There has been tremendous advancements made in the treatment of brain tumors, and the CyberKnife radiation therapy system can be used as an alternative to surgery, or in conjunction with other treatments. CyberKnife plays a significant role in the management both for non-cancerous and cancerous brain tumors.
The technology was approved in 2001 and is used to treat tumors almost any where in the body, and is now commonly used to kill tumors in the brain and spine.
What is CyberKnife?
CyberKnife is the most advanced, non invasive radiation therapy tool available to treat all kinds of tumors, and nerve disorders like trigeminal neuralgia using precise beams of high-dose radiation. It is a no pain treatment, done on an outpatient basis, wherein patients go home or to work, or do whatever they want to do as soon as the treatment session is over and therefore, no hospitalization is required. The treatment uses a sophisticated image, missile guidance system to deliver high doses of radiation directly to the tumor.
The CyberKnife has three decades of clinically proven success rates curing brain tumors, including those that either cannot be operated on because of their location in the head, or patients for who cannot undergo brain tumor surgery due to their poor health, and it has success rates of 90% or above.
The CyberKnife has exceptional features compared to other types of radiation therapy. It delivers a maximum dose of radiation directly to the tumor from many different angles with sub-millimeter precision for the highest success rates.
The emitted focused beams of intense energy destroy cancer cells to shrink and control the growth of tumors. It further prevents the cancerous cells from multiplying. In fact, the objective of radiation therapy is to destroy the harmful cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells.
In addition, the CyberKnife system automatically adjusts itself and tracks the tumor during treatment, which minimizes radiation exposure to healthy surrounding tissue and vital organs. Hands down, CyberKnife offers multiple benefits compared to conventional radiation treatments and surgery.
For brain tumor patients, Gamma Knife treatment is not as convenient or comfortable, largely because Gamma Knife requires an invasive head frame to be bolted into the skull. Besides, the entire treatment process, right from imaging to planning the treatment itself has to happen on the same day. Typically, the head frame is mounted to the patient’s skull in the morning, followed by imaging scans. The patient has no choice but to wait in the hospital during the treatment planning process with the metal head frame bolted to their skull. It very uncomfortable and can take much of the day.
Compare this to CyberKnife which is completely non-invasive, features real-time motion tracking technology for accurate delivery of high-dose radiation therapy. Instead of a bulky head frame, CyberKnife patients are provided with a soft, mesh mask to wear during the treatment. Moreover, treatment with CyberKnife is flexible. Images or scans are taken a few days in advance, thereby leaving the medical team with enough time to finalize a customized treatment plan. Once the plan is set in place, the patient will return for a non-invasive, pain-free experience. Each treatment session takes about 45 minutes.
Using advanced tumor-tracking technology, the CyberKnife system is able to either deliver one single high-dose treatment, or smaller doses (up to 5) over the course of two to five days. This approach limits side effects and enables most patients to return to their regular routine the same day.
Additionally, clinical studies have shown that patients with certain cancerous and non-cancerous conditions in the brain, neck and spine have a better outcome with a lower dose of two to five fractionated radiation treatments than a single, large dose.
Nothing is required of patients during treatment with CyberKnife, except to relax and lie still on the CyberKnife treatment table. The treatment is usually completed in four to five treatment sessions, over five to ten days.
The cost of treatment with CyberKnife is usually less than the cost of brain tumor surgery.
If you want to know more, call the cancer specialists in Miami at the CyberKnife Center of Miami at 305-279-2900. They can answer your questions and help you determine if CyberKnife is right for you.
Dr. Mark Pomper, the medical director at CyberKnife Miami compares CyberKnife to whole brain radiation therapy on our YouTube Channel. Here’s the link;