Marshall Brucer

Brucer was educated at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Medicine. He was an intern at Mallory Institute of Pathology in Boston.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5527808/the_austin_american/|title=Clipping from The Austin American on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}} During the late 1930s he studied human physiological responses to the increasing pace and changing nature of modern life, including blood pressure and heart conditions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5527732/wilkesbarre_times_leader_the_evening/|title=Clipping from Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7408317/burning_the_candle_marshall_brucer_on/|title=Burning the Candle - Marshall Brucer on stress of urban modernity (1939) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}} He also identified correlations between body shape and blood pressure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7408394/link_blood_pressure_with_body_build/|title=Link Blood Pressure with Body Build - Marshall Brucer (1940) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}

Brucer joined the United States Army in 1942, and was released in 1946 as a lieutenant colonel. He served as surgeon of the Airborne Command at Camp Mackall, North Carolina.

He then joined the University of Texas' Medical School staff. In 1949, Brucer became the Chairman of the Medical Division of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, where he researched the application of radiation in the treatment of cancers and other malignant diseases.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7408731/dr_marshall_brucer_leaves_texas_medical/|title=Dr Marshall Brucer leaves Texas Medical School (1948) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7408767/dr_marshall_brucer_to_leave_texas_for/|title=Dr Marshall Brucer to leave Texas for nuclear job (1948) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7408816/island_doctors_to_oak_ridge_two/|title=Island Doctors to Oak Ridge - Two Selected as Medical Consultants (1949) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7408876/atomic_researchers_address_clinical/|title=Atomic Researchers Address Clinical Group (1950) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}

In 1951, Brucer directed tests of the use of radioactive cobalt in prospective radiotherapy. The instruments used were manufactured by General Electric.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7408954/new_cancer_weapon_will_be_ready_soon/|title=New Cancer Weapon Will Be Ready Soon For Use (1951) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409013/general_electrics_xray_department/|title=General Electric's X-Ray Department unveils new cancer therapy machine (1951) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}

In 1952, Brucer was supervising a hospital staff of 60 people, including doctors, physicists, radiologists, nurses and others. The hospital was sponsored by 29 southern American universities. Patients volunteered to receive experimental therapies at the hospital. They were given atomic "cocktails" to drink and injections of radio-isotopes, and became temporarily radioactive.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409191/atomic_hospital_gives_hope_to_cancer/|title=Atomic hospital gives hope to cancer patients (1952) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}} While not guaranteed that the treatments would be successful, patients were assured that none of the new medicines would cause harm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409056/cancer_victims_get_new_hope_from_visit/|title=Cancer Victims Get New Hope From Visit to Atomic Hospital (1952) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}

Brucer was also involved in discussions regarding the establishment of a nuclear reactor at the University of Houston for the production of radio-isotopes in 1952.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409227/plans_for_atom_reactor_at_university_of/|title=Plans for atom reactor at University of Houston discussed (1952) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}

In 1953, Brucer gave testimony to a House Commerce Committee on the medical applications of nuclear energy. The Committee hoped to establish what the Atomic Energy Commission was achieving in the field of nuclear medicine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409288/medical_experts_called_on_to_tell/|title=Medical experts called on to tell atomic energy use in cancer fight (1953) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409342/house_asks_data_on_cancer_fight_1953/|title=House asks data on cancer fight (1953) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}

In 1954, a new radiotherapy device using cesium as the gamma radiation source was scheduled to be tested in Rockford, Illinois. Brucer was a spokesperson for the project, which was funded by the Atomic Energy Commission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409381/rockford_test_of_new_cancer_machine/|title=Rockford test of new cancer machine slated (1954) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}} The machine was to be tested on animal subjects prior to its application to human cancer patients.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409430/first_automatic_cancer_machine_shown/|title=First automatic cancer machine shown scientists (1954) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}} The device benefited from military research in computer control, and was pioneering in its degree of automation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409484/cesium_gun_byproduct_used_in_new/|title=Cesium 'gun' - Byproduct used in new cancer weapon (1954) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}

In 1955, Brucer dedicated a new cobalt-based radiotherapy machine at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, California. The dedication was made with Senator J. William Fulbright and industrialist Paul G. Hoffman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409570/3_to_dedicate_la_cobalt_bomb_1955/|title=3 to dedicate L.A. cobalt bomb (1955) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}} Another was dedicated a City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7410230/dedicate_atomic_cancer_treatment_in/|title=Dedicate atomic cancer treatment in Duarte (1955) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}} Brucer invented an "iron maiden" containing radioactive sand which was tested for the treatment of breast cancer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422071/iron_maiden_tried_for_breast_cancer/|title='Iron maiden' tried for breast cancer (1955) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} That year he also announced the intention to produce cesium-137 for radiotherapy by 1957.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7410369/atom_scientists_fight_against_disease/|title=Atom scientists fight against disease (1955) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422027/cesium137_soon_to_fight_cancer_1955/|title=Cesium-137 soon to fight cancer (1955) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} Brucer told a conference that the use of radio-isotopes of iodine, gold and phosphorus was becoming increasingly commonplace. He said that shipments of radioactive drugs from Oak Ridge numbered 50,000 units of radio-iodine, 50,000 units of radio-gold and 13,000 units of radio-phosphorus each month.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422162/tennessee_doctor_says_radioactive_drugs/|title=Tennessee Doctor Says Radioactive Drugs Being Used By Thousands (1955) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1956, Brucer said of progress in his field:

Isotopes remain potentially wonderful but the challenge now is how to handle them right, how to watch our step. Their role in physics and chemistry is highly technical, yet can be accurately measured. Our toughest obstacle in their correct use is human biology. Their effects differ person to person and sometimes even hourly in the same person. Against cancer we have the same problem with isotopes as with the x-ray and radium- minimizing the damage to good cells while killing the wild cells.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422296/gain_in_atom_medicine_the_aspiration/|title=Gain in atom medicine. The aspiration toward a radiant goal still is good (1956) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1957, Brucer was elected president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422636/society_of_nuclear_medicine_brings_out/|title=Society of Nuclear Medicine brings out developments for betterment of mankind (1957) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1958, Brucer tested experimental treatments for leukemia, involving the application of full body radiation and bone marrow transplants. Brucer said of the work:

The amount of radiation between wiping out the bone marrow and the amount needed to kill a patient is a very fine line... it is not yet good therapy, but most [of the patients at Oak Ridge] are terminal cases anyhow and maybe it is justifiable to deprive some of a few months of life to give life to those that are not killed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422855/nuclear_lab_experiments_with_leukemia/|title=Nuclear lab experiments with leukemia treatment (1958) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1959, Brucer collaborated with Dr Melvin L. Jacobs and physicist Leon Pape on the establishment of a new facility at the City of Hope Medical Center for research into full body radiation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425694/city_of_hope_unveils_room_for_research/|title=City of Hope unveils room for research on results of total body radiation (1959) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

Brucer was also involved in the promotion of research grants and gave occasional presentations and radio broadcasts on nuclear medicine in the 1950s around the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7409537/biology_group_plans_session_1954/|title=Biology group plans session (1954) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422405/radio_broadcast_the_new_world_of/|title=Radio broadcast: The New World of Atomic Energy - Atomic Energy & Medicine (1956) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422449/atoms_for_peace_display_prepared_for/|title=Atoms for Peace display prepared for State show (1956) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422526/scientists_hear_about_idahos_reactor/|title=Scientists hear about Idaho's reactor tests (1956) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422575/age_doctors_have_xrays_1957/|title=Age doctors have x-rays? (1957) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1961, Brucer presented a research paper to the Journal of the American Medical Association which suggested that the question of whether all radiation exposure was harmful was still open.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425828/report_finds_rays_may_extend_life_1961/|title=Report finds rays may extend life (1961) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} He also argued for the relaxation of permissible dosage limits, telling a group of doctors at St. Paul's Hospital that he daily took four times the maximum accepted dosage of exposure to cobalt-58. He added that he "would very happily take up to one hundred times the maximum permissible dose" and referred to the maximum permissible dose at the time as "ridiculous".{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425836/ridiculous_scientist_hits/|title='Ridiculous'. Scientist hits restriction on atomic study (1961) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} In 1960 the maximum permissible dose for radiation workers was set at 12 rads per year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425789/atomic_industry_safety_still_allows/|title=Atomic Industry Safety Still Allows Accidents (1960) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425802/learning_as_the_do_atomic_progress/|title=Learning as the do. Atomic progress retarded by strict safety measures (1960) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1961, Brucer gave a presentation at the Armed Forces Nuclear Medicine Symposium at Sandia Base. His presentation was on the topic of treatment of acute radiation damage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425910/nuclear_medical_meeting_begins_here_on/|title=Nuclear medical meeting begins here on November 27 (1961) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

He retired as division chairman in 1962, and later moved to Tucson, Arizona.

In 1965, Brucer was awarded the Atomic Energy Commission's citation for outstanding service. By this time he had published over 200 scientific papers and four books, and was acting as an editor of the International Journal of Applied Radiation and Radioisotopes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7426029/medical_unit_will_hear_dr_brucer_1965/|title=Medical unit will hear Dr. Brucer (1965) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1967, Brucer was appointed to the medical advisory committee of the Arizona Atomic Energy Commission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7426042/advisor_to_aec_1967/|title=Advisor to AEC (1967) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In the 1970s, the University of Arizona presented the Marshall Brucer Award for distinguished effort in radiation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7426066/university_of_arizona_will_honor_adam/|title=University of Arizona will honor Adam Schantz (1974) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1958, Brucer participated in scientific discussions of the hazards of nuclear fallout. He said of his own medical research work that he "had not seen any somatic (bodily) damage" during his application of radiotherapy. He stated that damage had only been observed when radiation was applied for the purpose of deliberately damaging tissue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7422702/scientist_says_truth_elusive_about/|title=Scientist says truth elusive about fallout (1957) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} He then wrote an opinion editorial later that year that stated that "fallout radiation from atom bomb testing is of the same order of magnitude as natural radiation. It is a tiny addition to our natural environment." In the same piece he argued that it was far easier to kill someone with an automobile than with radiation and made reassuring statements about the relative safety of American nuclear facilities. The piece was written in response to questions posed by the public following the irradiation of eight people at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in an accident there. His article was printed in various newspapers in 1958{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7423100/how_safe_are_us_atomic_energy_plants/|title=How safe are U.S. atomic energy plants? Marshall Brucer (1958) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425636/strictest_precautions_taken_at_atomic/|title=Strictest precautions taken at atomic bases (1958) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425664/atomic_energy_plant_safeguards_told_by/|title=Atomic energy plant safeguards told by U.S. radiation expert (1958) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425685/safety_precautions_takes_at_oak_ridge/|title=Safety precautions takes at Oak Ridge (1958) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} and 1959.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425715/radiation_safety_rules_formed_to/|title=Radiation safety rules formed to prevent rare occurrences (1959) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1959, Brucer went on to speak of nuclear weapon test fallout, predicting that public anxiety on the subject would peak in 1961 or 1962. He told a group of doctors that there was "already some evidence that this manufactured public hysteria is shifting from the scare headline 'fallout' to an equally large scare headline 'waste disposal'."{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425737/an_old_scare_radiation_fallout_and/|title=An old scare - radiation, fallout and waste disposal (1959) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

He continued to present and speak on these topics in 1960.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425772/radiation_toll_and_treatment_are/|title=Radiation toll and treatment are discussed (1960) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425780/medics_slate_atomic_injury_talk_1960/|title=Medics slate atomic injury talk (1960) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} In 1961 he reinforced his view that exposure to nuclear weapons testing fall out was "no cause for panic."{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425842/doctors_say_fallout_has_small_effect/|title=Doctors say fallout has small effect (1961) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} He also stated that the ability to measure radioactive fallout was a recent development, but simply being able to measure it didn't mean that it was significant. He also stated that the genetic effects of exposure to fallout on humans was unknown.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425856/no_danger_seen_in_increased_fallout/|title=No danger seen in increased fallout. Present effect on health rated insignificant by 7 scientists - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} He stated that "there is no proof that any distant fallout has ever caused any effect on any person."{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425879/finds_no_harm_in_red_fallout_group_of/|title=Finds no harm in red fallout. Group of 7 scientists says no proof of bad effects (1961) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425891/scientists_discount_dangers_of_fallout/|title=Scientists discount dangers of fallout (1961) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425885/dont_worry_now_scientists_discount/|title=Don't worry... now. Scientists discount atomic fallout danger. (1961) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

In 1961, Brucer suggested that the basement of a domestic residence would be sufficient protection from distant fallout, and raised concern regarding the impact of an accidental detonation of a nuclear weapon from the American inventory.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425929/forget_fallout_rain_let_peace_on/|title=Forget 'fallout' rain, let peace on Earth reign (1961) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}} In 1962, Brucer described a means of testing for radiation exposure by combing one's hair with a rubber comb and testing the resultant static electricity's ability to pick up a small piece of paper.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425980/nuclear_war_and_using_a_comb_to/|title=Nuclear war and using a comb to estimate radiation dose (1962) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425991/press_comment_so_long_baldy_1962/|title=Press comment. So long, baldy! (1962) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7426019/fallout_test_1962/|title=Fallout test (1962) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

Following his retirement in 1962, the American Medical Association continued to repeat Brucer's warning that "over-emphasis on radiation hazard could easily cause us to curtail the use of roentgen rays in medicine, in which case medicine as we now know it would disappear. It might cause us to curtain the use of roentgen rays in dentistry. It could cause us to stop radiation therapy and diagnosis with radioactive isotopes... the neglect of these things would be even more dangerous than under-emphasis of radiation safety."{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7425999/ama_reveals_new_guides_on_radiation/|title=AMA reveals new guides on radiation (1962) - on Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=2016-11-13}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

Category:American medical researchers

Category:1913 births

Category:1994 deaths

Category:Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies faculty

Category:American nuclear medicine physicians

Category:Northwestern University alumni

Category:Pritzker School of Medicine alumni

Category:City of Hope National Medical Center

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