Cobalt, Linac, or Other: What Is the Best Solution for Radiation Therapy in Developing Countries?
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary (Canada)
- Overlook Medical Center, Summit, New Jersey (United States)
- Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio (United States)
- Gamma West Cancer Services, Layton, Utah (United States)
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (United States)
The international growth of cancer and lack of available treatment is en route to become a global crisis. With >60% of cancer patients needing radiation therapy at some point during their treatment course, the lack of available facilities and treatment programs worldwide is extremely problematic. The number of deaths from treatable cancers is projected to increase to 11.5 million deaths in 2030 because the international population is aging and growing. In this review, we present how best to answer the need for radiation therapy facilities from a technical standpoint. Specifically, we examine whether cobalt teletherapy machines or megavoltage linear accelerator machines are best equipped to handle the multitudes in need of radiation therapy treatment in the developing world.
- OSTI ID:
- 22420331
- Journal Information:
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 89, Issue 3; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0360-3016
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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