Doesn't that offset..
2006-09-26 05:09:00 · 10 answers · asked by j@mE$ 6 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Yes, it fights cancer *because* it kills. Cancer essentially consists of a "renegade" group of cells whose controlling DNA quits working as it should, so they start multiplying uncontrollably to form a growing mass of cells that sap energy and interfere with the functioning of the rest of the body. The only way to get rid of cancer is to make the cancer cells die, which unfortunately is usually difficult to do without some "collateral damage" to healthy cells in the process.
This is also the principle behind chemotherapy... the idea is basically to develop poisonous chemicals that are *more* poisonous to cancer cells than to healthy ones, because of the unique way that cancer cells' metabolism works. But, as anyone who's had chemotherapy could tell you, those drugs are poisonous to your healthy cells too, sometimes only to a slightly lesser degree. Even surgery is only effective because it also removes some healthy tissues surrounding the tumor, just to create a "buffer zone" to keep the cancer from spreading.
There's still nothing close to a "magic bullet," although medical research is continuing to try to find ways to more *selectively* do more damage to cancer cells, and less damage to healthy ones. There's still a long way to go, though.
2006-09-27 09:39:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Radiation works by using unfavourable the DNA of the cancerous and healthy cells. whilst those cells submit to mitosis (reflect), the broken DNA prevents this from being useful and the cellular dies. reasons why we use radiation to handle maximum cancers is via the fact the traditional cells be able to repair the wear executed by using radiation while as maximum cancers cells do no longer. Low doses of low point radiation over a protracted quantity of time is greater in all probability to reason maximum cancers than receiving intense doses of radiation over a short quantity of time (case in point - the after effects of Chernobyl). additionally, the intense dose of radiation is given to a small area and not the entire physique. the advantages of radiation therapy far outweigh the hazards of arising a secondary maximum cancers (which will or won't take place).
2016-12-12 15:31:03 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Radiation is directed only at the cancer cells and not the healthy tissue. Thereby the cancer cells die but you continue to survive
2006-09-26 05:18:24 · answer #3 · answered by fortyninertu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It "also" kills the cancer cells. No, it doesn't offset. It takes more radiation to kill you than it does to kill the cells.
2006-09-26 05:15:54 · answer #4 · answered by Baby'sMom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is concentrated on the cancer cells in radiation therapy.
2006-09-26 05:16:27 · answer #5 · answered by Sister Di 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It kills cancer. Yes...good cells die as well but hey it helps more than it hurts most of the time.
2006-09-26 05:16:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
in very monitored situations (such as the radiation used for cancer), it can kill specific things (such as cancer cells) without killing the whole person.
2006-09-26 05:17:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
just enuf is used to kill the cancer cells; unfortunately, it's too much for the body so ppl get sick. besides, there's few alternatives out there.
2006-09-26 05:16:58 · answer #8 · answered by lady sixx 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Almost anything that is useful in small doses can be dangerous in large doses. Did you know that there is such a thing as oxygen poisoning? Seriously.
2006-09-26 05:17:35 · answer #9 · answered by x 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It kills cancer.
(Also some good cells, too, which was your point. But targetted correctly, this should be minimized.)
2006-09-26 05:15:50 · answer #10 · answered by CaptainObvious 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋