Areas of concern can be targeted while normal tissues are protected from the high energy beam. Electrons are the portion of the atom that revolve around the nucleus or center - much like the planets around the sun. In a linear accelerator, it is electrons that are injected into a wave guide and accelerated close to the speed of light giving them a tremendous amount of energy. When electrons strike a target, they produce an x-ray beam. If the electrons are going to be used for treatment, then the target is removed and the electrons emerge.
Linear accelerators require a great amount of routine upkeep.
Patients are often told that running a linear accelerator is much like getting a rocket blast off and return safely each day. It is well known that delay in the administration of radiation can impact dramatically on the desired successful outcome. Prolonging of a prescribed treatment course can have harmful effects because cancer cells might regrow while treatment is not being delivered. This fact emphasizes the need for reliability. Already it has affected the lives of tens of thousands of individuals - those who have been successfully treated and their families and others close to them.