Marie Curie discovered radium’s radioactive properties and championed its use in the treatment of cancer. Early efforts to use radioactive elements to treat cancer (this image circa 1926) showed promise but were imprecise.
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Beam radiation uses computers to direct beams of energy at tumors to destroy them. The approach is a staple of cancer therapy today but is limited to spot treatment.
Photo: Mark_Kostich
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Targeted radioligand therapy is an unconventional form of nuclear medicine that is infused into the bloodstream, where it is designed to seek out cancer cells in the body and unleash radioactive energy to kill tumor cells.