What to Know about LINAC, Radiation Therapy

A cancer diagnosis brings a lot of uncertainty for patients and their families, and finding the right treatment team and facility can feel overwhelming. 

The WVU Cancer Institute, operated by Berkeley Medical Center, is dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of treatments and services- like providing radiation therapy with the precision technology of a linear accelerator. 

Linear accelerators (LINACs) are treatment machines that use high-energy x-rays and electrons to deliver external beam radiation therapy, which is often a part of the cancer treatment journey. 

 “Treatment with a LINAC lets us target tumors with high doses of radiation from multiple angles with extreme accuracy,” said Samantha Spearing, Director of Cancer Services.” This means we can attack cancer cells directly and spare surrounding, healthy tissue.” 

To keep up with the latest advancements in radiation therapy, construction and upgrades are underway at the WVU Cancer Institute at Berkeley Medical Center.  

This project includes additional space to treat patients as well as a Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator and a Siemens SOMATOM go Open Pro for CT treatment simulation, which is targeted for completion by Fall 2026. 

 With the addition of this new technology, The WVU Cancer Institute will be able to continue to provide state-of-the-art cancer treatment, while further enhancing the speed, precision, and safety of radiation therapy.  

“Time is precious,” said Spearing. “Any time we can give back to our patients and their families, that’s why we are here.”   

Learn more: Services by Location | WVU Cancer Institute