Radiation Hocus Pocus

They said it was hi tech— and that's no lie.  The first radiation beam happened yesterday. 

The machine is a large, gleaming, 8  by 10 foot disc-shaped structure set back from  

the narrow table where the patient lies down, head first. On the table, directly above my head was a round metal and glass case with visible machinery inside. This glass case is about 20 inches across.  

  

But that's not all.  

After some low whirling sound, a flat square panel rises from the left and  

sweeps across the body all the way to the right - like a panoramic camera.  

This It then rotates under the table and returns to rest position.  

 

That's not all.  

A third panel emerges from the right side and sweeps over the body all the  

way to the left. This series happens 2 or 3 times, Then the original  

round metal and glass case hovers and delivers the beam of radiation. It took about  

20-30 minutes. 

I was told by the technician that this is a brand-new machine that takes,  

X-ray, CT and delivers the stereotactic radiation.  

 

— Larry Scahill