Albania enhances radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients with IAEA support (Arabic Edition)

The lack of proper cancer care equipment and facilities in developing countries means that many patients are left untreated. Radiation therapy machines are an essential part of effective cancer treatment, but they are expensive to acquire and maintain. With the help of the IAEA, Albania has been able to provide radiotherapy for its cancer patients and is now adding to its fleet another efficient, state-of-the-art linear accelerator (linac). Linacs and cobalt-60 (Co-60) machines are two of the most commonly used pieces of equipment for external beam radiation therapy, a procedure in which highenergy beams are used to kill tumour cells. Both Co-60 machines and linacs have been used for cancer treatment since the 1950s.