The Pen Hustle With Brandy Cavalli

In 1920, cancer treatment looked nothing like it does today.

A woman with advanced cervical cancer lay on a hospital bed with her legs supported by fabric slings as physicians directed X-rays toward the affected area. There were no CT scans, computerized treatment plans, or modern radiation machines. Radiation therapy was still in its early stages, and doctors were only beginning to understand how to use this new technology.

For many patients, options were extremely limited.

Early radiation treatments sometimes showed promising results by shrinking tumors or relieving symptoms, but they also carried significant risks. Without today’s precise imaging, dose planning, and safety standards, patients could experience serious side effects as physicians learned through experience how to balance effectiveness with safety.

This remarkable photograph captures a pivotal moment in medical history. Every patient and physician who took part in these early treatments helped expand knowledge that would eventually transform cancer care.