UnHl tiinaUon method was found a com? SffereS «o£ 81 ? gery an< s radio-therapy 2ases d hope of rtUef in serious Skin cancers were by far the most ment er °sald C n eS g omin B under treat? „ v d Dr - Campbell, who contoSubles 18 Th? a^ks , chiefly to these hibit th» simple aim was to exradiltinn area to sufficient radiation for the destruction of malignant cells, and yet leave healthv tis sue for regeneration. y and nlXt ?£ r s d l um need les. tubes, ana plates for different malignancies that ? a e H^ ribed ’ - Dr - Campbell said tuhoc ad « n l as ’ lsola ted in capillary radium ff iß»w ma S y adva ntages over raaium itself because preciselySl as , urad doses could be used and H’S ‘ubes bent to suit the case. A fafue of b th^ aS « r m Uy W ° rth on!y the of t ? e , gold container. The radon reached its r+u

about d^ rioration in effectiveness) in about three days and a half A radium needle was worth about £lO vear. tl i metre „ J . Radlum took about 2000 years to reach its “half-life.” Pattern applications of radiation were designed to concentrate full hSv» er n at ‘F e seat of i ro uble and yet «imn»» rmless results at the various simultaneous points of impact. Casts FI t,K ?, l y .? ra ?. were frequently made S knitting needles and wires ’ b F inserted to plan these path.l , An exterior mould, with apertures for the insertion of radium or A-ray ports, ensured exact duplication of successional treatments of Th il ye /;t atl ’ e X-ray therapy plants St,, ‘ be . Christchurch Hospital were !h« S, I at F d ' P r - Campbell emphasised the continual checking of radiations to safeguard patients, and the rigid precautions enforced for the protection of operators.