Contents
Radiation is used to treat cancer, various types of installations are used for this:
- installations in which a radioactive beam is created using electricity (electronic)
- installations of the old type, in which a radioactive beam is created due to a radioactive substance. (cobalt was often used for this purpose).
And radioactive preparations are also used (for example, based on radioactive iodine), which are injected into the human body. These methods are also called radionuclide therapy.
How hospitals are set up to treat cancer with the help of radioactive installations and substances.
It should be understood that such procedures are carried out in specialized institutions (oncological centers), where there are specialized, constructive solutions to protect staff and visitors from the radiation used.
For example, the main sources of radiation are trying to be placed below ground level in order to minimize possible radiation coming out of the walls. The entrance to the installations for irradiating cancer tumors with radioactive radiation is made in the form of a so-called labyrinth. I.e. we do not have a straight corridor leading from room No. 1 in which, for example, people are changing clothes or carrying out other work to room No. 2 where the installation will work. The corridor is winding.
There are also direct crossings, but in this case large areas are allocated, and clear zoning is carried out so that working specialists know exactly where to be safe and where not. And also, so that the premises for permanent residence of people are not in the radiation exposure zone.
Facilities for radionuclide therapy
This type of premises has its own peculiarity, such premises are located in a separate wing. This is done because a complex of rooms is needed, located separately from rooms not related to radiation, for example:
- the room where the drug is administered.
- the room where the radioactive drug is stored.
- the room where the radioactive waste.
- is carried the room where the staff.
- is the room where the patients are waiting for the procedures.
- the room where the patients are after the procedures.
- other rooms.
In addition, it should be understood that moving between the above premises involves the movement of radioactive substances, which means there should be no outsiders.
It should also be understood that radionuclide drugs are treated both by direct injection into the human body – by injection through a syringe, as well as by local application. When injected through a syringe, radioactive iodine is often injected to treat the thyroid gland.
In the treatment of female diseases, a special styling is introduced into the causal place, which is obtained and reused after the procedure. All these nuances are reflected in the design features of cancer departments or hospitals.
Conclusion on the construction of hospitals for the treatment of cancer with the help of radioactive installations and substances.
As you may have noticed in this topic, I was talking only about radiation-related premises, this is because any oncological center is a very large and complex complex, like any hospital. And the oncological center differs from the hospital mainly by the above signs. The rest of the premises are similar to any other hospital.
If you are interested in the topic of radiation, I recommend reading articles on the topic of radiation in medicine:
And also for a general understanding – an article about what radiation is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation
Remember, in these articles I try to talk simply about quite complex topics, so I omit many nuances. If you are interested in any topic or question, you can write it in the comments or to your personal email, I will try to answer.
