UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                 Amendment No.:

                  Name of Issuer: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

             Title of Class of Securities: COMMON STOCK $1 PAR VALUE

                             CUSIP Number: 92220P105



 Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
                                    is filed:
                                [x] Rule 13d-1(b)
                                [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
                                [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information  which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).

1.     Name of Reporting Person and S.S. or I.R.S. Identification
        No of Above Person:    Pequot Capital Management, Inc.
        Tax ID:                          06-1524885

2.     Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
        a.
        b.

3.     SEC Use Only

4.     Citizenship or Place of Organization:
        Connecticut

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

       5.     Sole Voting Power:     2,099,300

       6.     Shared Voting Power:     0

       7.     Sole Dispositive Power:   2,099,300

       8.     Shared Dispositive Power:     0

9.     Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
       2,099,300

10.    Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares:

11.    Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9):    6.25%

12.    Type of Reporting Person:     IA, CO


Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:  VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

     1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
          3100 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, California 94304

Item 2(a)-(c). Name, Principal Business Address, and Citizenship of Persons
               Filing:
               Pequot Capital Management, Inc., 500 Nyala Farm Road, Westport,
               CT, 06880, which is a Connecticut corporation.

     (d) Title of Class of Securities: COMMON STOCK $1 PAR VALUE

     (e) CUSIP Number: 92220P105

Item 3. This statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
        Pequot Capital Management, Inc. is an investment adviser registered
        under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Item 4. Ownership.
        Ownership as of December 31, 2001 is incorporated by reference to items
        (5) - (9) and (11) of the cover page of the reporting person.

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
        Not applicable.

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
        The reporting person is an investment adviser registered under Section
        203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and, as such, has beneficial
        ownership of the shares which are the subject of this filing through the
        investment discretion the reporting person exercises over its clients'
        accounts.

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
        Security Being Reported by the Parent Holding Company.
        Not applicable.

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
        Not applicable.

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of the Group.
        Not applicable.

Item 10.

By signing  below,  I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,  the
Securities  referred to above were  acquired in the ordinary  course of business
and were not  acquired for the purpose and do not have the effect of changing or
influencing  the control of the issuer of such  securities and were not acquired
in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or
effect.

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: February 14, 2002

By: /s/  Kevin E. O'Brien
Title: Chief Operating Officer