There’s actually a somewhat brand new miracle treatment for cancer that uses individual atoms of actinium-225.
Each cancer cell gets a single atom, and then it dies when that atom decays. And since it’s an alpha decay, the cell gins some high energy helium. That’s it.
Well, the atomic nucleus of a helium-4 atom. Which then rips some electrons from whatever it collides with.
And then that happens a few times to produce bismuth-209, which has a halflife of 2x10^19 years. Which means it’s perfectly safe.
Anyway, this treatment, called targeted alpha therapy is specifically approved for Bone metastasized prostate cancer, and significantly improves survival rates vs placebo.
There’s actually a somewhat brand new miracle treatment for cancer that uses individual atoms of actinium-225.
Each cancer cell gets a single atom, and then it dies when that atom decays. And since it’s an alpha decay, the cell gins some high energy helium. That’s it.
Well, the atomic nucleus of a helium-4 atom. Which then rips some electrons from whatever it collides with.
And then that happens a few times to produce bismuth-209, which has a halflife of 2x10^19 years. Which means it’s perfectly safe.
Anyway, this treatment, called targeted alpha therapy is specifically approved for Bone metastasized prostate cancer, and significantly improves survival rates vs placebo.
It’s not that good against solid tumors