Question

Radon is used in the treatment of cancer.
A. True
B. False

Answer 1

Hint: We all know that radon is a radioactive element. So, we would think that radiation from it would be harmful for our body and give rise to various diseases and disorders. But it was observed that this was not the case.

Complete step by step answer:
Radon is a radioactive gas produced when uranium decays. It has a very short half life, hence the radiation is short and intense.
Radon treatment was observed to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in cases of colon, uterine, lung and liver cell cancers. Radiation is believed to kill the fast mutating and growing cells of cancer. Radon emits alpha particles which have the capacity to destroy cells. So, in case of localized cancer, radon therapy is proven to be extremely beneficial as all the cells of that area are killed. Also it has primarily Alpha-ray decay, and those are heavy particles, so they don’t travel far, so there is very little irradiation that gets to normal surrounding tissues. Radon targets bone cancer cells too. Since, it is similar to calcium, which is also absorbed by bone cells. The cancer cells in the bone take it up and it then releases radiation which travels a very short distance.
This means that the cancer cells receive a high dose of radiation which destroys them. And healthy cells receive only a low dose or no radiation.

Hence, the correct answer is Option (A) True.

Note: We must also remember that while in small doses Radon cures cancer, exposure to radon for a long period of time leads to damage of lung cells which ultimately causes lung cancer.