Question

Which of these is an

example of a medical use
for radiation?
A. listening to the music on the radio
B. irradiating strawberries to kill bacteria
C. locating leaks in a petroleum pipeline
D. treating thyroid cancer with I-131

Answer 1

Radiation therapy is commonly used in the treatment of cancer, including thyroid cancer. I-131, a radioactive isotope of iodine, is specifically used to treat thyroid cancer as it delivers a high dose of radiation to cancer cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is D. treating thyroid cancer with I-131.

Radiation therapy is commonly used in the treatment of cancer, including thyroid cancer. I-131, also known as iodine-131, is a radioactive isotope of iodine that is specifically used to treat thyroid cancer. It works by delivering a high dose of radiation to cancer cells, killing them and shrinking the tumor.

This targeted radiation therapy is effective because the thyroid gland naturally takes up iodine, allowing the I-131 to directly impact cancer cells in the thyroid gland while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

Learn more about Radiation therapy for medical purposes