History Of Radiation Oncology Research Articles

The brief history of radiation oncology in Taiwan

We can look back by means of the development history of equipment, members and technology for giving readers a clear and a general scheme and a better understanding of the establishment and development of the brief history of radiation oncology in Taiwan. This article is not also to give publicity and recognition to Taiwan radiation oncology sociality, but also provide the opportunity for further communication and development in this field between main land China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Key words: Radiation oncology; Taiwan; Brief history of development

The brief history of radiation oncology in Hong Kong

This article gives a brief review on the historical development and current status of radiation oncology in Hong Kong from the perspectives of equipment technology, manpower and treatment modality. The aims are to enhance understanding between Mainland China and Hong Kong, to show the messages learnt during our development, and to express our tribute to our predecessors for their contribution in the development of our specialty. Key words: Radiation oncology; Hong Kong; Brief history of development

The White Book of Radiation Oncology in Spain

The White Book of Radiation Oncology provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the speciality of radiation oncology in Spain and is intended to be used as a reference for physicians, health care administrators and hospital managers. The present paper summarises the most relevant aspects of the book's 13 chapters in order to bring the message to a wider audience. Among the topics discussed are the epidemiology of cancer in Spain, the role of the radiation oncologist in cancer care, human and material resource needs, new technologies, training of specialists, clinical and cost management, clinical practice, quality control, radiological protection, ethics, relevant legislation, research & development, the history of radiation oncology in Spain and the origins of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology (SEOR).

A Personal Reflection on the History of Radiation Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

To provide a historical and personal narrative of the development of radiation oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), from its founding more than 100 years ago to the present day. Historical sources include the Archives of MSKCC, publications by members of MSKCC, the author's personal records and recollections, and her communications with former colleagues, particularly Dr. Basil Hilaris, Dr. Zvi Fuks, and Dr. Beryl McCormick. The author, who spent 38 years at MSKCC, presents the challenges and triumphs of MSKCC's Radiation Oncology Department and details MSKCC's breakthroughs in radiation oncology. She also describes MSKCC's involvement in the founding of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

The History of Radiation Oncology

The History of Radiation Oncology

History and heritage: Development of radiation oncology in China

The history of radiation oncology in China can be divided into three main periods. The earliest record of xray application to malignant tumors dates back to the early 193Os, when radiation treatment facilities became available almost simultaneously in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Naturally, at that time only simple orthovoltage machines existed, and due to the mediocre results obtained in the treatment of cancer, the diagnostic radiologists involved in part-time radiotherapy showed little enthusiasm. They certainly did not receive much encouragement from their surgical colleagues, whose only concept of effective cancer treatment was to cut away as much tumor tissue as possible at the site of disease. However, in the history of Chinese radiotherapy, Professors Liang Do and Xie Zhi-kuang will not be forgotten; these pioneers persevered in spite of the innumerable difficulties they encountered, especially since therapeutic radiology was an insignificant section of diagnostic radiology departments in large general hospitals. The situation was somewhat better in Shanghai, where radiotherapy in the Sino-Belgian Radium Institute (193 1) played the main role in the treatment of cancer. This Institute had two 180 KV open-air machines and almost 1 g of radium tubes and needles. During this first period, little progress was made in China in the recognition of radiotherapy as an important method of cancer treatment. Although some Keleket and Maximar x-ray therapy machines were distributed to a few hospitals in the large cities after the end of World War II, radiotherapy still was dominated by diagnostic radiologists, who treated limited numbers of patients. The second period of the evolution of Chinese radiation oncology started in the early 1950s and ended with the founding of the Chinese Society of Radiation Oncology in 1986. These 30 years were a period of growth, during which over 200 new radiotherapy units were gradually established. Among the first of these was Tianjin in 1952, which was a section of the oncology department. This set the pattern for many hospitals, where radiotherapy was established as part of a vaguely defined department called oncology, which could either be dominated by surgical or medical oncologists, but rarely by radiotherapists. Radiation oncology departments started to gain independence towards the beginning of the 197Os, but for some departments it took almost 30 years! The dominant figure of this era was undoubtedly the late Prof. Wu Huan-xing, better known to his European colleagues as George Wu. Through his unceasing efforts, Chinese radiation oncology attained its present status. It can perhaps be said that the emergence of radiation oncology as an important independent discipline had its true beginnings in cancer radiotherapy as practiced under the direction of Prof. Wu at the Shanghai Radium Institute (predecessor of the Cancer Hospital of the Shanghai Medical University). When I first met him in 1949, just before my graduation from medical college, Prof. Wu had just returned from working at the Hammersmith Hospital in the U.K and had taken over the directorship of the Radium Institute. His charming and generous personality and his dedication to radiotherapy played an important part in my decision to devote myself to radiotherapy, and it was my great fortune that he agreed to take me under his wing for training from the ground up, an event without precedent. Although he left the Institute 5 years later, his personal and patient guidance in increasing my knowledge of the physical and clinical aspects of external beam radiotherapy and radium brachytherapy laid foundations that have always been indispensable in my clinical and educational career. In 1955, Prof. Wu was asked by the Ministry of Health to found a cancer hospital in Beijing, which was estab-

New Zealand: One small country's history of radiation oncology

New Zealand, with its short history, has a proud record in the development of radiation oncology. The first independent department of radiotherapy was formed in Dunedin in 1931, and the first clinical physicist was appointed in Wellington in 1933. Prominent research workers include the radiobiologist Dr. John Read and the physicist Sir Ernest Rutherford.

An outline of the history of radiation oncology in Poland

Until the discovery of ionizing radiation, medicine knew no effective remedy for cancer other than surgery. A new era in cancer treatment was started by great discoveries at the end of the nineteenth century: the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm K. Rijntgen in 1895, and the discovery of radium by Marie Sklodowska-Curie (who was born and received her basic education in Poland) and her husband Pierre Curie in 1899. X-rays were first used in cancer treatment just 1 year after the discovery. The relatively low energy of radiation that could be generated at that time limited the application of x-rays chiefly to the treatment of skin cancer. Already before the outbreak of World War I, curietherapy was recognized as a successful cancer treatment modality. This new treatment modality brought about the high interest of medical circles worldwide, as well as in Poland. From 1906 on, the Committee for Studies and Control Cancer, organized by Dr. J. Jaworski in Warsaw, and renamed in 1921 to become the Polish Cancer Control Committee, was actively operating in Poland. Its main aims were to support cancer research and to promote the exchange of ideas, which led to the creation of a periodical Nowolwory, which has existed for over 70 years. The Polish Cancer Control Committee was also in charge of organizing congresses and assisted in the promotion and development of cancer treatment centers. Although these centers were usually rather small, ephemeral, and organized in a variety of ways (by universities, local authorities, or private persons), they managed to gather about 3 g of radium during the period between the wars. At the same time, research carried out by the Laboratory Curie in Paris developed dynamically. The staff included many foreigners, among them Polish physicists (Irena Manteuffel, Cezary Pawlowski, and Jerzy Starkiewicz) and chemists (Alicja Dorabialska and Ignacy Zlotowski). Maria Sklodowska-Curie’s greatest dream was, in her own words, to establish a radium institute in Poland. She saw it as an exemplary center running comprehensive research and treatment programs. At her initiative and under her honorary leadership, the Association of Radium Institute was established in 192 1. In December 1923, on the 25th anniversary of the discovery of radium, the Polish Cancer Control Committee made an appeal to the people of Poland to raise funds. The National Donation Committee was established with the President of Poland, Stanislaw Wojciechowski, serving as its chairman. Donations and government subsidies soon enabled the construction of the Institute in Warsaw on Wawelska Street. On June 7, 1925, the first cornerstones were laid. The Institute included four buildings: the hospital, the roentgenotherapy pavilion, a research building housing the physics department and laboratories, and the so-called Hot Pavilion with radioactive sources. Dr. Franciszek Lukaszczyk trained in the Laboratory Pasteur with Professor Regaud and became the Director of the Radium Institute. Since that time, our link with the French radiotherapeutic centers has always been close and friendly. Dr. Cezary Pawlowski went to the Laboratory Curie in 1927, and under the supervision of Maria Sklodowska-Curie, acquainted himself for 4 years with the future scientific projects, organization, and the equipment of the physics department in Warsaw. Maria SklodowskaCurie came to Poland in May, 1932, to preside over the opening ceremony of the clinical part of the Radium Institute, and to transfer the first gram of radium, which she received as a donation from the Polish women’s organization in the United States. The research buildings of the Radium Institute were finished in 1934. In 1932, Franciszek Lukaszczyk, the first Director of the Institute, outlined the program of the development of oncology in Poland. This program consisted of three phases: (a) organization of a modern oncological institute for clinical services and research, (b) elaboration on a scientific basis of modern methods of cancer treatment, and (c) organization of an oncological network in Poland.

A history of radiation oncology in Switzerland

A history of radiation oncology in Switzerland

A history of radiation oncology in Switzerland

A history of radiation oncology in Switzerland