Prostate Cancer: IGRT & the linear accelerator

Of all the scanners I've been put under or pushed through, the linear accelerator has to be the most impressive.

 

With its 4 'arms' rotating around your body, its half Swiss Army knife and half curious robot.

I can't help wondering if they ever go berserk, pick up the patient, spin them around a couple of times, and then dump them into a bin, saying "Sorry mate, you are beyond help!"

Prostate Cancer: "F" is for.... Fiducial

When the oncologist started to mention "fiducials" I obviously wanted to know how big they were and where he was proposing to stick them.

 

My first concern was unfounded, as it turns out they are quite small.

However, the second concern proved to be more justified.