What is radium and how is it used in cancer treatment?
Radium is a highly radioactive element that emits alpha, beta, and gamma rays. In the early 20th century, radium was used in brachytherapy, a form of radiation therapy where a radioactive source is placed inside or close to the area requiring treatment. This method proved effective in shrinking tumors and was a significant advancement over previous surgical methods that often had limited success and higher risks.
