RADON AS CANCER THERAPY

Science is so useful when it comes to human life. One of widely used principle of science
is radioactivity. Radioactivity is the phenomenon of the spontaneous disintegration of unstable
atomic nuclei to atomic nuclei to form more energetically stable atomic nuclei (Guinn, 2003).
There are two kinds of radioactivity in terms of how it happens. The common one is spontaneous
radioactivity. Radioactivity comes as a result of decay process of unstable nucleus to form a
more stable configuration. The procedure might be carried out by releasing certain particles or
kinds of electromagnetic energy (Britannica Encyclopedia).

One of the application of radioactivity is radiotherapy. Radiation therapy (also known as

radiotherapy) is a cancer treatment that involves administering high doses of radiation to cancer
cells in order to kill them and shrink tumors. However, there are options of radioisotope used for
this process. Radioisotope is an unstable version of a chemical element that emits radiation as it
breaks down and becomes more stable (National Cancer Institute Dictionary). The popular one is
radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that has no odor or color. It is produced by the natural decay of
uranium and radium, which can be found in almost all rocks and soils. Radon has been utilized to
treat a variety of ailments for many years, including low back pain, high blood pressure, and
cancer (Kojima et al, 2019).

Radon is a favorable substance to treat cancer as it has a very short half life, hence the
radiation is short and intense. In cases of colon, uterus, lung, and liver cell malignancies, radon
treatment was found to improve chemotherapy efficacy. Kojima et al. mentioned, radiation is
thought to kill cancer cells that are rapidly mutating and multiplying. Radon produces alpha
particles, which are capable of destroying cells. As a result, in the instance of localized cancer,
radon therapy has been shown to be incredibly useful because it kills all of the cells in the
desired location. In addition alpha-ray decay is mostly caused by heavy particles that travel in
quite short distance, hence there is relatively little irradiation that reaches typical surrounding
tissues. This implies the cancer cells are exposed to a high amount of radiation, which causes
them to die. Healthy cells, on the other hand, receive either a modest amount of radiation or none
at all.

A critical question might have come into mind knowing that radon is responsible for
cancer cause but why radon is also widely used to treat cancer? To begin with, the short-living,
α-emitting decay products together with the primary radon contribute significantly to the
exposure of humans from natural sources (UNSCEAR, 2010). Both isotopes, 222
Rn and 220Rn, are
the only significant contributors to human radon exposure from natural sources. These isotopes
of radon gas breaks down in the air into tiny radioactive elements (radon progeny) that can lodge
in the lining of the lungs and emit radiation. Therefore, American Cancer Society (2015) has
determined radon as the leading cause of 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Meanwhile, in
terms of radiotherapy, the doses received by patients are in the same order of magnitude as the
natural yearly background radiation due to radon throughout the duration of one treatment series
(usually consisting of 10 one-hour sessions). The main difference is that the patients receive this
dose in a significantly shorter time period, resulting in a greater dose rate. As a result, the
probability of serious radiation/radon-induced side effects from radon therapy as advised by
physicists is barely sketched.

There are benefits of choosing radon as cancer therapy. The procedures of using this
radioisotopes to treat cancer is relatively convenient to follow. Two methods are currently
available: injection and via respiratory system. Cancer Research UK stated, injection method can
be done by injecting 223
Rn into the patient’s vein. This is usually accomplished by inserting a
thin, short tube (cannula) into a vein in the arm or hand. It takes around a minute to administer
the shot. Meanwhile, via the respiratory system, the health centre would provide a therapy room
that was designed to reproduce the conditions of a natural radon health spa (Kojima et al, 2018).
The radon generator is made up of extremely basic components which by the radon
concentration in the air above the water can be varied between roughly 1 and 10 MBq/m 3. The
patient uses a customized respirator to inhale through the suction tube for the duration of the
procedure. Overall, both of the methods are painless and quick.

More to the convenience benefit, based on the experiment conducted by Kojima (2013),
the radon treatments appear to have produced a tremendous stimulation that counteracted these
effects and prompted powerful activity against malignant cells. The use of radon in short time
also beneficial to relieve pain for several months and so limit painkiller consumption for a length
of time. Using radon as cancer therapy has proven to widely minimize the side effect post-
therapy compared to another method.
 In the other hand, the negative impacts of using radon should be concerned. There are
several side effect generated by post-radon treatment. Dryness, stinging, blistering, and peeling
are common side effects of radon radiation therapy. These side effects vary depending on the
area of the body that was treated with radiation and other circumstances. Skin changes from
radiation therapy usually go away a few weeks after treatment ends. In addition, many of the
patients are exhausted. The level of exhaustion is frequently determined by the treatment
approach. However, dry mouth, mouth and gum sores, difficulty swallowing, stiffness in the jaw,
nausea, hair loss, tooth decay, shortness of breath, breast or nipple soreness, loss of appetite,
nausea and vomiting, bowel cramping, loose stool or diarrhea also found in minor cases.

The majority of side effects subside following treatment. Some, on the other hand,
continue, return, or evolve afterwards. Long-term or late effects are what they are called. The
emergence of a second cancer is one probable long-term impact. This is a new cancer that arises
as a result of the initial cancer treatment. The likelihood of a late effect is modest. As we know,
radon is highly dangerous substance. According to previous research, high-dose ionizing
radiation suppresses antitumor immunity and promotes cancer formation, whereas low-dose
radiation boosts antitumor immune mechanisms and suppresses cancer development (Farooque.
et al, 2011). It is necessary to know the right dose (concentration) for suppressing cancer with
good efficiency and also the threshold for the onset of harmful side effects due to the α-radiation.
All in all, the application of radon as cancer therapy have risk to generate another negative
impacts which is establish a new cancer cell.

Referring to the benefits and negative impacts mentioned previously, however the danger
of using radon as cancer therapy is less than the benefit of treating cancer. Perceiving the
benefits, it offers convenience, quickness, and simplicity yet it minimizes the post-treatment
effects compared to other methods. Jump to the negative impacts, the side effects caused by
radon treatment is actually also can be found in another cancer therapy method. Hence we can
say that, another methods offer no benefit in terms of side effect. The danger of using radon
radioisotopes however are controllable. We are to mind no adverse effect as long as the
application of radon isotopes are on its appropriate concentration and safety procedures are
conducted. As conclusion, radon as cancer therapy is approvable and preferable.
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