When it comes to prostate cancer treatments, while there is no sure-fire cure or one-size-fits-all treatment, the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, the premiere radiation center for cancer treatment in South Florida, want you to know CyberKnife is as good as it is true.
The Truth on Why CyberKnife is so Good
First of all, CyberKnife, a form of external beam radiation called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), has a 98% success rate for prostate cancer.
And it’s backed by years of research.
“The CyberKnife System is supported by two decades of published clinical follow-up, providing real-world evidence that the CyberKnife delivers excellent cancer control with reduced risk of side effects for cancer types throughout the body,” according to Accuray, the maker of CyberKnife
CyberKnife uses image-guided robotic technology to deliver targeted radiation directly to the prostate cancer or tumor without harming healthy tissue.
That precision really matters with prostate cancer because radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are so precise that healthy tissue is left unharmed. That precision lowers the risk of side effects like impotence and incontinence.
Treatments can be done in five radiation therapy sessions over 10 days compared to 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
It’s noninvasive so there are no risks of infection or long periods of downtime like there is with surgery.
And patients can be treated repeatedly with CyberKnife. That means if the cancer recurs, which happens up to 30% of the time, no matter which treatment you choose, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, patients can be treated again.
When caught early – as 84% of prostate cancer cases are — CyberKnife alone can treat the cancer, especially if it’s low or even medium grade and localized to the prostate cancer. For these early prostate cancers, cure rates with radiation are about the same as men treated with radical prostatectomy, which is surgery to remove the prostate gland, according to the American Cancer Society.
CyberKnife can also be used in conjunction with other therapies as well or in cases where prostate cancer returns.
If It’s so Good, Why Isn’t CyberKnife Available Everywhere?
CyberKnife may not be a household name because the system is expensive and requires experienced professionals to operate it. So, not every hospital or cancer center has the infrastructure, funding or the expertise.
But it’s a growing market and fast, as more people hear about it and demand it.
Two years ago, Accuray, announced that it had shipped out 30 systems in the U.S. and other countries – setting a new record for quarterly shipments and the market is continuing to grow. Currently there are 350 CyberKnife centers world wide, and you will see CyberKnife being used more frequently in the coming years.
“CyberKnife is the most sophisticated and refined way to treat most tumors,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami on CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel.
Dr. Pomper is one of the most experienced CyberKnife physicians in the country. And experience counts when comes to your treatment outcome. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and CyberKnife is right for you, consult with a center, like CyberKnife Miami, that has years of experience treating prostate cancer.
CyberKnife Treatment for Prostate Cancer in South Florida
CyberKnife Miami opened our doors 23 years ago. We were the first CyberKnife center to open in the Southeast. And we’re here to help you.
“If your doctor tells you, it’s not for you, go to a CyberKnife center and get a second opinion. Maybe it’s not the best treatment for you, but most of the time it is. CyberKnife is the most effective, safest and quickest way to treat prostate cancer so you can put it behind you and get on with your life,” Dr. Pomper advises.
If you are interested in learning more about CyberKnife Miami call us now at 305-279-2900 or go to our website.