Radiotherapy in Ukraine: Lancet Oncology

[Palex80]

Nice article on Lancet Oncology appeared last week.

Radiotherapy in conflict: lessons from Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia on Feb 24, 2022, has created a massive humanitarian crisis for Europe and degraded or destroyed a wide range of health-care infrastructures, including cancer care. The impact of this conflict comes on top of low-level war between Russian-backed forces in the...

www.thelancet.com

Radiotherapy in conflict: lessons from Ukraine​

Interesting facts:

- 80% of radiotherapy centers in Ukraine are/were Cobalt-based. I had assumed that 30 years after the breakup of the Soviet Union more of those would have been modernized with Linacs.

- 1 Linac per 500k people

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[RickyScott]

Linacs break down a lot and need contant supply of parts as well as expertise to fix. Not a good solution for 3rd world countries.

 

[medgator]

Linacs break down a lot and need contant supply of parts as well as expertise to fix. Not a good solution for 3rd world countries.

Makes sense from that standpoint, you are absolutely correct.

 

[Fpg1245]

Nice article on Lancet Oncology appeared last week.

Radiotherapy in conflict: lessons from Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia on Feb 24, 2022, has created a massive humanitarian crisis for Europe and degraded or destroyed a wide range of health-care infrastructures, including cancer care. The impact of this conflict comes on top of low-level war between Russian-backed forces in the...

www.thelancet.com

Radiotherapy in conflict: lessons from Ukraine​

Interesting facts:

- 80% of radiotherapy centers in Ukraine are/were Cobalt-based. I had assumed that 30 years after the breakup of the Soviet Union more of those would have been modernized with Linacs.

- 1 Linac per 500k people

And the lesson is what exactly? They had poor RT infrastructure prewar and now it’s worse? Can’t say I disagree

What’s next? How to deliver single fx RT to the rectum while taking mortar fire? A randomized control trial on the overall survival benefit of a flak jacket? When cancer goes to war: an RTTs perspective.

Aren’t there a ton of other more pressing health issues in that country at the moment?

 

[Mandelin Rain]

The way things are heading in America, "Radiotherapy in Conflict" may be in our future as well.

 

[TheWallnerus]

Nice article on Lancet Oncology appeared last week.

Radiotherapy in conflict: lessons from Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia on Feb 24, 2022, has created a massive humanitarian crisis for Europe and degraded or destroyed a wide range of health-care infrastructures, including cancer care. The impact of this conflict comes on top of low-level war between Russian-backed forces in the...

www.thelancet.com

Radiotherapy in conflict: lessons from Ukraine​

Interesting facts:

- 80% of radiotherapy centers in Ukraine are/were Cobalt-based. I had assumed that 30 years after the breakup of the Soviet Union more of those would have been modernized with Linacs.

- 1 Linac per 500k people

Cobalt is a pain versus a linac. But, Best sells a cobalt machine that does IMRT. I hear they're working on IGRT add on for the machine too. While the cobalt machine is delivering IMRT (or any other RT), it uses as much power--at most--as a modern laptop. It's very easy to run that with, like, a Honda gas powered generator. I like to remind people that Gen1 ViewRay used cobalt... and don't forget GammaKnife. Emphasis on the gamma.

Cobalt and non-linac machines make sense in countries with poor power infrastructure and political or socioeconomic instability. As an aside, the country that purchases the most Xstrahl units is Russia.

 

[Mandelin Rain]

Cobalt is a pain versus a linac. But, Best sells a cobalt machine that does IMRT. I hear they're working on IGRT add on for the machine too. While the cobalt machine is delivering IMRT (or any other RT), it uses as much power--at most--as a modern laptop. It's very easy to run that with, like, a Honda gas powered generator. I like to remind people that Gen1 ViewRay used cobalt... and don't forget GammaKnife. Emphasis on the gamma.

Cobalt and non-linac machines make sense in countries with poor power infrastructure and political or socioeconomic instability. As an aside, the country that purchases the most Xstrahl units is Russia.

What's an Xstrahl cost?

Can I put one in my garage and run a skin clinic?

 

[medgator]

What's an Xstrahl cost?

Can I put one in my garage and run a skin clinic?

Shhh don't give the derms any more ideas... SRT100 sounds more complicated than that

 

[Gfunk6]

Linacs break down a lot and need contant supply of parts as well as expertise to fix. Not a good solution for 3rd world countries.

Plus, you cannot weaponize linacs when your country is invaded.

 

[RickyScott]

Shhh don't give the derms any more ideas... SRT100 sounds more complicated than that

you should put in a food truck and drive it around to nursing homes in south florida.