Vocational School of Justice
X-RAYS ARE BEING TRANSFORMED FOR “EARLY DIAGNOSIS” AWARENESS
Students are transforming the x-ray films, used for diagnosis of illnesses, into various objects in order to create awareness about the importance of early diagnosis. Students of Medical Imaging Techniques Program, Vocational School of Health Services, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), transformed the not so frequently used x-rays because of digitalization, into various objects such as candleholders, coasters, bookmarks, etc.
Medical Physics Specialist Türkan Alkan Özbay, Lecturer at IUE Medical Imaging Techniques Program, reported that 14 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, and medical imaging techniques are believed to be the most effective method in early diagnosis of cancer. Özbay said, “Each year almost 163 thousand 500 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in Turkey. We can say that 450 people are diagnosed with cancer on a single day in our country. If this clinical course continues, 22 million of new cancer cases are expected by 2030. Cancer is an aggressive illness that spreads through the lymphatic system and may cause death. Early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment”.
More than 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer at the earliest stage survive their disease, said Özbay and pointed out the importance of early diagnosis in terms of increasing the quality and length of life. She reported that ultrasound, computed tomography scan (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MR), mammography, and fluoroscopy are among the diagnosis methods used without surgical intervention. Özbay said, “Well-informed, well-equipped medical imaging technicians have an important role when it comes to working with this hi-tech equipment. Medical imaging technicians play a huge role in giving physicians the up-close look needed to determine the type of care a patient needed. We wanted to raise awareness on the importance of medical imaging techniques used in early diagnosis by transforming the old x-rays into candleholders, coasters, bookmarks, etc.”