CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- With the improvement of modern medical level, radiopharmaceutical therapy and diagnostic imaging have been popularized. These technologies greatly increase the likelihood of healing. However, the medical workers are exposed to high-energy radiation for years. The staff members of Nuclear Medicine Department of Chongqing University Cancer Hospital are the part of these workers. These medical workers never care about the radiation they are exposed to. Their only purpose is to save people. They are the “Men in Lead Apron” fight in intensely radiative environment.

It was December 18. Doctor Tang Senlin’s work place is on the basement level of Nuclear Medicine Department of Chongqing University Cancer Hospital. Leap apron, collar and cap…The first thing that Tang does every day is to wear the heavy protective clothing. He has been working here for 5 years and it has become the norm to wear the lead apron (about 10kg) at work every day.

“It’s old-style. The new apron is sleeved,” Tang said. His colleagues think the old-style apron is more conductive to action and more efficient. More importantly, the patients don’t need to wait for long. So, the sleeved apron is less used. But it also means that, the doctors are more greatly exposed to radiation. A surgical gown, a pair of lead apron and a sterile clothing, they feel very smooth and are airtight. Tang said, especially in summer, even in an air-conditioned room, his back iss usually sweaty after taking off the lead apron. 

Iodine-131 and 18F-FDG are two frequently-used drugs in Nuclear Medicine Department. They both could produce gamma ray radiation, which is also generated after nuclear explosion. To minimize the radiation during dispensing, Tang must work behind a heavy lead door, but for flexibility of operation, his hands are still exposed to radiation. “The patients who come to us are all cancer patients with complicated states and severe symptoms.” With respect to long time exposure of his hands to radiation, Tang doesn’t take it seriously. He thinks it is just an ordinary job.

In the Nuclear Medicine Department, there is a team of nurses in addition to Tang’s physical chemistry team in charge of dispensing. Yang Chuan is a member of this team. He admitted that he worried about working in radiative place in the long term at first after he was assigned to Nuclear Medicine Department. “Many people, including our peers may also think that we take a high risk. But in fact, you don’t have to worry about it if you operate by standard,” said Yang Chuan. Indeed, many new colleagues may be in low spirits at first, that’s one of the effects of radiation.

It’s time to dose the patients. Yang Chuan puts a protective cover on the floor in accordance with work standard to prevent radioactive drugs from dripping onto the floor. “It requires 4 layers of protective cover, because these drugs will produce gamma rays. We must take protective measures,” said Yang Chuan. Not only when taking medicines, the patients also must live in separate rooms after that. Because the patients are radiative after taking medicines. So, if two of them sit together, they may be exposed to double the amount of radiation. 

It’s 8.5kg, the weight of protective clothing taken off from nurse Qin Quan and every medical worker in Nuclear Medicine Department must wear it at work. But in Qin Quan’s view, it is insignificant compared to the responsibility to treat patients.

For patients who walk in this place, they are just exposed to radiation for a short time. But for doctors, they are exposed to radiation year after year. According to incomplete statistics, the Nuclear Medicine Department of Chongqing University Cancer Hospital has over 40 doctors and nurses and more than 3,000 doses have been given. Every person working here works as usual. Just like what Tang said, no one here care about the radiation for it is not important. What matters is how many people get treated and hope here. (Translated by Xu Mengmiao, Fathom Language Limited)