They use a LINAC to produce a beam of high-energy electrons. This bombards a metal target and produces X rays, which they constrain with lead apertures to only affect the target area. (I spent a lot of time geeking out with the rad techs.) It's a bit primitive, but it beats using a gamma emitting isotope. (I got that too - to make sure there was no cancer left in my abdomen, I also got "the iridium dildo", a pellet of the isotope is inserted into a carrier inside my body by a spring-powered device. The tech asked me what kind of background music I wanted. I said "EDM, because it sort of fits with all this scientific equipment." He was pleased; the previous patient had requested gospel music.
And I remember seeing a science program on TV, or maybe reading in a magazine, about how the LINAC worked (and I also now know why they don't use cyclotrons for the purpose.)
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Date: 2024-03-30 11:03 pm (UTC)And I remember seeing a science program on TV, or maybe reading in a magazine, about how the LINAC worked (and I also now know why they don't use cyclotrons for the purpose.)