4 (a) Many different types of radioactive isotope are used for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 4 - 2015 - Paper 1

Radium-223 is suitable for use inside the body because its half-life of 11.4 days allows it to effectively target cancer cells over a period that is long enough for treatment but not so long that it causes excessive radiation exposure. Additionally, because it emits alpha radiation, it primarily affects nearby cells, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Using radiotherapy for palliative care is beneficial to patients as it helps to relieve pain and manage symptoms associated with advanced cancer. It can reduce tumor size, alleviate pressure on surrounding organs, and improve overall quality of life, even when the cancer is deemed incurable.