New radiotherapy machine can zap out cancer cells without harmful side-effects

Scientists in the UK have claimed that they have developed a revolutionary radiotherapy machine with a beam so intense it can destroy the most aggressive tumours without harming surrounding healthy tissue.

The technology, being developed at the Cern physics laboratory in Switzerland, will allow more patients to have aggressive anticancer treatment without harmful side-effects, the Daily Express reported.

The equipment is being hailed as the next generation in cancer-fighting technology as it is more targeted, smaller and more affordable

Dr Stephen Myers, the director of technology for medicine at Cern near Geneva, said that this equipment will allow patients to recover faster and doctors to destroy more of the tumour, so survival rates are much better.

The new “miniaturised” machinery is a third of the size of existing machines. It will also cost less than half the price

The new technology is designed to treat cancers of the head and neck, spine, brain, lung and breast

Existing techniques can lead to devastating side-effects especially in children including blindness and deafness. The new machine will dramatically reduce the risk of such damage.