Are gamma waves from radiation treatments in cancer dangerous?
450415
Yes, the radiation from cancer treatments is very dangerous, but the radiation is directed in such a way that is that it will be more damaging to the cancer cells than to healthy cells.
1178383
Its probably safe, assuming everything is resolved, however I would ask your oncologist to be sure. There are too many variables for this to be a general question. I promise you it won't be anything your doctor hasnt heard before,so don't be embaressed to ask!
1042486
MRI scans are performed in a very strong magnetic field.  There is no conclusive proof, but it is generally felt that exposure to strong magnetic fields generated by MRI scanners is harmless to humans.  That being said, however, there are some theoretical risks.  Without getting too technical, MRI images are generated by rapid variations in the magnetic field.  These variations cause the water protons within the body to behave a certain way, which in turn generate very minute signal which can be picked up by special receiver coils that make up part of the MRI scanner.  These signals are then processed by the scanner, and and image is generated.  The rapid shifts in magnetic fields can theoretically produce heat as a by-product.  This is especially true for any metallic object within the scanner that has the shape of a ring or closed loop.  In fact, this can produce enough heat in conventional MRI scanners to cause flesh burns.  This is one reason why all metal must be removed before getting an MRI scan.  The actual magnetic field itself is probably safe.\n\nAs for PET scans, the physics is entirely different.  PET scans generate an image by radioactive emissions that are produced in the body after getting injected with radioactive material.  The PET scanner itself is really nothing but a giagantic receiver device to detect these emission.  While the actual dose of radiation from a PET scan is felt to be reasonably safe, it is still radiation nonetheless.  The more PET scans you have, the more radiation you will be exposed to.  But there is no danger to just lying in the scanner itself without getting injected with the radioactive isotope because the scanner itself does not generate actual radiation.
845894
Hi Karma.  Some of the other answers make valid points, but I believe this is the information you are looking for.\n\nRadiation can CAUSE cancer by several mechanisms.  One of the mechanisms is the production of high levels of 'oxidative stress'.  Oxidative stress can damage DNA, causing mutations than can contribute to the carcinogenesis process.\n\nRadiation TREATS cancer by the same mechanism - it causes oxidative stress.  Very high levels of oxidative stress in cancer cells (and healthy cells too, which is why the therapy is so toxic) induces biochemical pathways that lead to 'cell suicide' - a process called Apoptosis.\n\nIn summary, radiation can cause cancer by causing oxidative stress that damages DNA and leads to mutations.  Radiation can kill cancer cells by causing higher levels of oxidative stress that cause so much damage to the cell that the cell's 'suicide' mechanism (apoptosis) is activated and the cancer cell kills itself.  Unfortunately, this often fails as a cancer treatment because many cancer cells have mutations in their apoptotic pathways!\n\nHope this helps you understand this interesting 'paradox'.  \n\n(P.S. You asked a very good question!  It shows you are a 'thinker'!).
92774
Radiowaves do hardly anything. No harm\nMicrowaves and infrared heat your body\nVisible light makes you visible and psychological healthy.\nUltraviolet can make you blind.\nX- and gamma rays go throught your body and make damage.\nFrom up to down, the more dangerous.\n\nFor all EMW: the more intensity, the more dangerous.\nthe more time of radiation, the more dangerous.\nThe closer to the source of the radiation, the more dangerous.
828647
No. They have a very low wattage of radiation, far below what would be harmful.
490442
We've been around radio waves for many years, even before you and your parents were born.  There is no harm to the human body.  If you installed a wireless LAN at your house, you will be OK.  With or without it, you will always be surrounded by radio waves.  No worries. :)
386593
I assume they want to know about nuclear radiation.  Some basic facts:\n- 3 types are alpha, beta and gamma\n- All are found in nature, you carry it around in you, it comes from just about all natural materials to some small degree.\n- Naturally occuring radiation is little to worry about, we evolved with it and our bodies can handle it.\n- In most areas of the world, natually occuring radiation hits each square inch of your body between 12-18 times per minute!  Radiation can not be felt by the body.\n- Alpha is the biggest particle (nucleaus of a helium atom) and moves slowly.  Not enough speed to even penetrate the layer of normal dead skin on your body.  \n- Beta is an electron moving at higher speeds.  It too is motly blocked by skin, but in high dosages can start to become a problem.\n- Gamma is not a particle, but a wave like light (but much higher frequency).  X-rays and cosmic rays are the best known.  Cosmic rays are the most common type of radiation that hit our bodies per above.  It comes from high speed particles interacting with our atmosphere.  \n- The small amounts of natural radiation we encounter everyday is not a significant problem, but concentrated sources of radiation are.  These have historically included x-rays, byproducts of nuclear bombs or reactors, mishandled medical/agricultural/engineering equipment.  \n- Ingested alpha and beta emitting materials are dangerous even in tiny amounts and can cause cancer.
400660
yes because it produces kind of radiation which may cause genetic mutations that may finally lead to cancer!\nbut this is not occuring usually, the parcentage of its harm is not high so you don't have to worry!
436022
Going to the hospital every day for 30 or 40 days in a row for a few minutes of radiation treatment can be exhausting and depressing but I think it is important that you at least complete the radiation therapy.  If your grandmother goes ahead with treatment for her cancer, she may live a long time yet, as may you.  Try to find things you enjoy and make the most of your time.
954149
my mother in law just went through this and just had radiation too.  her doctor said the cancer was in a fairly small area, and the radiation was just as effective and wouldn't give her the side effects of chemo, but if it came back or they found it had spread, she would have to have the chemo then.  good luck to your sister!
326271
hmm, there are lots of different options.\nI did a project on cancer radiation therapies with focus on the biological aspects of the efficacy of radiation (i.e. cell death).\nLast year i did a bionic eye presentation that had people who were blind from birth seeing black dots on a white field (but they didn't have depth perception).  It was fascinating - they had glasses hooked up to the patient and wires connected to a computer (worn on the belt) that further connected directly to the visual cortex of his brain via a cable "plugged" into his neck.\n\nWhat about nanotechnology for curing diseases in the blood?
348781
mobile phones use the spectrum below the visible wave length  (  and below IR  ) . those frequencies have low energy typically (though MW is used for cooking...) and are not considered of the ionizing radiation type, which is on the other side of the spectrum ( above UV ). For example: X rays, Gamma rays, etc'...which are definitely dangerous. Nonetheless I'd use a cautious approach and common logic when using any radiating device which has only been around for a few years . if there are negative effects we shall see them years from now on the "heavy users" of cell phones...\nanother issue is that those tumors i guess you're referring to occur because of DNA braking up during transcription by exposure to ionizing radiations ( which has a short enough wave-length ) , that could most definitely NOT occur with your cell phone!\n\nso my answer is - NOT LIKELY.
768486
Keep in mind, I'm not a nuclear Engineer or a nuclear specialist.  I haven't studied nuclear physics since college 10 years ago.\n\nRadiation in any form is dangerous.  It is just whether the benfits outweigh the potential ill side effects.\n\nRadiation is actually caused by the decay of a radiactive subtance.  Radiation takes three forms, alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.\n\nAlpha radiation consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.  Alpha particles are slow and can not penetrate much.  This type of radiation can be stopped by something as thin as a sheet of paper or clothing.\n\nBeta radiation is actually an electron.  While beta radiation penetrates more than alpha radiation, it is still weak.  It can be stopped by thin metals, such as a sheet of foil.\nGamma radiation is the radiation that is very deadly.  Gamma radiation is actually a wave and not a particle.  It can only be stopped by thick layers of dirt, concrete, or lead.\n\nDuring nuclear fallout, a person doesn’t become radioactive per se.  What happens is the dust and particles collected on their clothing emits radiation.  You may have heard of radiation suits.  Radiation suits do not stop radiation, rather their purpose is to prevent radioactive particles from becoming embedded in hair, skin, or clothing.  Once the person gets away from the contaminated area, they wash the suit, disrobe, and (my guess) run like hell.\n\nRadiation sickness is caused by an overdose of radiation.  The danger of radiation is that it kills the cells of any living thing that it strikes.  This can be beneficial in a medical setting like when a radiation beam is used to kill cancer cells in a patient.  However, when a person is exposed to uncontrolled radiation over a prolonged period of time, many of the cells in their body are killed.  Just like anything else, dead things begin to decay and rot.  Radiation sickness is essentially the body becoming poisoned and weak from the loss of cells and decaying cells in their body.\n\nWithout adequate protection during radiation fallout, radioactive particles become ingested, inhaled, and embedded on the skin.  \n\nI hope this helps a little
599540
No, but there is a lot of radiation caused by computer monitors. Limit your use, but that may not be the reason why. Maybe you're allergic to some product that you used or ate.
9206
This is a treatment that is currently outside of the medical mainstream and is not supported by double blind randomized trials looking at five year survival rates (probably the gold standard test for a treatment program).  That said, to my knowledge, it has not been disproven either.  \n\nI am fairly certain the cure rates you are citing  are misleading.  As to the Nobel prize, I am not aware of any prize being awarded on the topic of C-C treatment (or, for that matter, to the primary advocates or inventors of the treatment).\n\nStill it is an interesting treatment concept -- those considering such a treatment should consult with a doctor though to be sure that certain side effects are avoided.\n\nhttp://www.cs.rochester.edu/~nelson/cesium/cesium_therapy.html
564983
"Radiation therapy is the treatment of cancer with ionizing radiation. Radiation works by damaging the DNA within tumor cells, making them unable to divide and grow. Radiation is often given with the intent of destroying the tumor and curing the disease but although radiation is directed at the tumor, it is inevitable that the normal, non-cancerous tissues surrounding the tumor will also be affected by the radiation and therefore damaged. The goal of radiation therapy is to maximize the dose to tumor cells while minimizing exposure to normal, healthy cells."\n"Because no single therapy can provide complete treatment for a patient with a solid tumor, radiotherapy is often used in combination with surgery or chemotherapy to improve the chances of a successful treatment outcome. Sometimes radiation is used to relieve symptoms, such as pain or seizures; this is called palliative treatment"