Pre-planning Linac Maintenance

Medical linear accelerators have continued to make progress through history since the late 1950’s and pave new ways for curing a variety of different cancers that once were not an option to treat. The design of the equipment combines the use of hardware and software that together gives the advantage of precision and overall success of today’s cancer treatment worldwide. Manufacturing and design continue to evolve and become a better tool for future use in reliability and efficiency but as with all mechanical systems, dysfunction and failures still exist. Having unplanned accelerator downtime and failures can impact a company and its patients very negatively. The scheduled treatments need to be performed at precise times given by the cancer specialists for an effective procedure while fighting against cancer. To avoid these situations from occurring, proper testing and maintenance of the radiology equipment must be done.

Steps During Maintenance

Deliver a daily quality assurance (QA) treatment
Automatically move and examine the log files that are created
Create baselines, then perform daily operating and performance values to statistical process control (SPC) for examination
Investigate if any alarms have been activated
Inform the facility and system service engineers

Trained Professionals

Medical physicists will typically receive basic training of the principals of linear accelerators functionality, but much hands-on experience will be lacking since there is a limited access to linacs that’s are in clinical use but more importantly because these devices can only be adjusted with small set of parameters to maintain. For actual technicians, training for service personnel is generally one of the largest components to a person early on in employment. The process can be lengthy and costly and require unique training from the manufacturer of linear accelerator company.

Scheduled Maintenance and Repairs

Typically, Linac machines will be under an annual service contract that will provide scheduled, preventative maintenance throughout the year to keep the radiotherapy machines running optimally. Keep in mind, older equipment may reach their “end of life” period and may no longer be supported or even worse parts can become sparse or unavailable which may be a reason to start to look for replacement linear accelerators. Extending the life of your current systems with upgrades will be the most cost-effective option for your business. By repairing or upgrading the system this will also not only save money but save precious down time that will need to be taken if having to remove and install new equipment is needed. Not having a machine functioning will mean no treatments being performed which could cost you losing valuable patients.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts and support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Techniques Used in Radiation Therapy

The leading cause of death globally remains to be cancer. The word cancer is often used when a person describes how a loved family or friend dies. The first cancer treatments appreciated were introduced in 1895 after the discovery of Xrays. Cancer treatment has continued to progress at an increasing rate each year with new technology and growth in knowledge on the subject. There are many treatment options to be considered such as radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy. Radiation therapy continues to be one of the most important components of treatments available since it’s estimated 50% of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy during their sickness. The reason for such a high amount of uses for this type of treatment is the efficiency to target the cancer cells with beams of radiation produced by radiation equipment called a linear accelerator or LINAC. The high energy x ray beams destroy the cancer cells while preventing radiation damage from the healthy cells. Radiation therapy can be delivered in two different ways, the first is through External beam radiation. This type is the most common and is used from the outside of a patient’s body by aiming the radiation beams at the location of tumor. The second type of delivery is Internal radiation or also called brachytherapy. Internal radiation is done through the inside of the body by radioactive sources such as catheters or seeds directly into the tumor.

Fractionation

Radiation dose fractionation is radiotherapy delivered in a fractionated form. This type of therapy generally increases the survival of normal tissues and cells over the cancer cells. Normal cells multiply more slowly compared to the rapid increasing cancer cells which allows the healthy cells more time to heal before they replicate.

3D Conformal Radiotherapy

New technology has allowed older 2D radiation therapy that previously used rectangular fields based on plain X-ray imaging to be replaced with 3D radiation therapy based on CT imaging. This replacement allows for a more accurate target of the tumor as well as precise location of other normal organ structures for the most efficient beam placement and shielding to occur.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Oncologists can create irregular-shaped radiation doses that take shape of the tumor while also having the ability to avoid other organs with IMRT technology. This process is all possible due to two factors which are inverse planning software and also computer controlled intensity modulation of multiple radiation beams during the process.

Image-guided Radiotherapy

The possibility to miss a tumor due to organ movement or the variations needed for each patient’s setup it becomes even more important for treatment options to be more precise than ever before. When critical tissue and organs are close to the tumor, a slight positional error could lead to radiation damage to the healthy cells. IRGT is created and utilized to allow detection of these such errors by the information taken through pre-radiotherapy imaging which can be used for corrections.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)

Another type of treatment that is possible today due to advances in newer technology is SBRT. This treatment delivers very high separate doses of radiation over only a few treatment fractions to destroy small tumors anywhere in the body of patient. The side effects of this however, tissues that are close in proximity to the tumor is likely to get damaged due to the high radiation dose. Since the amount of normal tissue effected is small in the high does region, toxicity is less. Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts and support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Choosing Radparts For Your Linac Needs

Radparts is a unique supplier of OEM replacement parts for linear accelerators and CT scanners. We partner with Acceletronics who offers a number of services surrounding LINACS including sales of new and refurbished radiation equipment, the servicing of radiation equipment, and a variety of services including relocation and removal of linear accelerators. This arrangement allows us to provide services that other companies cannot. Selling new and refurbished medical equipment can be quiet a challenge. This is true of CT scanners, linear accelerators, MRI systems, and other higher valued medical equipment. Medical facilities face a great deal of challenges of their own with making large scaled equipment such as financing, regulations, time issues, delays, and a million other obstacles that can cause delays. When working with the team at Acceletronics and Radparts we help to create a process that is practically seamless for our clients. This allows you to focus on growing their business and creating an environment to offer the most complete and comprehensive patient care program for patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Why We Are Better Than the Rest

Short-Terms Solutions – Sometimes facilities need a little more time to prepare for the installation and delivery of their new or refurbished linear accelerator. When our clients find themselves in need of a temporary solution to ensure their patients needs are met, we have them covered. Our sister company, Acceletronics, has pre-owned equipment that can be purchased to buy some time. These systems can then be utilized as a back up at a later date or resold. This is often a more affordable solution than renting a mobile unit.
Financing – New facilities and healthcare centers do not often have a lot of capital to buy and operate new medical equipment. We offer financing options as well as less expensive refurbished equipment that can be used to provide quality care to patients until facilities are more established.
Contracts for Service – We offer a number of contracts for servicing equipment. The major benefit is the team effort between Acceletronics and Radparts which ensures the parts that are needed to service your equipment are available and ready when needed. Here at Radparts we specialize in parts for repairing all linear accelerators and radiation equipment. We are the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for LINAC. With over 65,000 parts in stock and 3,200 individual line items – we are almost guaranteed to have what is needed to service or repair your equipment in a timely fashion.

A Little Preparation Goes A Long Way In Maintaining Linear Accelerators

Linear accelerators, LINAC, are large scaled medical devices that deliver external radiation in the form of a beam to cancerous tumors in order to shrink them. As with most medical equipment, LINAC systems are expensive which is a barrier that many facilities face when purchasing a new or refurbished unit.

With the expense of these large scaled systems it is important to make sure they are properly maintained and that you have access to linear accelerator parts for repair as needed. Medical facilities can contract with companies that specialize in maintenance and repair services of LINAC systems such as Acceletronics or have on staff a team of professionals whose job it is to provide these services for their equipment. There are advantages and disadvantage to both options, facilities choose based on their budget and facility needs.

Linear accelerators have evolved over the years. LINAC machines no longer only provide external radiation beams for treatment. Major advancement in this technology include onboard imaging systems and portal dosimetry. Such complex systems require biomedical and clinical engineers to not only understand what these machines do but also how they are operated. Even with advanced training, until the engineer has hands on experience it is difficult to truly understand how the machine functions.

Not only is the linear accelerator expensive but the expertise to use and understand the machine is costly as well. This again is an issue that faces many medical facilities. These two factors alone make up the most significant aspect of expense faced by facilities when deciding on the purchase of equipment.

All linear accelerators are not created equally and therefore when replacing an existing system there will be a significant cost to not only bring new equipment in but also the training on the individual piece of equipment. One way to combat this is to replace existing LINAC with identical refurbished linear accelerators.

We have discussed a lot about the expense of these units however there is also significant revenue to be gained by having external radiation treatment available to patients seeking treatment for cancerous tumors. It is important for facilities to make sure these machines are functioning at peak capabilities at all times. Downtime not only impacts revenue but also patient care. In order for patients to have effective treatment for their tumors it is important they are able to strictly follow the treatment schedule laid out by their radiation team. If equipment is down this is not possible.

To ensure that patient care and revenue is not affected by machine downtime it is crucial to maintain equipment. Machine maintenance includes repairs in anticipation of failure. If a parts failure is eminent based on previous experience it behooves the facility to purchase the LINAC replacement part ahead of time so that service can be provided around patient’s treatment schedules. This allows facilities to schedule downtime to prevent unplanned downtime.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Choosing To Replace Medical Equipment Opposed to Repair

There is quite a balancing act that goes on within healthcare facilities when it comes to whether or not medical equipment should be repaired or replaced. Unfortunately there is not one answer to address the issue. Decisions for repairing or replacing medical equipment such as linear accelerators and CT scanners needs to be done on a case by case basis. The most important factors being how the decision affects patient care and patient outcomes.

Many professionals involved in the decision to replace or repair medical equipment find weighing the costs and patient interests to be a difficult task. Facility decision makers need to determine the risks vs the rewards in how long to keep large scaled medical equipment in action. Preventative and corrective maintenance must be evaluated on a per machine basis to ensure the best decisions are made.

It is impractical to repair medical equipment when:

Replacement Parts Are Scarce: Replacement parts for LINACS or CT scanners aren’t common off the shelf items that you can find at any medical supply store. In fact, with manufacturers in a race to keep up with the latest and greatest technologies in equipment they are constantly phasing out older equipment which makes finding parts to repair medical equipment harder and harder to find. This alone makes it scary to rely on older equipment for critical patient care.

The Cost of Service: If medical equipment is not maintained or repaired by in house technicians’ facilities must look at the expense of service plans. Another factor is that as equipment ages, replacement parts are harder to find if not obsolete.

Patient Care Will Be Disrupted: When large scaled equipment starts to break down on a regular basis and interrupts patient care this wreaks havoc with patient care. If this is on-going, it can greatly affect your service and dissatisfied patients will seek care elsewhere.

On-Going Equipment Failure: Sometimes the equipment that you have is a giant lemon. If it is found that your device is failing time and time again it may make sense to replace it. Sometimes there is more liability in keeping a piece of equipment around that continues to fail than starting over.

There is a lot that goes into replacing a large scaled piece of medical equipment like a LINAC system, so it is crucial to have a plan in place for when the need arises. Not only does new equipment need to be purchased, the old equipment needs to be moved out to make room for the new. It is important to evaluate and reevaluate equipment frequently in order to avoid costly surprises. This is especially true in smaller facilities with stricter budgets.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Purchasing vs. Repairing Medical Equipment

Many medical facilities and healthcare clinics find themselves mauling over questions regarding repairing or replacing medical equipment. Questions may include ones such as the following:

What is the typical lifespan of the equipment?
Are we near the end or at the beginning of the equipment’s lifecycle?
Is it going to be cheaper to replace the piece now or to repair it?
Are repairs feasible and if so, are they cost effective?
When repaired will the equipment still be able to provide the high patient care standards we desire?
What is the cost of removing the old equipment?
Do we see maintenance costs of the older equipment increasing?

Often the choice to purchase a new piece of equipment verse repairing an older piece of equipment has to do with the cost of maintaining the older unit. Medical facilities and clinics figure if they are spending a couple of thousand dollars to maintain it then it is most likely better to replace it with a new piece. When it gets too expensive to maintain it is time to purchase a new piece of equipment.

For larger pieces of equipment like linear accelerators, CT scanners, and other radiation therapy equipment parts may start to become obsolete. When this occurs, parts for older equipment LINAC become quite scarce. It is important for facilities to ensure there are enough replacement parts available to maintain their equipment because the parts won’t be available any longer. It doesn’t mean that facilities need to plan for new equipment in the next year but that they should start planning for alternative part sources and planning for new equipment.

Make sure you are totaling up the annual costs of medical equipment repairs. Costs for parts and repairs can change as parts become scarce. Obviously, manufacturers of large scaled equipment want you to buy new sooner rather than later while the finance people within your facility want you to maintain the equipment as long as possible, especially when technology has not changed a great deal. Obviously, the goal is to make sure you are not spending valuable resources unnecessarily.

Medical facilities should find various resources in which to seek opinions on equipment and whether it should be replaced or not. Finding a solid medical repair and maintenance partner, such as Acceletronics and Radparts when determining whether to replace or repair an item, as well as what to do with older pieces when purchasing new ones.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

The Ins and Outs Of Radiation Therapy Using a Linear Accelerator

A linear accelerator is a large scaled piece of medical equipment that is used to treat cancerous tumors. It does this through a process of high energy x-rays that conform to the shape of a tumor and emits a radiation beam that destroys cancer cells while trying to spare the surrounding healthy tissue. Linear accelerators have a number of features that are built in which works to ensure the patients safety. These measures prevent dosages higher than what the patient has been prescribed to be given.

When you are schedule to receive radiation therapy using a linear accelerator, your oncologist will deliver the treatment that was planned between them, the dosimetrist and your physicist. The oncologist will double-check your treatment plan each and every time before they begin treatment. This ensures quality control and ensures that your treatment is delivered exactly as it should be.

Linear accelerators delivers external radiation therapy for patients with cancer. The LINAC is used to delivery treatment on a variety of areas throughout the body. High energy x-rays are delivered directly to the tumor using a radiation beam that is delivered from the linear accelerator. The treatment is designed to shrink and destroy the cancerous tumor without harming the healthy tissue that surrounds the tumor. LINAC is used to treat cancerous areas throughout the body using all of the conventional radiation techniques including: IMRT, IGRT, VMAR, SRS, and SBRT.

Linear accelerators work using technology similar to a radar. In the “wave guide” a part of the accelerator, electrons collide with a metal target to produce high-energy x-rays. The high-energy x-rays exit the machine in the shape of a patient’s tumor. These beams are shaped by a multileaf collimator that is within the head of the linear accelerator.

Patients are put onto a moveable treatment couch that is positioned properly and are asked to lie still. It is important to note that the treatment couch can move up, down, right, left, in, and out. The radiation beam comes out of the gantry, part of the accelerator, that can be rotated around the patient. These two systems, working together, can deliver radiation in a variety of angles.

Linear accelerators are operated by a radiation therapist. There are a team of experts who work together to create a treatment plan. A radiation oncologist, a medical physicist, and a dosimetrist work in conjunction of one another to come up with a treatment plan. The radiation oncologists prescribes the correct treatment volume and dose. A medical physicist and dosimetrist determine how your prescribed dose is delivered and calculated.

Patient safety is insured in a number of ways. Before treatment is given the plan is developed and approved in collaboration with your team. This plan is continually reviewed for quality assurance. Safety measurements are built directly into the accelerator that does not allow a higher dose of radiation to be delivered to patients. Before a patient is treated the radiation, therapist will perform unilateral checks across the LINAC. More thorough linear accelerator checks are done monthly and annually. Specialized companies are available for hire that maintain, service, and repair linear accelerators. It is important to have access to LINAC service providers and LINAC parts for repair. The less downtime a facility incurs the higher the quality of patient care they can provide.

Patients are supervised throughout treatment using monitors and microphones that in the room. This allows the patient and radiation therapist to communicate. The position of the radiation beam are continually checked to ensure the positioning has not moved from the original treatment plan.

The safety of the staff and patient are crucial when using linear accelerators in treating cancerous tumors. The LINAC is installed in a room all by itself. The walls of the room are made from lead and concrete to eliminate the high energy x-rays from escaping and exposing people outside of the room. Radiation therapists do not tun on the LINAC until they are safely outside of the treatment area. Linear accelerators will only emit radiation when the machine is in use.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Answers to The Top 4 Questions About Radiation Therapy

Anyone that is starting a new medical treatment has a right to be a little nervous. This article is being written to help ease the anxiety of cancer patients that are scheduled for radiation therapy. Fear comes because of the unknown and common misunderstandings patients have about radiation.

Radiation therapy is delivered using a large piece of medical equipment known as a linear accelerator. With maintenance, repairs, and part replacement linear accelerators can deliver radiation to an average number of patients for between five and ten years. Below we will answer the most commonly asked questions about radiation therapy using a linear accelerator, LINAC.

Is Radiation Therapy Painful?

Thankfully radiation therapy is not painful. Patients often report that they do not experience any sensation when the radiation is delivered from the LINAC. A few patients have reported that they feel a slight warm tingle in the area where the LINAC is delivering radiation. The skin in the area where linear accelerators deliver treatment can become dry and itchy over time. This can cause some discomfort but definitely not enough to stop treatment. Skin reactions due to radiation can be treated with over the counter ointment.

Does Radiation Therapy Cause Me to Be Radioactive?

Radiation therapy only makes patients radioactive when internal radiation is given. Patients are radioactive while the radioactive materials are in them. These patients are secluded in a private hospital room. Patients that are treated using a LINAC through external radiation, will not be radioactive at all. External radiation delivers a precise dose of radiation to the cancerous tissues instantaneously. With external radiation the radiation does not linger. Once the LINAC is turned off the radiation isn’t an issue. In external radiation, patients can continue on their normal routines without worry.

Will I Lose My Hair During Radiation Therapy?

Radiation is considered a localized treatment which means that it focuses directly on the area being treated. This being said you can expect hair loss in the area of treatment however unless treatment is done on your head you shouldn’t experience hair loss. Confusion occurs because people associate radiation and chemotherapy as one in the same therapies. The difference is that chemotherapy is a systemic treatment which means it affects the entire body. During chemotherapy there is a likelihood that patients will lose their hair.

Should I Expect to Experience Nausea and Vomiting?

Radiation therapy doesn’t usually cause patients to feel sick. If treatment is given in areas such as the liver, brain, or gastrointestinal tract patients have more of a risk to experience nausea. Also, patients that are going through chemotherapy and radiation at the same time there is more of a risk for feeling ill.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Treating Cancer With Radiation Therapy

There are many parts and components that must be considered when servicing and repairing linear accelerators and other types of radiation therapy equipment. Consider the inner workings of LINAC systems and the process they go through to deliver targeted radiation and you will see why professional servicing and maintenance is required.

External radiotherapy is done with the use of specialized radiation therapy equipment. This equipment is designed to aim beams of radiation at the source of cancer. The most common types of radiation being through the use of high energy x-ray beams. Other types can include particle beams, such as protons and electrons. These beams are used to obliterate the cancerous cells within the are being treated while preventing radiation damage to healthy cells.

Radiotherapy works by harming the DNA within the cancerous cells. The DNA is the genetic code which controls the behavior of the cells. Radiotherapy damages DNA directly on contact or creates charged up particles to damage the DNA. This treatment should stop the growth or kill the cancer. When cells die your body will break them down and get rid of waste substance. Normal cells could be damaged but usually repair themselves.

Before treatment can begin your doctor will want to go over the short- and long-term side effects. Most will be temporary and can be regulated with medication. The team that treats you will use a combination of images including x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, or PET scans. They will be used to monitor the size of the tumor and measure the shrinkage that is occurring.

Radiotherapy machines, like linear accelerators, are very large and can look extremely intimidating. A LINAC uses electricity in creating radiotherapy beams. The machine will never touch you and the radiation will not be felt. Some discomfort can be expected from the side effects of treatment but can be controlled using medication. For radiotherapy to work the radiation must cover the entire cancerous area and the surrounding border. Physicians will give the lowest dosage possible to prevent damage to the health tissue surrounding the cancer. This will reduce the risks of side effects to the healthy tissue.

The dose of radiation you are prescribed will be divide up into small doses known as fractions. Instead of one large dose, these smaller doses allow the same amount of radiation overtime which helps to alleviate the side effects and allows the healthy tissues time between treatments to heal. Radiation can be given as palliative care which is given to alleviate the pain associated with cancer or as a treatment to cure the cancer.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Installment Two – The Process of Treating Cancer Using Radiation

In our first installment on treating cancer with radiation we took a look in to exactly what radiation therapy was, how it worked, and how treatment is planned and delivered. In today’s installment we will look deeper into what patients can and cannot doing during treatment, how long treatment sessions take, what to expect, and potential side effects.

During treatment are there particular things I should or shouldn’t do?

It is hard to believe however, life as normal can continue while you receive radiation therapy. In fact, the less interruption to your overall schedule, the better. Try to think of radiation as you would any other appointment, don’t make it any more important than any other task in your daily life. Taking the importance away helps to ease anxiety. Consider the following when planning treatment:

Radiation therapy is performed using a linear accelerator. Some Skin tumors require a superficial x-ray unit, however for the most part radiation is delivered using a LINAC system. You will be required to lay still while on the table/couch underneath the linear accelerator while the treatment is occurring. You will feel nothing at all during the procedure. Many times, you don’t even know that treatment has occurred. A myth has circulated that you will be radio active after radiation therapy however this is incorrect. There is not a possibility of this at all.

Treatment can range from a single treatment, one time to multiple treatments a week for several weeks. This depends on a number of different factors including the type of cancer, where it is located, and how it is responding to treatment. Treatment is most often done during the week. The duration of your session will vary as well depending on the LINAC system that is used, and duration set in your treatment plan. Certain linear accelerators operate faster than others and certain cancers require slow and steady treatment. Your radiation oncologist will go over your specific case when reviewing your treatment plan.

During treatment it is important to drink plenty of fluids while eating regularly. A small, balanced meal several times a day will help with energy loss. It is also important to keep up on your regular, daily hygiene regimen. Try to avoid extreme foods of any nature, too spicy, too hot, too cold, and so on are not desirable when receiving treatment. It is also important to avoid extreme sun exposure during radiation as your skin will be more sensitive to burns.

What side effects should I be prepared for?

Radiation therapy provides a localized treatment which means that any side effect will depend on where it is received. You may experience the following:

Nausea: Depending on where treatment is given you may feel nauseous during or after treatment. (This could also be nerves) Whatever the case symptoms can easily be treated with the use of anti-nausea medication.

Diarrhea: As with nausea, diarrhea can be treated with medicine. Depending on severity a dietician can help prepare your diet to prevent future occurrences.

Sore Throat/Mouth: If you are having treatment done on your mouth or throat you can experience some tenderness. Your oncologist will offer suggestions to help prevent chewing and swallowing difficulties.

Increased Urination: Treatment in the lower abdomen and pelvic region can lead to frequently needing to relieve yourself. To prevent discomfort be sure to stay well hydrated by drinking extra water throughout the day. Take note of drastic changes which could be signally an infection verse side effects from treatment.

Hair Loss: This too is localized to the treatment area. Hair loss may occur on your chest, arms, legs, face, and head depending on where the radiation treatment is performed.

Can I continue to work?

As stated earlier, keeping your routine as normal is possible is key. Of course, each treatment plan is different, and your oncologist may recommend rest after treatment. If this is the case, you will want to follow their specific instructions. Once treatment is finished any side effects and symptoms should subside within a few weeks.

Will I need to follow up?

After radiation therapy is performed you will need to follow up with your physician. In most cases, the first time you meet after treatment will be between four and six weeks. This is not true in all cases and therefore it is important to work with your doctor to make these arrangements at the time of or before your last treatment of radiation.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.