Biomedical Physics in Radiotherapy for Cancer

A/Prof Loredana Marcu has a Masters Degree in Applied Physics and a PhD in Medical Physics/Radiobiology. She has been lecturing since 1995, and previously published two books on Mechanics and Teaching methodologies, respectively. She was awarded the title 'Eminent Scientist of the year 2004' by the International Council for Research and is the recipient of the 'Boyce Worthley award 2006' given by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine for her achievements in the areas of radiobiology and medical physics. A/Prof Eva Bezak has an MSc in both Nuclear and Medical Physics and a PhD in applied Nuclear/Radiation Physics. She has been lecturing on radiation and radiotherapy physics since 1999, and has supervised 13 postgraduate students in radiotherapy physics. She is accredited by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (AC PSEM) in Radiotherapy Equipment Commissioning and Quality Assurance (2004) and was nominated for the 2003 National Awards for Outstanding Women in Non-Traditional Areas of Work and Study. Prof Barry Allen is a biomedical physicist and Conjoint Professor of the St George Clinical School, UNSW. Previously, he worked at ANSTO as a Chief Research Scientist. In the early 1980s Prof Allen turned his attention to the application of neutrons in medicine. He went on to become President of the International Society for Neutron Capture Therapy and to convene the Fourth International Symposium in Sydney in 1990. Prof Allen made the first human body protein measurements in Australia, in collaboration with Sydney hospitals. He has published more than 300 papers, and was elected President of the Asia Oceania Federation of Medical Physics and President of the International Organisation of Medical Physics in 2006. He was elected Vice President of the International Union for Physical and Engineering Science in Medicine and is Chair, Health Technology and Training Task Group of the IUPESM.

• Radiation interaction with matter.- Elements of radiobiology.- Elements of radiotherapy physics.- Tumour characteristics, development and response to radiation.- Fractionation and altered fractionation in radiotherapy.- Treatment planning techniques.- Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy: radiobiology and physics aspects of treatment.- IMRT: radiobiology and physics aspects of treatment.- Brachytherapy: radiobiology and physics aspects of treatment.- SRS/SRT: radiobiology and physics aspects of treatment.- Whole-body irradiation: radiobiology and physics aspects of treatment.- Electron therapy: radiobiology and physics aspects of treatment.- Proton therapy: radiobiology and physics aspects of treatment.- Neutron therapy: radiobiology and physics aspects of treatment.- Predictive assays and treatment delivery verification.

From the reviews: "Trying to combine an updated account of radiotherapy physics and radiobiology is a big but important task. ... a useful resource for clinical supervisors and teachers who want to make sure their lecture is up to date. ... I found 'Biomedical Physics in Radiotherapy for Cancer' a very valuable addition to my book collection. There is nothing comparable on the market and it will proof to be an excellent resource for clinical and academic physicists and oncologists. ... It is an ambitious book that succeeds." (Tomas Kron, Australasian Physical & Engineering Science in Medicine, Vol. 35, 2012) "The book is comprehensive in that it also tackles brachytherapy (in almost all its clinical forms), stereotactic radiosurgery, TBI, electron and neutron therapy. It has an interesting chapter on targeted radiotherapy with a largely theoretical discussion of the potential of various radioisotopes in cancer therapy. ... It is well presented here. Overall, I consider this an excellent book ... and I recommend it." (Nick Plowman, RAD Magazine, October, 2012)