Radiation and its Effects on Memory

Paper Summary:

The paper deals with small cell lung cancer and the problem with regard to radiation and memory loss. The paper states that this form of cancer is prone to brain metastases. The paper confirms that prophylactic cranial irradiation is a controversial method of radiation that has shown to have positive outcomes in small cell lung cancer patients. However, little is known about the effects of radiation on the brain and especially on long-term cognitive and memory loss. The paper, in referring to various studies, concludes that the research is compounded by the large number of variables that need to be taken into account in ascertaining the effects of the process of radiation.

Outline:
Introduction
Prolegomena: Overview and Background
The Brain, Memory and Radiation Treatment
Summation and Conclusion

From the Paper:

" Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer that affects both men and women in the United States and the world. As figure 1 above illustrates, the number of deaths from lung cancer in the United States far exceeds other common forms of cancer. There are numerous statistics that indicate the increased risks of lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Figure 2 below illustrates a projection of morality rates in various countries over a ten your period of time. This again clearly indicates the importance of research into lung cancer and particularly the more severe form of small cell lung cancer."

Sample of Sources Used:

• About Brain Tumors. Retrieved March 2, 2008, fromhttp://ucneurology.uchicago.edu/Neurological_Disorders/Brain_Tumors/brain_tumors.html
• Arlotto et al ( 2005) The impact of whole brain radiation therapy on the long term control and morbidity of patients surviving. Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys., 62, ( 4) pp. 1125-1132, 2005. Retrieved March 1, 2008, from http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/radonc/Documents/Varlotto%20Whole%20Brain%20Gamma%20Knife%208.pdf
• Arriagada et al. ( 1999) Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation for Patients With Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Complete Remission. The New England Journal of Medicine, vol.371, pp. 476-484. Retrieved March 2, 2008, fromhttp://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/341/7/476
• Armstrong S. L. (2001) Memory Performance Used to Detect Radiation Effects on Cognitive Functioning. Applied Neuropsychology2001, 8( 3), pp 129-139.
• Brown W. et al. ( 2007) Capillary loss precedes the cognitive impairment induced by fractionated whole-brain irradiation: A potential rat model of vascular dementia. Journal of Neurological Sciences, 257 (1) pp. 67-71.

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