3 ms·

I’ve just had approximately 7 weeks of radiation therapy as post-surgery treatment for a cancer in my neck. 2 grays each treatment (I think) and 33 treatments,

I’ve just had approximately 7 weeks of radiation therapy as post-surgery treatment for a cancer in my neck. 2 grays each treatment (I think) and 33 treatments, 66 grays in total. My skin in the treatment area held up fine until the last week when it basically gave up, so I’m looking forward to a couple of weeks of applying gel and changing bandages... So even quite moderate exposures can have significant effects, I can’t imagine what this would be like across my whole body.

corty 6y ago
66 Gray is far from moderate as a whole body dose. The 100% lethal onetime dose for gamma or beta rays (which you probably got one of) is around 10 Gray, LD50 is 3 Gray iirc. A wholebody dose of 2 Gray consequently would get you severe radiation sickness, depletion of white blood cells and possible secondary infections with some chance of death. Radiation therapy therefore needs to "aim" right, so as not to hit too much of the sensitive tissues like nerves, bone marrow, mucosa, etc. Edit: here is a chart for a comparison of typical doses: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sievert#/media/File%3A027_dose-ranges-sievert.jpg https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sievert#/media/File%3A027_do... Hope you beat the cancer.
searchableguy 6y ago
I hope you recover soon. Wishing for the best!
read_if_gay_ 6y ago
I wish you all the best.