Why CyberKnife – also known as Radiosurgery Means More Cancer Treatment Options for Patients
April is National Cancer Control Month. Every year, in the United States (since 1938), we dedicate this time to raise awareness about the factors that can cause, control and prevent cancer.
CyberKnife – also referred to as Radiosurgery is a breakthrough tumor control therapy. It helps to control, treat and subsequently, improve the quality of life of a cancer suffer.
Dr. John Lipani, a leading neurosurgeon explains the benefits of radiosurgery:
What Is Radiosurgery?
Radiosurgery, contrary to what the name suggests, isn’t a type of surgery. It is a type of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. Radiosurgery is actually used as an alternative to traditional surgery, treating cancer and non-cancerous tumors in the prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas and kidney.
What are the benefits of radiosurgery over traditional surgery or radiation therapy?
The benefit of radiosurgery over traditional surgery is that the patient does not need to have an operation. Their risk of developing complications post procedure is greatly reduced, as the body is not exposed to the bacteria and trauma associated with surgery.
The benefit of radiosurgery over traditional radiation therapy is that it has pinpoint accuracy when delivering radiation to the tumor. Healthy tissue surrounding the tumor is spared, causing fewer side effects than radiation therapy. Radiosurgery can target the tumor with this accuracy, as it has image-guided software which can be adjusted to patient and tumor movement. As it has increased accuracy, a lower dose of radiation can be used – which subsequently causes fewer side effects such as nausea, vomiting and hair loss.
Who benefits from radiosurgery treatment?
Radiosurgery offers people who are not candidates for surgery a chance to control and treat their cancer. There are many reasons why a person may not be suitable for surgery (such as their age or other pre-existing medical conditions).
Currently there are two hundred and twenty two CyberKnife systems installed worldwide, in private and public hospitals. It is a unique and new method of cancer control and treatment that’s constantly gaining popularity in healthcare.
Because CyberKnife’s radiation beam technology is so new and can be expensive for hospitals and clinics to invest in (which explains why such an incredible technology hasn’t taken over as every oncologist’s go-to treatment option). But as research continues to report the benefits of radiosurgery, we can expect to see radiosurgery catch on and start to become a more central part of treating cancerous tumors.
Is CyberKnife right for you? Talk with one of our cancer CyberKnife experts.
At the CyberKnife Center of Miami our experienced physicians and nurses can offer you the best advice on all your treatment options. Whether that be CyberKnife Therapy or not.
For more information, please contact us at: 800-204-0455
“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
~ Dalai Lama