Understanding particle radiation technology

  Particle radiation technology starts with loading the highly lethal radioactive particles into the implantation gun with forceps and pushing it in with a propeller, and when it is used, the needle is placed inside the tumor through CT guidance, and ultrasound guidance is used to reach the desired location. After entering, the needle is removed and the sterilized particles are fixed on it, and then the particles are pushed into the tumor with a propeller.  What are the characteristics of particle radiation technology?  Firstly, it is very suitable for the shape of tumor, no matter what the tumor looks like or what shape it is, we can distribute the particles very evenly and three-dimensionally in the whole tumor, and take the most appropriate implantation method according to the different tumors, so that all tumors can get the radiation dose that should be the radical cure.  Secondly, it protects the surrounding healthy tissues. When external irradiation is applied, the radiation has to pass through the skin and reach the tumor through certain normal tissues. The normal tissues other than the tumor are still partially irradiated. In this way, no matter how many rays are involved, some normal tissues will be damaged. Now that we put the radiation source inside the tumor, it will not hurt the surrounding tissues.  Thirdly, the radiation source has a certain dose rate, the so-called dose rate, that is, how much radiation is emitted outward every hour, it is continuous, constantly stimulating malignant tumor cells, so that, continuous stimulation, so that the cancer cells have no ability to fight back, and finally the cancer cells have to be destroyed by him.  Is particle radiation therapy applicable to all tumors?  Almost all malignant solid tumors in the whole body are applicable. Before doing the treatment, we need to input the patient’s CT and MRI images into the computer, calculate a certain amount, and then determine how many particles need to be implanted and the activity of each particle, and after that, send them in one by one. For example, brain tumors can be done, thyroid tumors in the neck, parotid tumors, lung and esophageal cancers in the chest, and liver cancers, and some recurrent cancers after surgery. In addition, after surgery, a planar implantation can be done in the tumor bed and lymphoma area, or in the vicinity of larger blood vessels or important organs where residual is suspected, and this effect is also quite good.  Although the particles are good, but there is still the problem of radioactivity, how to prevent the harm of radiation?  To do a good job of radiation protection, the radiation exposure of the particles itself is very short. After the patient goes out, we still need to do a good job of prevention, the ward should be isolated, the second is not to take children home, especially breastfeeding women should be weaned, it is best to sleep alone. After the implantation of particles, doctors and nurses must explain to the patient the precautions for protection, and you should follow the explanation, which will not be harmful to you and your relatives.  The side effects of particle radiation technology?  One is the urethra, because the middle of the prostate is the urethra. If the particles are planted too close to the urethra, there will be narrowing of the urethra, making it difficult to urinate in the future, and the sequelae will be too serious. The third thing is that you should not plant the particles on the pericardium because there are nerves on the pericardium, and the nerves are responsible for the erection of the penis, if you mistakenly plant the particles on the pericardium and damage the erectile nerves, the patient will be impotent and sexually dysfunctional in the future. This is the only way to evaluate the quality of life for prostate cancer.  The most important thing is that the technology can improve the quality of life of the patients.  I am afraid not, if it is an early stage tumor, such treatment is possible, but if it is an advanced stage tumor, it is not possible to rely on the treatment alone, we now emphasize the comprehensive treatment for tumors, for example, in the past, the survival rate of surgery alone is 30% to 40%, the survival rate of radiotherapy alone is between 15% and 30%, and if chemotherapy alone is done 3-5%, the survival rate of prostate cancer will be higher. -For example, in the past, the survival rate of surgery alone was 30% to 40%, and the survival rate of radiotherapy alone was 15% to 30%.