CyberKnife CEnter Of MiamiÂ
Patient Success Stories
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Cancer Treatment Center in Miami, FL
Patient Success Stories
As a result of the compassionate care we deliver, we develop lasting relationships with our patients. Many times we hear from our patients about how the doctors and staff at CyberKnife Miami have helped them. For those of you we hear from, we thank you for passing along your kind words. Here are some of our favorite quotes and stories of survival:
âI had lung cancer and was given 3 months to live. That was 5 years ago, and now my life expectancy is the same as any person without cancer.â
âMy brain tumors dissolved while I got on with my normal routine of life, and if the tumor comes back, they zap it again and it disappears.â
âWith traditional spinal surgery, they would have cut my back open to remove the tumor, which could have left me paralyzed. With the CyberKnife, they just zapped the tumor and 30 minutes later I went to lunch.â

Video Testimonials
Former Top Gun Fighter Pilot Choses CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer
CyberKnife Treatment vs Surgery for Prostate Cancer
Listen to Our Patient Testimonials
Beating Bone Cancer that Spread to the Lung: JosĂ©âs Story
Beating Metastatic Ovarian Cancer: Leonorâs Story
Beating Colon Cancer that Spread to the Liver: Ricardoâs Story
Written TestimonialsÂ
Deborah's Story: Curing Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain with CyberKnife
âI donât know where Iâd be right now if my husband hadnât seen that TV Ad about CyberKnife curing Trigeminal Neuralgia pain with one treatment.â
Like many patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia Deborahâs symptoms started with mild sensitivity while eating, drinking or brushing her teeth so she thought it was a dental problem.
âThe pain would go away for awhile and come back with a vengeance. It hits out of the blue and shuts you down.â
X-rays ruled out dental problems but her dentist said she had classic Trigeminal Neuralgia symptoms and recommended she see a neurologist.
Often called the suicide disease, Trigeminal Neuralgia is a facial nerve disorder involving the Trigeminal Nerve in the head, which can cause constant intense facial pain. Itâs more common as we age but Deborah was only 40 when it began.As recommended, Deborah saw a neurologist, who ordered an MRI, and while the test didnât confirm Trigeminal Neuralgia, she prescribed Tegretol, often the first drug used to calm or block nerve pain.
âTegretol worked for awhile but the pain came back stronger so each neurologist I saw kept increasing the dosage which made me so tired I couldnât get out of bed and eventually Tegretol stopped working. I was in horrific pain every day and couldnât imagine going through life like this.â
Deborah saw many doctors, talked to everyone she could and learned there were surgical procedures she could try including Microvascular Decompression which involves making an incision behind the ear to relocate or remove blood vessels that are pressing on the Trigeminal Root to stop the pain.
Another treatment option is called a Balloon Compression, in which a hollow needle is inserted through the face and into the base of the skull to destroy nerve fibers and reduce pain.âI learned some people were helped by these treatments and others werenât. It was very confusing. Plus theyâre invasive and thereâs no guarantee theyâll work.â
Deborah says, âNot once did CyberKnife come up as a non-invasive treatment option. Luckily my husband Joey saw CyberKnife Miamiâs TV Ad. We immediately went on-line to the CyberKnife Center of Miamiâs website, watched videos, read patient success stories and called for an appointment.â
The CyberKnife Radiosurgery System works by delivering high doses of very defined radiation beams from multiple angles with extreme accuracy targeting the Trigeminal Nerve, desensitizing the nerve.
âWeâd never heard of CyberKnife or the CyberKnife Center of Miami. There was only one location and it wasnât affiliated with a hospital so we were skeptical, but I thought I have nothing to lose.â
The CyberKnife Center of Miami is the only free standing CyberKnife center in South Florida. Any patient can go directly there for treatment and any doctor can send patients to CyberKnife Miami. Patients come from all over the world to be treated for nerve disorders, plus cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
âMy husband called the center because the pain was so bad I couldnât talk. We were amazed at how helpful the staff was. They got me in right away. They explained everything in detail and did everything for me. They made it so easy. You pull up into their parking lot and go right in. Itâs not like going thru the maze of a big medical center. They even set up my appointments for a contrast MRI along with a CT scan and explained the extreme importance of being able to see exactly and precisely where the radiation should be targeted. No other doctor even mentioned I needed that.â
CyberKnife Miamiâs Medical Director and Board Certified Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Mark Pomper, along with the centerâs medical physicists mapped out her treatment plan.
Dr. Pomper says, âWhen I first saw Deborah she could barely talk or move because it would bring on such horrific pain. She was incapacitated.â
âWhile there are no guarantees, Dr. Pomper says, CyberKnife has an 80-percent success rate with less than a 1-percent chance of side effects, which can include temporary or permanent facial numbness or paralysis.â
Deborah says, âThe treatment took 45-minutes. Afterwards I felt a little queasy, had a slight headache, but by the next day, it was like a miracle. I was talking and feeling good. I had a couple of pain episodes but by the second week it was completely gone.â
Dr. Pomper says, âPatients suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia should always consider alternative options to surgery. After trying medication, ask your doctor, is there a non-invasive treatment available? Typically, patients need only one CyberKnife treatment. If the pain returns, a second treatment may be considered but weâve been very successful with just one treatment.â
Deborah says, âIf it wasnât for that TV Ad Iâd still be going from doctor to doctor trying to find an answer. The whole healthcare system is scary. You have to educate yourself and donât just do what your doctors say.â
âI felt useless, spent a lot of time in bed and was forced to miss a lot of work. I lived in pain for two-and-a-half years. I understand why itâs called the suicide disease and thatâs why we tell everyone we can about CyberKnife.â
âIâm extremely fortunate. I donât take small things in life for granted any more. This week there was a birthday party which I would have missed if not for CyberKnife. Nor could I have gone to my sonâs many basketball games. Iâve got my life back and my family has me back.âÂ
Talk to our Trigeminal Neuralgia Experts at CyberKnife Miami to see if you are a candidate for CyberKnife Radiation Therapy 305-279-2900 and go to our website www.cyberknifemiami.com
Angie's Story: Treating Spinal Tumors With CyberKnife
As a TV news anchor and reporter, 37-year-old Angie Perez is used to working long hours and hitting the red carpet in stilettos covering entertainment news, plus modeling.
“I’m not one to complain, but once in a while Iâd get back pain that I blamed on high heels, being on my feet a lot and exercising too much but it would go away with over the counter pain meds.â
âThey told me there was no danger to the spine and that the spinal tumors werenât doing immediate damage.â
Angie was prescribed physical therapy to strengthen her spine and pain medication.
“Nothing worked. Instead I got hives and swollen eyes. I couldnât go on the air. It was affecting my career. The pain was so bad in my legs that natural childbirth was a walk in the park.â
Angie continued seeing doctors and was wrongly told by one that the spinal tumors were cancerous.
In the meantime, the numbness and weakness in Angieâs legs was getting worse. âI feared permanent nerve damage and ending up in a wheelchair if this went on much longer.â
Doctors finally did surgery placing three titanium rods in Angieâs back to stabilize her spine. She then received treatment with CyberKnife Radiation Therapy to one of the spinal tumors, which was getting bigger. The CyberKnife delivers a high dose of radiation with pinpoint accuracy to the tumor, causing it to shrink, while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed.
âThe biggest mistake was not treating me right away. I walked around for six years with numb legs. Sometimes I couldnât get out of bed and had to crawl to the bathroom.â
âWithin 5-months after treatment I was back in 5-inch heels.â
However, a follow up visit discovered Angieâs other spinal tumor was growing dangerously bigger. Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Mark Pomper used CyberKnife again to treat it at the CyberKnife Center of Miami. Dr. Pomper says, âCyberKnife Radiation Therapy is a great option for spinal tumors because itâs non-invasive and, if possible you should always try non-invasive treatments first.â The CyberKnifeâs radiation beams kill tumor cells making it less likely theyâll start growing again.
Angie had a very good response to CyberKnife also known as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or SBRT.
Dr. Pomper says, âStudies show CyberKnife is often quite successful in achieving complete pain relief. When I saw Angie last, she looked like a different person. She was back on her feet and not having much discomfort. Weâre hoping not to see her again.â
Dr. Pomper says if a doctor recommends surgery or other types of radiation for a spinal tumor, get a second opinion because most people arenât aware of CyberKnifeâs capabilities, excellent results and how easy it is for the patient, requiring fewer treatments with no down time.
Angie’s says, âWhen all hell was breaking loose, I thought this canât kill me, my life isnât complete yet. I just wanted to get on with my life and back to work full time.â
âRight now Iâm feeling good. Iâm walking around airports, carrying luggage and wearing stilletos again.â
âIâm grateful and blessed to have become an American citizen and be treated in this country. If Iâd still be in Venezuela, I donât know where Iâd be now.
Helene's Story: CyberKnife Can Successfully Treat Metastatic Ovarian Cancer
âI woke up and couldnât breathe, I felt like I was suffocating,â says Mrs. Helene Rich. I sat up, slammed my fists into my chest and pounded it until I started breathing again. Mrs. Rich had suffered from pneumonia 3 years prior and thought the pneumonia was back.
Upon being admitted to the hospital, many tests were performed to determine why she had this frightening breathing attack and the results showed that there were cancer cells in her lungs. The cancer cells were interfering with the normal functioning of her lungs and she wasnât getting the necessary oxygen she needed to breathe. âI was feeling a lot of pressure in my chest and they had to remove 1 liter of fluid from my lungs. After that I felt much better,â she said.
Her Oncologist recommended chemotherapy as the best treatment option for the cancer cells in her lungs. She would require chemo treatments for 3 months and chose to live at a rehab center near her Oncologist because she lived far from the hospital. âI stayed at the rehabilitation center for 114 days until the chemo was finished. Living alone, it was better for me to be at a place where I could receive help in case I felt sick from the treatment. I have 4 children but I didnât want to stay with them and be a burden to anyone,â said Mrs. Rich.
After the chemo treatments were completed, a PET scan was taken to determine if the cancer cells in her lungs were gone and to check the rest of her body for any additional evidence of cancer. âI was told that the cancer cells in my lungs were gone but the scan did show that there were spots on my ovaries and I would need additional treatmentâ, she said.
âThe thought of more treatment was scary but I try to put a smile on my face, be as brave as possible and keep on goingâ.
The cancer cells in her lungs turned out to be ovarian cancer cells and since the cancer was also found in her ovaries and the surrounding tissue, Mrs. Rich was diagnosed with Metastatic Ovarian Cancer. This means that her ovarian cancer cells spread to her lungs before she was diagnosed.
âBack to the Oncologist I went to talk about what would come nextâ, she said. The Oncologist recommended a radical hysterectomy, surgical removal of the ovaries, or she could have standard radiation treatments which can take several months to complete. âIâm not having surgery, said Mrs. Rich, nor do I want to go through radiation treatments. At my age, undergoing surgery will not have a positive outcome and I will not put myself through thatâ.
While in search of an alternative treatment, a friend of Mrs. Rich happened to work for a doctor who sends his cancer patients to the CyberKnife Center of Miami where they use a non-invasive, painless treatment called CyberKnife Radiosurgery and suggested she consult with them.
CyberKnife Radiosurgery is FDA approved and is a non-invasive, painless procedure that uses very precise radiation to shrink or dissolve tumors with pinpoint accuracy and can be a great alternative to surgery. It safely delivers radiation directly into the tumor sparing healthy surrounding tissue. CyberKnife can also treat many lesions that would be considered inoperable or untreatable giving many patients new hope when there was none.
Mrs. Rich consulted with Mark Pomper, MD, a Board-Certified, Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director at CyberKnife Center of Miami. âMrs. Rich came to me with a diagnosis of metastatic ovarian cancer that was currently located in the pelvic area. CyberKnife can be a very effective treatment for this type of cancer because it actively spreads and with CyberKnife if the lesions return, we can zap them again no matter where they are located in the bodyâ, said Dr. Pomper. Â Mrs. Rich is strong and basically in good health and she should tolerate this procedure well.
âI had five CyberKnife treatments over ten days and didnât feel anything,â said Mrs. Rich. âI wasnât nervous, I laid on the table, listened to music and relaxed during my 45 minute treatment. After my treatments I was able to go out for lunch with my friend, walk the mall or do anything  I wanted to do. It is amazing! I felt fine in fact, I never even experienced any fatigueâ.
After completing her five CyberKnife treatments, a second PET scan was done to determine if the area of the original cancer was gone or had shrunk. The results showed that the lesions shrunk and were much smaller. âOften after we irradiate tumors with CyberKnife they shrink and over time they are completely gone, says Dr. Pomper. It is our hope that the tumor in Mrs. Richâs pelvis will dissolve completely.
âThe new PET scan also showed that the cancer had spread to the abdominal wall which is a frequent area of return for ovarian cancer, said Dr. Pomper, but we can treat them and we are hopeful that they will dissolveâ.
Recently, Mrs. Rich began another round of CyberKnife treatments to address the abdominal wall tumor. She will again have five treatments and is expected to do very well. Dr. Pomper explains that metastatic ovarian cancer is an incurable cancer but because CyberKnife technology is so precise, safe and effective, it enables us to treat the tumors if, or when, they recur giving our patients an extended and very good quality of life.
Mrs. Rich is doing very well. She is living her life to the fullest, has a wonderful spirit and such a positive attitude. She enjoys spending time with her 4 children and her grandchildren and loves going to Festival Flee Market with âThe Girlsâ. She speaks highly of Dr. Pomper raving about how wonderful he is. Â She says, âHe is very caring, thorough, and makes me feel so comfortableâ. The staff at CyberKnife is also terrific. Everyone is so attentive and friendly; they take wonderful care of me.
When I first met Dr. Pomper he asked me how I felt when I was told that I should have surgery  to remove my ovaries and I told him I was opposed to it. I was feeling good and I didnât want to put myself through invasive surgery. I knew I would be in pain from the surgery and that recovery could be difficult. Dr. Pomper told me all about the benefits of CyberKnife, painless, no cutting, no anesthesia, no hospital stay and how CyberKnife Therapy can do the same thing as surgery, get rid of the tumors. This sounded so much easier than the other difficult treatment options that were offered to me.  Another doctor even told me that CyberKnife would never work for me and that surgery was my only option, but why would I chose surgery when CyberKnife can non-invasively get rid of my tumors?
âIâm enjoying my life, Iâm not in pain, I have a good appetite, and I know that when, or if, my tumors come back they can be treated. I know that I made the right decision by refusing the surgeryâ, said Mrs. Rich.
âI tell everyone about CyberKnife. I tell them how important it is to know that you have choices when it comes to cancer treatments. I tell them not to decide what to do until having a consultation with the doctors at CyberKnife Miami because in my opinion, if you are a candidate, CyberKnife is better than anything!â
If you have been diagnosed with Metastatic Ovarian Cancer or have failed other cancer treatments contact our office to set up a consultation with one of our Board-Certified, Radiation Oncologists to learn if you are a candidate for CyberKnife. Call us today at 305-279-2900
Maria's Brain Tumor Successfully Treated With CyberKnife
âI wasn’t sick a day in my life. Never even took an aspirin  until I started getting headaches that didn’t go away.â
 60-year Maria Nin thought her headaches were caused from working long hours on the computer, or perhaps she needed glasses and went to an eye doctor who ruled out both problems and sent her to a neurologist.Â
âThe neurologist thought I was developing migraines and scheduled an MRI. When he said, you have a brain tumor, called a Meningioma behind my left eye, I was completely paralyzed and devastated. Even though it was benign, my husband and I were crying.âÂ
The plan was to wait a few months and follow up with a second MRI, which revealed the tumor was growing and something needed to be done. Thatâs when Mariaâs husband, a retired doctor, insisted she see his longtime friend Board Certified Neurosurgeon Dr. Aldo Berti.
âAs time went on my headaches got so bad, I was throwing up. I had to quit work and most of my life was spent in bed. It was scary but Dr. Berti was very reassuring. He said you have options and that was a big relief. He told us about CyberKnife.â
Treatment options for growing brain tumors include, surgery to remove them or radiation therapy like CyberKnife. The CyberKnife uses highly focused and precisely aimed radiation beams that shrink or dissolve the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
Dr. Aldo Berti says, âSurgery was not an option for Maria because of where the tumor is located and why would you do surgery when there is an excellent non-invasive treatment option? Because the tumor was growing, you donât want to wait until it gets out of hand. The best thing is to treat it non-invasively avoiding the risks of open surgery.â
CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) has a very high success rate for treating brain or spine meningiomas. About 95-percent of meningiomas stop growing after one treatment or a small series of treatments.
âDr. Berti told me the radiation only goes to the tumor, it doesnât damage anything else in the brain and you wonât have any side effects. He said youâre going to be okay and I said okay, letâs do it.â
Mariaâs next step was meeting Board Certified Radiation Oncologist, Dr. David Huang at the CyberKnife Center of Miami for treatment.
âFirst, I went to CyberKnife Miamiâs website, saw all the videos, read everything and told my husband this looks good. You go in, get treated, walk out, you can even drive home and do whatever you want. Itâs amazing. I was very excitedâÂ
Left untreated Mariaâs tumor could have caused vision loss and brain damage but Dr. Huang assured Maria that wasnât going to happen to her.Â
Dr. David Huang says, âMaria is the perfect candidate for CyberKnife Radiosurgery. Thereâs a good chance it will only require one treatment for the tumor to shrink. Should it start to grow again, which is highly unlikely, we can treat it again. She had a quick response to the first CyberKnife treatment. Within months the tumor was a lot smaller and continues shrinking. She has an excellent prognosis.â
Maria says, âI suffered almost a year, but soon after the CyberKnife treatment my headache was gone. Iâve never had another one.â
âA lot of people donât know CyberKnife exists. Doctors should tell patients about it and give them that option. For me it was like a miracle.â
âPlus, the staff at the Cyberknife Center of Miami is awesome. Itâs quiet, private and everyone makes you feel so comfortable. They take all your fears away.”
âDr. Huang and Dr. Berti are excellent. They both told me the same thing. CyberKnife is a great non-invasive option and youâre going to be fine.â
âAfter being diagnosed with a brain tumor, I thought my life was over but not anymore. Now I look forward to a long life with my family. Iâve been reborn thanks to CyberKnife. I want the world to know Iâm doing great and we tell everyone we can about CyberKnife Miami.â
If you have a brain tumor talk to our experts at CyberKnife Miami to see if youâre a candidate for CyberKnife therapy. 305-279-2900 and visit our website www.cyberknifemiami.com
Howard's Story: Prostate Cancer "No One Ever Told Me About CyberKnife"
Since 2011, Howard Maharaj had an elevated PSA score but was reluctant to go to a doctor to have his prostate checked. âI was in denial, said Howard.â It wasnât until 5 years later in January of 2016 while experiencing frequent urination that woke him 2 â3 times a night, he decided it was finally time to see a Urologist.â
âWhen I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I thought my world was coming to an end. I spoke with many men about their prostate cancer treatments and 95% told me that they had bad experiences with open surgery (prostatectomy) or standard radiation and many felt very sick from their treatments.â Those who elected surgery had long recuperations and some experienced side effects including frequent urination and ED, erectile dysfunction.
Men who chose standard radiation had 42 treatments over several months and were feeling so tired that they were unable to enjoy a quality of life. âI knew that neither of these treatment options were for me, said Howard. I didnât know what I was going to do.â
In Trinidad Tobago, West Indies where Howard resides, there are limited treatment options available for prostate cancer even though they have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the Caribbean. Howard realized that he needed to search outside of the Caribbean and went to Canada where he once lived in search of newer treatments. âAgain, the only treatments I heard about were surgery and standard radiation. It wasnât until I spoke with my cousin in New Jersey that I learned about CyberKnife Radiation Therapy and it sounded very interesting. No one ever told me about CyberKnife.â
CyberKnife, also known as SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy) is the most advanced radiosurgery technique available for treating prostate cancer. It is non-invasive and reduces the risk of side effects that can result from traditional treatments such as surgery and standard radiation.
With CyberKnife Therapy you typically undergo 5 treatments over about 10 days, compared to 42 treatments over several months with standard radiation. It dissipates tumors with pinpoint accuracy and is less likely to harm surrounding healthy tissue. Thereâs no cutting, incision, blood, anesthesia, pain, and no recovery time.
Data from a recent study on CyberKnife treatment for low-risk prostate cancer showed of the 230 men who participated in the study, 98.4 percent had local disease control 10 years after receiving SBRT.
After learning about CyberKnife, Howard knew this was the treatment he would be most comfortable with.
He researched the internet to find the closest CyberKnife location to Trinidad and found CyberKnife Center of Miami. âI immediately went to their website to learn more and I read and watched the wonderful patient success stories. I was convinced this is where I needed to go for my treatment.”
âI called the Center and spoke with Maria who had me send my records to see if I was a candidate for CyberKnife and indeed I was! Maria made all of my travel plans, including booking a hotel within walking distance of the Center. Maria was wonderful, she is a very caring person and made me feel very comfortable.â
Just 1 month later, on December 11, 2016 Howard began a series of 5 treatments, 1 treatment every other day, under the care of Dr. Mark Pomper, Radiation Oncologist & Medical Director at CyberKnife Miami.
âHoward was an excellent candidate for CyberKnife says Dr. Pomper. He was in good health and while his PSA levels continued to rise, his MRI and bone scan showed that the tumor was localized to his prostate so we werenât worried that the cancer had spread to other areas. The procedure went very smoothly, and he tolerated it well enough that he was able to go about his life and enjoy Miami.â
Howardâs treatments were completed within 10 days, the only side effect was a little constipation which didnât last very long and some fatigue. âI felt nothing during the treatment, in fact I rested, listened to music and found it relaxing.â He felt so good throughout his treatments that he was able walk to and from treatments, enjoy a few beers with friends after 1 treatment and enjoy some sightseeing around Miami. Just three weeks after completing his treatments, he already felt better and stronger and no longer woke up during the night to urinate.
Howard says that the team at CyberKnife Miami was so accommodating. âDr. Pomper is very compassionate, he explained everything very professionally and he addressed my fears because I was very nervous.â Howard even referred to Dr. Pomper as an âAmbassadorâ who should be commended! He also worked with Mario Tobon, a Radiation Therapist at CyberKnife Miami who helped him through his treatments and says heâs a fine gentleman who should be commended for his clever personality. âWhen youâre a medical patient you need upbeat people around you to keep your spirits high and feel comfortable while being treated, says Howard.â
Two months after the CyberKnife treatment Howard went for another PSA test and the results showed his levels dropped to 1.1 ensuring that the treatment was successful! âI was so excited about the news and my new healthy life that I called everyone! When I was first diagnosed with cancer I felt a sense of emptiness worrying whether or not I would beat this and was so concerned that my life could be coming to an end. Now Iâm on top of the world, my PSA levels went from 15.1 down to 1.1, it doesnât get much better than that!â
Cynthia's CyberKnife Story: Successfully Treated Arteriovenous Malformation
âIt started with tingling and numbness on the left side of my face and ringing in my ears. Gradually the pain got so bad I actually saw stars and couldnât feel my legs. I hurt from my head to the bottom of my feet.â
âI blamed it on stress, working too hard, getting older, even my shoes. I love shoes and gave away all my pretty shoes for flats.â
Over a two year period Cynthia, a resident of Saint Lucia Island in the Caribbean went from doctor to doctor, going through all kinds of tests, when finally an MRI she had done in South Florida discovered the culprit, a tangled mass of blood vessels in her brain known as an AVM or Arteriovenous Malformation.
AVM affects less than 1-percent of the population. Most people are born with them but occasionally they form later in life.
Once diagnosed they can be treated by restoring normal blood flow to the brain. Left untreated they can cause bleeding, brain damage or stroke.
âWhen I first got the results it was scary because itâs like a balloon inside my brain thatâs been growing for years and could burst any time.â
Cynthiaâs doctor in St. Lucia recommended she stay in the U.S. and get treated right away but it wasnât easy.
âIt took weeks to get an appointment and when I finally did, one neurosurgeon, even though he had my MRI and knew what I had, wanted to run more tests costing close to 40-thousand dollars at my expense because I donât have U.S. medical insurance.â
âAnother doctor said there was nothing he could do for me and two others suggested watching and waiting, and if I get a brain bleed go to the emergency room.â
âCan you imagine, I could have had a brain bleed, ended up with brain damage or a massive stroke.â
In many cases AVMâs are treated with surgery to remove the mass or doctors use a technique called Embolization, which requires injecting a liquid adhesive into the AVM to try and block it off.
Cynthia didnât like the risks that came with those options, including, infection, a brain bleed and stroke. She contacted Board Certified Neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Shaya with the Neurosurgical Institute of Florida. He specializes in CyberKnife Radiosurgery and recommended she go to the CyberKnife Center of Miami for treatment.
âRight away I went to CyberKnife Miamiâs website, read all about how the CyberKnife works and read the patient success stories. I instinctively knew this was what I wanted to do.â
âDr. Shaya said it was the best and easiest option for me with no down time and probably could be done with just one treatment. Plus he did everything for me. He called CyberKnife Miami, set up the appointment and even offered to help me set up a payment plan since I donât have insurance.â
Using image-guidance and computer controlled robotics, the CyberKnife used the most precise high dose radiation delivering beams from hundreds of directions to the AVM gradually shrinking it and reducing the long term risk of brain bleeding and stroke.
âThe staff at CyberKnife Miami is so welcoming. They make you feel relaxed, not scared. You donât feel like you are having a medical treatment. I actually enjoyed being there.â
Cynthia also met Board Certified Radiation Oncologist, Dr. David Huang at CyberKnife Miami, who worked with Dr. Shaya and the medical physicists, to map out her treatment plan.
Dr. Huang says, âMost patients respond very well to CyberKnife treatments yet a lot of AVMâs are still treated with brain surgery, which is more risky and costly. But thatâs changing as more doctors learn about CyberKnife and patients are asking for it. I believe it will become the standard treatment for most AVMâS.â
Dr. Huang adds, âCynthiaâs AVM was big and deep in the brain, in an area that controls vision and movement. It would be difficult to remove it without causing some damage. CyberKnife Radiation Therapy doesnât cause any harm, thereâs no risk of infection and can shrink the AVM, so that it is no longer a threat.â
Nothing is required of patients during treatment. Come dressed comfortably, bring music to listen to and relax.
âThe treatment took about an hour and I didnât feel a thing. I almost fell asleep on the table while the CyberKnife did its work. When I got off the table, it was like nothing happened. It didnât interrupt my life in any way.â
Dr. Shaya says, âCynthia did phenomenally well and her symptoms resolved within a week. We are checking MRIs of the brain every 6 months as her AVM is slowly disappearing. The risk of this AVM bleeding spontaneously is decreased significantly as well.”
âHer prognosis is excellent, says Dr. Huang. Thereâs an 80-percent or better chance sheâll have no problems and if she does we can re-treat the AVM with CyberKnife again, but I doubt thatâll be necessary.â
Cynthia says, âEverything has improved. I have no more facial or foot pain or ringing in my ears. I do everything I did before.â
The 58-year-old retiree plans on traveling and spending more time with family and grandkids. When deciding on treatment options she says, âDo your research. Donât just do what the first doctors tell you to do. Get a second or even third opinion. With CyberKnife thereâs nothing to be afraid of. It allows you to go about your work and daily life as though nothing happened.â
âI just wish I had all my pretty shoes back because now I can wear them again.â (She Laughs)
Don's Story: Prostate Cancer "Why I Chose CyberKnife Over Surgery"
âI was numb for 24-hours after hearing cancer in the same sentence as my name.â
When 55-year-old Don Kearns landed in a urologists office with kidney stones the doctor also suggested a PSA test for prostate cancer since heâd never had one.
âI said no way. I have no symptoms and thereâs no family history of prostate cancer.â
The doctor convinced Don and discovered his PSA level was high, recommended a biopsy which revealed prostate cancer.
âIt hit me like a ton of bricks. I immediately started researching what that meant and thought, Iâm a dead man. My brother had kidney cancer ten years ago. Heâs okay but my father died of lung cancer at 55 and I was turning 55 so I was pretty nervous.â
Don started researching the best treatment options for prostate cancer and spoke to seven doctors.
âThe majority recommended surgery. They said it was the best way to treat it at my young age. But I didnât like the risk factors including damage to other organs, impotence and incontinence.â
All the surgeons assured Don those things wouldnât happen but Don wasnât convinced because he knew of men experiencing such side effects after prostate surgery.
Don was also frustrated with many of the doctors offices because they wouldnât take his calls or call back when they said they would. One center scheduled surgery without his permission.
âI was having nightmares and in the back of my mind I kept thinking about CyberKnife. Iâd heard about it, started researching, found The CyberKnife Center of Miamiâs website and began reading. It explained exactly how CyberKnife works. I read all the studies, patient testimonials and watched the videos on the website. It was very helpful and seemed like a much better option.â
So Don called The CyberKnife Center of Miami.
âThey talked me off the ledge and made me feel so comfortable.â
CyberKnife Miami recommended Don consult with board certified radiation oncologist, Dr. Mark Pomper to learn more about CyberKnife Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, also known as SBRT and design his treatment plan.
âI showed Dr. Pomper a picture of my family and grandchildren and said, this is why Iâm here. I want more time with them. Dr. Pomper laid out all the objective facts and was the most gracious doctor I talked to. I was convinced and moved forward with treatment at CyberKnife Miami and Dr. Pomper. For the first time I felt confident I was on the right track and slept well that night as did my family.
âDr. Pomper says, âDonâs a good candidate for CyberKnife because his tumor was small and hadn’t spread.â He adds, âThereâs a general thought among surgeons that surgery is better for men under age 60 because radiationâs long term effects may cause problems years later, like impotence and incontinence, but thatâs not what research is proving. Surgery has long term effects too. CyberKnife has fewer side effects if any. Its pinpoint radiation beams hit only the tumor, dissolving it, so we can give a much higher dose with a lot fewer treatments, leaving healthy surrounding tissue unharmed.â
CyberKnife, considered a standard radiation treatment option for prostate cancer requires only 5 treatments over two weeks instead of 45 or more over several months with other types of radiation.
Don says, âI asked one surgeon what about doing CyberKnife SBRT and the doctor said whatâs SBRT and I walked out of his office.â
CyberKnife is the most effective form of SBRT known as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. While some doctors donât know about it, most do but may not recommend it because their medical center doesnât have the technology. Plus itâs less lucrative because it requires much fewer treatments.
Some urologists may have a conflict of interest because they have ownership in a conventional radiation therapy center making more money recommending 45 treatments instead of five.
Don was also told by surgeons thereâs not enough research on CyberKnife even though it was FDA approved in 2001, has treated hundreds of thousands of patients world wide, is covered by insurance and has a 97-percent success rate for prostate cancer.
Dr. Pomper says, âThereâs nearly 20 years of scientific research proving itâs safe and effective. I bring my patients to The CyberKnife Center of Miami because often itâs the best treatment option for them.â
CyberKnife Miami is open to all patients world wide and CyberKnife trained radiation oncologists.
Don says, âFrom a customer service stand point, CyberKnife Miami is superior. Every time they said theyâd do something they did it. If they said theyâd call, send an e-mail, set up an appointment they did it. They were on time and walked you thru every step. Their professionalism is impressive from the first call to the last follow up. What I never expected was their radiation therapist, Mario Tobon showing up for my MRI and CT Scan at imaging facilities not part of CyberKnife Miami. When youâre scared, donât know what to expect and they come to hold your hand, it gives you and your family a lot of confidence and eases your fears. They treated me and the whole family compassionately and that meant the world to me.â
“The whole process was a piece of cake. Iâd lay down on the CyberKnife table for each forty minute treatment, relax and listen to my special music play list. Itâs fascinating how a machine which makes no noise is so powerful.”
“My side effects were minimal. After my fifth and final treatment, I had a little fatigue and urinary urgency that lasted maybe a day. Nothing bad enough to stop me from working or doing any thing. Weâd walk out of CyberKnife Miami and go to lunch while surgery patients I knew of were dealing with pain, bleeding and learning how to urinate again.”
Dr. Pomper says, âDo yourself a favor, before you get any cancer treatment do your research, l learn all your options, get a second opinion from a radiation oncologist and ask about CyberKnife therapy.âDon agrees, âYouâve got to be your own patient advocate. The only person looking out for you, is you. The biggest take away from my experience is what goes on with American medicine today, itâs unreal.â
“Now I educate everyone I can about prostate cancer and CyberKnife. Iâm amazed CyberKnife isnât offered to everyone. After my first treatment I went to the gym and set my personal best bench press and endurance record and then hit the golf course.”
âCancer changes you. You look at sunsets differently and you donât sweat the small stuff. Iâm a fighter with a positive attitude. Iâm fighting for my life and Iâm going to win.â
Jeff's Story: Taming Trigeminal Neuralgia
YOU’D THINK BEING TOLD THAT YOU’VE GOT A BRAIN TUMOR AND 6 MONTHS TO LIVE WOULD BE AS TOUGH AS THINGS COULD GET…
That was 15 years ago, and it turned out to be the easy part for 54-year-old Jeff Rodriguez of Tamarac, Florida. Jeff survived the brain tumor, but surgery to remove it triggered a painful, facial nerve disorder called trigeminal neuralgia.
Itâs caused by a non-specific triggering of the trigeminal nerve in the head, which can result in constant and/or repeated episodes of severe sudden burning or shock-like facial pain.
The intensity of pain can be physically and mentally incapacitating and last for days, weeks, months, or even years. The attacks often get worse over time, with fewer and shorter pain-free periods.
Jeff says, âThe pain is excruciating, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. I had no relief, not for a moment. I couldnât eat, sleep, drink, touch my face, or let my children touch my face.â
Trigeminal neuralgia is often called the suicide disease because many patients have taken their lives due to the extreme pain.
Jeff says, âThe constant pain caused me to lose everything. My six-figure job, my wife, my children, my home. I couldnât work. I had no physical or mental strength. I went to many doctors and they all told me there was nothing they could do except give me medication. They had me on so many drugs and pain killers that I was zoned out. I was told thereâs no solution, there are no treatments available, just keep taking the drugs.â
Jeff and his current wife Sabine could not believe that and were not about to give up and accept it. They searched nationwide for a solution and finally found it with the help of South Florida neurosurgeon Dr. Jack Klem.
âBy the time some patients arrive to a specialist, they are usually at their wits end and unaware of the complete spectrum of treatment options available. Trigeminal neuralgia is sometimes under treated with medications and patients may accept that nothing more can be done for them,â says Dr. Klem.
But patients do have other options besides medication, including brain surgery. However, itâs extremely invasive and comes with risks, including brain infection and months of recovery time.
Another treatment option, which is totally non-invasive, is CyberKnife radiosurgery therapy.
Dr. Klem says, âAdvancements made in CyberKnife radiosurgery give patients suffering from this excruciating condition the ability to regain control of their lives and often make the pain go away.â
Dr. Klem referred Jeff to the CyberKnife Center of Miami which has extensive experience treating trigeminal neuralgia patients for nearly two decades.
Dr. Klem and a radiation oncologist at CyberKnife Miami meticulously mapped out Jeff’s trigeminal nerve and other sensitive normal brain areas for treatment planning. A single treatment lasting about an hour with the CyberKnife radiosurgery is all it would take.
The CyberKnife system works by delivering high doses of multiple radiation beams to ablate or vaporize the trigeminal nerve with extreme precision and accuracy. Unlike Gamma Knife, CyberKnife radiosurgery treatments are pain free, do not require anesthesia or invasive skull frame placement and are performed on an outpatient basis.
Patients come in wearing their street clothes, lie down on the CyberKnife table, and listen to their favorite CD while treatment is administered. Immediately following therapy, they can return to normal activities.
Dr. James Schwade, CyberKnife Miami’s executive director says, “Patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia should always consider alternative options to surgery and pain medication, including non-invasive options like CyberKnife therapy.”
Typically, patients need only one treatment. If the pain comes, a second CyberKnife re-treatment may be considered.
CyberKnife has a success rate of 75-to-85 percent with less than a 1-percent chance of side effects, which can include temporary or permanent facial numbness or paralysis.
Dr. Schwade says, “Many people still don’t know about CyberKnife Radiation Therapy for trigeminal neuralgia and we’re trying to get the word out to the public about this non-invasive treatment so they know to ask their physicians about it.”
Jeff says the most frustrating part about all of this was being told by doctor after doctor that the only treatment available is medication, and yet CyberKnife has been around for more than 15 years. Jeff had immediate pain relief with just one CyberKnife session.
âEighty minutes into the treatment, I had them stop because I no longer felt pain. I thought something was wrong because I didnât know what that felt like any more.â
âI can do anything now. The day my son touched my face for the first time was the most amazing day in my life because he never could do it before.â
âWhen I first heard about CyberKnife I was a little skeptical because it sounded too easy, but when I got up from that table, I was crying, I was so happy. Itâs a miracle. My heart wants to explode with joy. People used to say, you donât smile, but boy do I smile now.â
Shaun's Story: Acoustic Neuroma
âCyberKnife gave me the chance to carry on with my life and not miss even one of my kidsâ games.â
Getting hit in the head with a baseball isnât usually considered a good thing, however in Shaun Marquezâs case, it may have saved his life.
âIâm a soccer and little league coach for my kids. I was behind home plate when one of the kids on the team swung his bat and the baseball flew backwards hitting my face.â
That blow set off a constant ringing in Shaunâs ear and sent him to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, Dr. Bradford Ress.
âWe conducted tests to see what was causing the non-stop ringing, including an MRI, and discovered that Shaun had a slow growing, non-cancerous brain tumor known as an acoustic neuroma. It was located near Shaunâs brainstem and could be dangerous if left untreated.â
The 44-year-old North Miami Beach resident was stunned because he had absolutely no symptoms.
âWhen you get a diagnosis like that, it’s life changing. I was numb and didnât know what was going to happen. I sat in my car trying to process it all before I could call my wife Cruz to tell her and my four kids. Cruz was a great, positive support and kept reassuring me everything was going to be alright.â
Dr. Ress advised Shaun of his treatment options.
Surgery to remove the tumor or CyberKnife radiosurgery, a non-invasive treatment, which delivers the highest dose possible of pinpoint radiation, destroying the tumor and leaving surrounding healthy tissue unharmed.
Shaun says, “To me, it was a no brainer. There were too many risks with surgery. All my motor skills could have been affected, the risk of general anesthesia and brain infection. Recovery was a long process with a hospital stay and weeks away from work. CyberKnife was non-invasive. You go in, lie down on the table, listen to music, and the machine does all of the work, moving quietly all around you. Plus itâs less expensive.â
CyberKnife radiosurgery has been used for more than two decades with extremely high rates of tumor control. Dr. Ress says, âCyberKnife is great for treating acoustic neuromas and most patients are good candidates for it.â
Shaun went to the CyberKnife Center of Miami for treatment. All it took was one 45-minute session done on an outpatient basis. A team of doctors worked out his specific treatment plan, including Dr. Ress and radiation oncologist David Huang, MD, PhD.
He had the treatment on a Wednesday morning, coached a little league game that evening, and was back at work Monday.
Dr. Ress says, âFor people who canât take time off work, this is a great option. All our patients have done really well with CyberKnife therapy.â
Shaun says, âIf I had chosen to have surgery, I would have had to quit coaching for a while or maybe never again. With CyberKnife, I had no side effects and even drove home after the treatment. My wife wanted to drive and I said âNo, I feel good.ââ
âThey take such good care of you at CyberKnife Miami. I wasnât scared, they were very comforting and explained everything. I also went to their website and watched their video on how CyberKnife works.â
Two years after Shaunâs CyberKnife treatment, his brain tumor is smaller. If it starts growing again CyberKnife therapy can be repeated.
âItâs eye opening when youâre told you have a brain tumor. You think of all the things you might miss. I donât take anything for granted anymore.â
âCyberKnife made everything so much easier. It eliminates all the stress and risks that could go wrong with surgery. If at all possible, why would anyone choose any other option?â
âCyberKnife gave me the chance to carry on with my life and not miss even one of my kidsâ games. Iâve just got to watch out for flying baseballs â or not.â (Laughs)
Sunita's Story: Ovarian Cancer
âI have four kids and I was able to go to my daughterâs college graduation, my older sonâs wedding, and see my granddaughter being born.â
When 47-year-old Sunita Chinapana started feeling bloated she passed it off as just getting older. âI had pain on both sides of my body and I actually looked pregnant, but I thought âIâm just going through the change of life,â so I didnât think much of it. Then I noticed problems lifting my leg.â
A series of medical tests revealed Sunita had ovarian cancer that had spread to her diaphragm and behind her liver. She underwent surgery, removing two tumors that together weighed almost 11 pounds, followed by chemotherapy.
Turns out, Sunita was allergic to chemo drugs, which caused so much pain she couldnât walk. Her doctor recommended going to Boston and enrolling in a clinical trial using an experimental cancer drug designed to prevent and destroy tumors.
In the meantime, a friend of Sunitaâs saw a medical story on a Miami TV news station about the CyberKnife Center of Miami and how the cancer experts there greatly helped another ovarian cancer patient whose tumors had spread.
The CyberKnife is robotic radiation technology. The device delivers high doses of radiation with pinpoint accuracy directly to the tumor leaving surrounding tissue unharmed. The tumors are zapped and shrivel up while you get on with life.
âMy friend insisted I go to the CyberKnife Center of Miami, so I did.”
Dr. James Schwade, CyberKnife Miami’s Executive Director says, âThe CyberKnife is not a knife at all. It’s a powerful radiation beam that targets and destroys tumors. They gradually dissolve over time. There is no cutting and if tumors come back usually we can treat them again.”
A radiation oncologist at CyberKnife Miami treated three out of seven of Sunitaâs tumors.
Sunita says, âI was very confused. I didnât know what to do so I went back to three of my doctors for a second opinion and they all said CyberKnife would not work for me. Desperate to try anything, I went to Boston for treatment.â
Turns out the experimental drug didnât work so Sunita quickly went back to the CyberKnife Center of Miami.
Her three tumors that were treated before with CyberKnife therapy were gone. Four others that had developed were then treated and 5 weeks later, they were gone too.
Sunita says, âIf I had listened to my original doctors and not gone back to CyberKnife Miami, I don’t think Iâd be alive today. I am so excited about my success story that I want to tell the world about CyberKnife technology because I donât think many doctors and patients are informed about it. My family also jumped on the band wagon, telling everyone we know about The CyberKnife Center of Miami.â
Dr. Schwade says, âCyberKnife radiosurgery is extremely well tolerated and doesn’t have the toxicity of chemotherapy. It’s another tool that is helping us control cancer much like you would diabetes or other chronic diseases. We can help people live longer and yet maintain a good quality of life.”
Sunita says, âI was so comfortable Iâd fall asleep during my treatment. They had to wake me up and say it’s time to go home. I had no pain, no side effects, nothing.â
âThe whole CyberKnife Miami experience is awesome. From the time you check in, to meeting with the doctors, helping you with your insurance, itâs a walk in the park.â
âI have four kids and I was able to go to my daughterâs college graduation, my older sonâs wedding, and see my granddaughter being born. Thanks to the CyberKnife Center of Miami, I look forward to more major milestones in my life.â
Hildegard's Story: Surviving Lung Cancer Thanks to CyberKnife Miami
âI am so grateful. Being sent to CyberKnife Miami was the best thing that happened. Without CyberKnife, my wife wouldnât be with me right now.â
Hildegard Ireland was busy helping run her familyâs Florida resort back in 2008 when, during a routine check-up, her doctor discovered polyps in her throat. Because she was a smoker, Hildegardâs doctor sent her for a CT scan, which revealed a lung tumor.
âI was in absolute shock when the results came back. I had no symptoms. I quit smoking that day.â
Because of Hildegardâs long smoking history, weight, age, and possibly suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), she wasnât a candidate for surgery. Instead her doctor recommended radiation therapy using CyberKnife technology at the CyberKnife Center of Miami.
CyberKnife therapy, also known as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) allows radiation oncologists to treat most small lung cancers and lung cancers that have spread from all other forms of cancer, including liver or breast cancers for example.
Hildegard says, âIt was very scary at first, but at the CyberKnife Center of Miami they explained everything so well and it was easy. I just went there and laid down on the table and didnât feel a thing during treatment. Each session took about an hour.â
Dr. James Schwade, CyberKnife Miami’s Executive Director says, âCyberKnife therapy allows us to deliver the highest dose of radiation possible to a lung tumor or any kind of tumor without damaging surrounding tissue. Before CyberKnife technology we couldn’t treat lung cancer. We can now because this technology can track the tumor as a patient breathes normally. That means the radiation beam only hits the tumor, so healthy tissue is untouched.”
Soon after treatment, Hildegardâs tumor disappeared completely. She thought she was in the clear, but in 2010 another tumor appeared, this one involving a rib.
âAgain, I had no symptoms. The tumor was detected during one of my regular follow-up screenings.â
This time, Hildegard underwent chemotherapy and again CyberKnife radiosurgery. It was successful.
When another tumor showed up in 2011, this time in her chest wall, CyberKnife Miami treated it again.
âIâve always had a very positive attitude, and I think thatâs important. Every time the cancer came back, I was confidant CyberKnife would take care of it, I would get through it, and I did.â
Once again, Hildegardâs tumor disappeared following CyberKnife therapy. Once again, another one showed up in a lung in 2014.
âI’ve been treated four times with CyberKnife over the last eight years, and my last scan was clear. I wouldnât be here today if it wasnât for CyberKnife. Iâm living proof that you can live and survive with lung cancer.â
Hildegardâs husband Harold says, âI am so grateful. Being sent to CyberKnife Miami was the best thing that happened. Theyâre right on top of it. If a tumor shows up, they take care of it. Without CyberKnife, my wife wouldnât be with me right now.â
At 81-years-young, Hildegard is retired and looking forward to traveling the US with her husband of 35 years.
She says, âWe had never heard of CyberKnife but we learned all about it and now we tell everyone we can about it. We are big CyberKnife Miami advocates.â
Breakthrough treatments like CyberKnife Radiation Therapy and early detection are among the reasons many more people today are surviving lung cancer.
Talk to one of our cancer experts to find out if CyberKnife Miami can help you or a loved one â (800) 204-0455.
Laurie's Story: Managing Cancer Like a Chronic Disease
âI have been cancer-free for over two years now without chemo or any other treatments.â
Since being diagnosed with breast cancer 16 years ago, Laurie has endured a mastectomy, brain surgery, spine surgery, chemotherapy, standard radiation treatment and finally, CyberKnife radiation therapy.
All of this occurred because her breast cancer metastasized to several parts of her body, over and over again.
âI believe with all my heart that CyberKnife saved my life, because tumors can be treated repeatedly if they come back, so basically theyâre managing my cancer like a chronic disease. If another tumor pops up, they can treat it with CyberKnife and chances are good that it will go away.â
When Laurie was treated for breast cancer with a mastectomy and chemotherapy in 1994, she thought her cancer was gone and that she had nothing to worry about. Thatâs why when she suddenly started having severe headaches in 2008, she didnât think much of it. âIâm a nurse and I know people get headaches for many reasons. It doesnât necessarily mean itâs anything serious.â
Several months later, Laurie bent over and got very dizzy. âIt felt like something was shaking in the back of my head so I went to my doctor and he immediately sent me for a CAT Scan.â Test results showed Laurie had a brain tumor, which had metastasized from the breast cancer.
âBreast cancer runs in my family. Thatâs why I try to be diligent and get mammograms every year, but I unfortunately missed one year and the next year they found the tumor. I was shocked, yet I shouldnât have been, considering my family history. If I hadnât missed my yearly mammogram, perhaps the cancer might have been caught earlier and wouldnât have spread to my brain.â
Fortunately, the brain tumor was surgically removed and treated with standard radiation; however her neurosurgeon later on felt Laurie needed additional treatments so he also recommended CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery Therapy at the CyberKnife Center of Miami.
Dr. James Schwade, CyberKnife Miami’s Executive Director says, âCyberKnife Therapy was not only the perfect choice for Laurie. It was her only choice. She was not a candidate for more standard radiation treatments because it could have detrimentally effected her healthy brain tissue. But the CyberKnife beam and its pinpoint precision, only hits the tumor so the surrounding tissue is unharmed.”
CyberKnife is the gold standard in stereotactic radiosurgery for treating tumors almost anywhere in the body.
It can often be used after conventional radiation with few if any side effects. Plus, if a tumor comes back we can usually retreat it with CyberKnife therapy.
Several months after her brain tumor was treated, more tumors showed up in her spine, liver, and lymph nodes. Each time tumors returned they were treated again with the CyberKnife.
Dr. Schwade says, “We can not only treat recurring tumors, patients can maintain their quality of life while undergoing treatment. Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence any more. We can extend patients lives with breakthrough therapies like CyberKnife and that’s what we’re trying to educate the public about. “
Laurie is living proof that with CyberKnife therapy, cancer can be managed like a chronic disease.
Laurie says, âI promote CyberKnife wherever I go. I tell every doctor about it and every person I know or meet. CyberKnife seems to have cured the tumors in my brain, liver, and spine. I have been cancer-free for over two years now without chemo or any other treatments.â
Joe's Story: Comparing CyberKnife to Standard Radiation for Prostate Cancer
âTreatment with CyberKnife is like a day at the beach. Standard radiation for my throat was torture.â
When Joe Aviles was diagnosed with prostate cancer during his annual physical, it came as quite a shock. âI said âWow.â I had prostate cancer, and I didnât have any symptoms, nothing, no problems.â
Joe admits he was scared about treatment. âWhen I talked to other guys I heard horror stories. Doctors took out their prostate or they had too much radiation and now they canât hold their urine or get erections.â
Joeâs doctor told him all of his options: he could do watchful waiting, surgery to remove the prostate, standard radiation treatments, or have CyberKnife radiosurgery therapy.
âThere was no way I was going to have my prostate taken out and with standard radiation, treatment would take over two months, but then my doctor told me about the CyberKnife and that seemed like a better way to go. There was no cutting, no surgery, and treatment was finished in two weeks.â
Joe went to the CyberKnife Center of Miami and met with a radiation oncologist, “He treated it like it was no big deal. He assured me this was a good way to go. He said, “Donât worry, youâre a young man, and youâll live to be an old man.”
Joe was a good candidate for this non-invasive treatment because the tumor was small and contained in the prostate.
Dr. James Schwade, CyberKnife Miami’s Executive Director says, âThere is a lot of solid research proving that CyberKnife Radiation Therapy is as effective as standard radiation treatments with fewer if any side effects and CyberKnife can be done in 5 treatments over a 10 day period compared to 42 treatments over several months.
Because the CyberKnifeâs radiation beam is so precise, itâs much less likely to damage surrounding healthy tissue, therefore resulting in fewer side effects.
Joe says, âI canât believe what some of my friends with prostate cancer went through, and they didnât have to. The saddest part is their doctors didnât tell them about CyberKnife. After talking to the cancer experts at CyberKnife Miami and learning about the CyberKnife, I knew I made the right decision. I canât believe anyone would choose anything else. It was so easy. I didnât feel a thing during or after treatment. Most times, I just laid there, closed my eyes, and listened to the music.â
Joe had 5 CyberKnife treatments over 10 days. “Itâs been 6 years since my treatments. Iâm cancer-free and have no complaints. I wish more men knew about CyberKnife. Donât just do what your doctor tells you, do your homework, learn all your treatment options.”
Joe has also has been treated for throat cancer, which required chemotherapy and standard radiation. Because it had spread, CyberKnife was not an option, but he wishes it would have been. Hereâs how Joe compares the two.
âTreatment with CyberKnife is like a day at the beach. Standard radiation for my throat was torture.â
Joe and his wife Luz go to cancer fundraisers all the time. He says, âIt gives me the opportunity to educate people about CyberKnife. If I had to do it over again Iâd go to CyberKnife Miami and my friends would too.â
Earl's Story: Beating Kidney Cancer with CyberKnife - Saving Both Kidneys
âThe treatment was such a simple thing. I had absolutely no side effects and I donât feel any different today than I did before kidney cancer.â
When Earl Moncada was diagnosed with bilateral kidney tumors and cancer in his right kidney in 2005, he knew exactly where to go.
âAs luck would have it I had just seen a story on TV about CyberKnife, a new treatment for tumors.â
Earlâs diagnosis came a short time after the CyberKnife Center of Miami opened its doors and he saw it on the news.
âThank goodness I saw the news, because my doctors wanted to remove one of my kidneys, but when I heard that, I went to CyberKnife Miami and they said, why would you remove it when we can try to treat the tumor with CyberKnife?”
CyberKnife radiosurgery is a non-invasive alternative to surgery for treating cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body. It delivers high doses of pinpoint radiation directly to the tumor with extreme accuracy and minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. It kills tumor cells and over time the tumor dies. Because it delivers the highest dose of radiation possible, patients need fewer treatments and the control rate is high.
A radiation oncologist at the CyberKnife Center of Miami who treated Earl, says, âRemoving a kidney completely or partially is standard treatment for this type of cancer, but often itâs not necessary. In this case with bilateral kidney tumors CyberKnife was the best option for Earl. You can treat the kidney in a shorter period of time and get rid of the tumor without significantly effecting kidney function.â
Earl knows heâs lucky in more ways than one. The tumor in his right kidney disappeared, but six years later another tumor developed in his left kidney.
Earl says, âImagine if I would have listened to those doctors and had my right kidney removed? I would have had only one kidney and then what would they do? Either I would have been on the list for an organ transplant or maybe even be dead!â
Both of Earlâs kidney tumors were treated with CyberKnife. His last treatment to the left kidney was in 2011 and both kidneys are functioning completely normal. He had zero complications, like he never had bilateral renal cell cancer.
Earl says, âThe treatment was such a simple thing. I had absolutely no side effects and I donât feel any different today than I did before kidney cancer. Why wouldnât people choose CyberKnife over being cut into?â
Dr. James Schwade, CyberKnife Miami’s Executive Director says, “Another good thing about CyberKnife is if the tumor comes back we can often treat it again.”
Earl’s cancer was controlled and his organs were spared.
âCyberKnife Miami saved my kidneys and my life. If I had listened to my other doctors, I probably wouldn’t be around today,â says Earl.
Earl canât brag enough about the CyberKnife Center of Miami, âThe staff is so nice. Itâs scary at first but they explain everything so well, and make you feel completely relaxed. Any chance I get, I tell people about it and they listen.â
Today Earl, a retired airplane instrument repairman, spends as much time with his five grandkids as possible.
âI hope it’s all behind me. The doctors tell me that Iâm cured of kidney cancer. Iâm so grateful that I went to the CyberKnife Center of Miami and am very lucky I saw that story on TV about the treatment because my doctors sure didnât tell me about it.â
Mike's Story: Prostate Cancer
“After CyberKnife treatments, it’s like I never had prostate cancer!”
As an airline executive, Mike Cibula frequently traveled the world, but that did not stop him from getting his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels tested every year, since age 40. Mike was diligent about it because his dad had prostate cancer.
Mike had a clean bill of health until recently. At the age of 66, Mikeâs PSA results came back higher than normal. He was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer and had a Gleason score of 7.
His urologist recommended surgery or âwatchful waitingâ but the Miami Shores, FL resident wasnât interested in either option so he called a trusted friend who has a lot of medical knowledge.
Mike says, âShe suggested I go to the CyberKnife Center of Miami. She worked for a surgeon that often took his patients to CyberKnife Miami to treat all kinds of tumors, both cancerous and non-cancerous.â
Mike had never heard of CyberKnife, but called CyberKnife Miami to check it out. They sent him information about CyberKnife radiosurgery for prostate cancer. After studying it, meeting the staff, and speaking with other patients, he was convinced and chose CyberKnife radiosurgery treatment.
CyberKnife isnât a knife at all. There is no cutting or anesthesia. It uses pinpoint targeted radiation with missile guidance technology to target and treat tumors.
Dr. Silvio Garcia, the board-certified radiation oncologist who treated Mike at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, says, âMike was a good candidate for CyberKnife because his tumor wasn’t large and it hadn’t spread.â
Mike says, âIt was five easy treatments, about 20 minutes each over 10 days, and I had absolutely no side effects, it didnât slow me down at all, and I havenât had a problem since. I don’t feel any different today than before I knew I had prostate cancer.â
Dr. Garcia says, âWe’re seeing very positive results with CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer. More than 90 percent of patients five years post-treatment continue to maintain low PSA levels.â
Surgery for prostate cancer carries an increased risk of incontinence, impotence, and infection. In addition, standard radiation requires 40+ treatments over two to three months compared to CyberKnifeâs five treatments over 10 days.
A recent study found more than half of prostate patients who choose âwatchful waitingâ discovered their cancer was much more aggressive than previously thought. Dr. Garcia says heâs very cautious about watchful waiting. âI believe that being proactive and taking immediate action is best.â
Mike agrees, âWhy take the risk of being cut open or waiting if you can have it taken care of quickly, efficiently, and effectively with CyberKnife?âÂ
Dr. Garcia says, âYears of mounting research is proving CyberKnife to be the gold standard for treating prostate cancer, and as more men learn about CyberKnife it will become the number one treatment of choice.â
Today, retired from his job at the airlines, Mike continues traveling the world. He remains cancer-free and tells anyone whoâll listen about CyberKnife Center of Miami.
âThey made me feel so comfortable and are so nice. I can’t say enough great things about them. All of the doctors work together as a team. They were all there for my first treatment and they continue to call to see how Iâm doing. Their compassion is just incredible. I asked them to send me a stack of brochures and I pass them out to everyone to help spread the word about this amazing technology. I am forever grateful to have learned about CyberKnife and in particular the CyberKnife Center of Miami.â
Rubyâs Story: Living Life to the Fullest while Battling Breast Cancer that Keeps Spreading
âIâve had stage 4 cancer for years. What amazes me is how good I feel; I donât feel like Iâm going to die.â
Ruby Alexanderâs fight with breast cancer began 16 years ago and sheâs still going strong!
âWhen I was first diagnosed, I cried for days.â Because the cancer was caught very early, Ruby was told all she needed was a mastectomy. No chemotherapy or radiation necessary. âSo after the mastectomy, I was sure I wouldnât have any more cancer.â
Five years later, on September 11, 2001 it was back. âI remember that day so well. We heard two planes crashed into the World Trade Center while I was getting follow-up tests, and they found a tumor on my sternum.â It was treated successfully, but a few years later it showed up in her liver and then her lungs. âI was so scared and feeling very sorry for myself but remained optimistic.â
Chemotherapy and standard radiation worked. âNo matter how many times it came back I didnât let it get me down or give up hope.â
Unfortunately it reappeared in her lymph nodes. Rubyâs doctor said the cancer was very slow growing and there was nothing to do except come back in three months for another checkup.
Not liking what she heard, Ruby talked to her neighbor, a doctor who reads CT scans, and he recommended she immediately go to the CyberKnife Center of Miami for treatment. âWe never heard of CyberKnife so I looked it up online and found their website and called. They gave me an appointment right away. As soon as they saw my X-rays they said, âWe can help you.â We couldnât believe no doctor had mentioned it to us before.â
Dr. James Schwade, Executive Director of the CyberKnife Center of Miami says, âThe CyberKnife is often excellent for treating lymph nodes because it tightly targets the area, can be done in very few treatments, doesnât affect the surrounding tissue, and prevents cancer from spreading in that area.â
CyberKnife delivers a very high dose of radiation directly to tumors, killing them, and prevents them from coming back.
Dr. Schwade says, âWaiting to treat cancerous lymph nodes could result in the disease spreading to other areas faster, creating more problems.â
Unfortunately, many patients still donât know about CyberKnife technology and if doctors donât have it at their hospital, they often wonât recommend it.
Rubyâs advice to anyone battling cancer is, âIn the beginning, you think your doctors know everything and recommend the best treatment, then you find out they donât. I donât know what wouldâve happened if Iâd waited. You must be your own patient advocate, ask questions, talk to others, and keep researching treatment options.â
Dr. Schwade says, âItâs on a case-by-case basis, but in Rubyâs situation CyberKnife is very useful and can keep patients functional.â
If the cancer shows up in another lymph node, it can be treated again.
Ruby says, âIâve had stage 4 cancer for years. What amazes me is how good I feel; I donât feel like Iâm going to die.â
Ruby walks four miles a day, travels often to see her grandchild, and is living life to the fullest.
John's Story: Beating Prostate Cancer
Ricâs Story: Surviving Colorectal Cancer and Liver Metastasis
CyberKnife Gives Hope To More Cancer Patients:Â âA Life-Saving Treatment Grossly Underused!â
âCyberKnife was my only hope for a possible cure and it actually went better than I expected.â
Ricardo Suarez was enjoying every minute of life traveling the world as a fine arts dealer when it suddenly came to a screeching halt.
âI was having a ball, and then for no apparent reason I began having indigestion and losing weight. I thought it was just part of getting older.â
Turns out it was colo-rectal cancer that spread to his lymph nodes.
âIt was a very serious case. I was 52, and the outlook was grim.â
Ric underwent chemotherapy, conventional radiation and surgery, which were successful but then the cancer spread to his liver.
âI had 10 lesions on my liver, big and small. I felt hopeless. My priest helped me through the journey of acceptance. I felt at peace.â
Ric was given six months to live, but a friend insisted he consult with the cancer experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami.
Dr. James Schwade, CyberKnife Miami’s Executive Director says, “After careful evaluation it was confirmed CyberKnife radiosurgery was a good option for Ric. CyberKnife is excellent for liver tumors. Before this breakthrough technology we couldn’t do what we do now when treating liver tumors.”
The CyberKnife is not a knife at all but the gold standard in radiosurgery for treating tumors any where in the body.
The robotic device delivers a very high dose of radiation directly to tumors so they shrivel up and die without damaging the liver and leaving healthy tissue unharmed.
Dr. Schwade says, “More than a decade of research proves that CyberKnife therapy has a high success rate. We just need to educate doctors and the public about it and we’re getting that done. Cancer patients are starting to ask their doctors about CyberKnife and if it’s an option for them.”
Ric says, âCyberKnife was my only hope for a possible cure and it actually went better than I expected.â
Treatment is done on an outpatient basis. Initially, Ric felt sluggish after treatments but within weeks he began gaining strength and feeling better.
âFor the first time, I dared to hope. I thought, maybe I can beat it.â
Ric feels itâs given him a second chance at life.
âItâs terrible more people donât know about CyberKnife. We should be yelling it off rooftops. I wouldnât be here if it wasnât for CyberKnife.â
Heâs living proof that CyberKnife is a successful tool for treating tumors, cancerous, and non-cancerous.
JosĂ©âs Story: Bone Cancer that Spread to the Lungs
âCancer tried to interrupt my life, but I didnât let it. I kept a positive attitude. I went to school every day. I graduated and got into the University of Virginia on a full scholarship.â
José Barcardi was filled with excitement anticipating his future and dream of becoming an aerospace engineer.
While finishing his junior year in high school, applying to universities and for college scholarships, he suddenly started feeling pain in his right leg that wouldnât go away.
JosĂ© says, âItâs a scary feeling when you have random pain in your body and donât know what it is. When youâre 17, the last thing you think of is cancer.â
At first, doctors thought it was scoliosis or growing pains. They prescribed anti-pain medication but the pain persisted. JosĂ©âs parents insisted the doctors do more tests. An MRI revealed stunning, unexpected news. Bone cancer, resulting in a tumor on his pelvis, known as osteosarcoma.
JosĂ© says, âIt was a shock. I thought wow cancer. This is terrible. I could die. This is horrendous.”
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of cancer in children. It usually develops in teenagers around age 15 when theyâre growing rapidly. Boys and girls are just as likely to get it. While the cause is unknown, in some cases osteosarcoma runs in families.
The good news â itâs often treatable.
âMy doctor said I have an 80 percent chance to live, so I thought okay, letâs get going,â said JosĂ©.
Treatment usually involves chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, radiation to kill it, and/or surgery to remove it.
In JosĂ©’s case, surgery wasnât an option. Unfortunately, the tumor was on both sides of his pelvis, which would require removing his entire pelvis and muscle around it. The treatment regimen they chose was chemo to shrink the tumor and radiation to kill it.
The treatment worked, but unfortunately tumor cells spread to one lung.
This time doctors recommended surgery to remove the lung.
Not willing to accept the news and feeling José was too young to have a lung removed, his parents began researching other treatment options on the internet.
JosĂ©’s father, Eriel Cabrera, says, âWe wanted to see what other treatment options might be available to us when we came across CyberKnife technology at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, so we asked JosĂ©âs oncologist if it could benefit him.â
The CyberKnife is robotic radiation technology used to destroy tumors. It is a non-invasive treatment that delivers high doses of radiation with pinpoint accuracy directly to the tumor.
JosĂ©’s doctor, a radiation oncologist told him,âCyberKnife is extremely effective for lung tumors. Itâs well tolerated. It does what surgeons do without a knife.â
The CyberKnife robot can follow tumor motion during normal breathing cycles, which makes it perfect for lung tumors.
Dr. James Schwade, CyberKnife Miami’s Executivel Director says, “CyberKnife’s missile guided technology is what makes it great for treating lung tumors. We couldn’t treat them before CyberKnife. It has revolutionized cancer treatment in many ways. The tumors are treated, they dissolve while patients get on with life without affecting the quality of their lives.”
JosĂ© says, âAfter CyberKnife treatments I didnât feel any side effects. I drove myself home, played video games and took walks with mom.â
If a tumor comes back they zap it again. Patients can be treated over and over again.
JosĂ©âs dad has nothing but praise for the CyberKnife Center of Miami, âThe doctors are very good at explaining everything about the procedure and what to expect. The center is a very friendly, comfortable environment and they are so knowledgeable. If you have cancer look for this technology. Itâs available and can change your life.â
Today José feels like a winner in all aspects of life.
âCancer tried to interrupt my life, but I didnât let it. I kept a positive attitude. I went to school every day. I graduated and got into the University of Virginia on a full scholarship.â
PET scans show JosĂ©âs lung and bone tumors are gone.
âAt first I thought my dreams may not come true but then I thought, no, I will realize my dreams. I will!â
JosĂ©âs dad says, âHeâs a brave, determined young man. Weâre so proud of him and the way he handled this. He is going to fulfill his dreams.â
Mark's Story: Treating Acoustic Neuromas with CyberKnife
âI never saw an operating room and my quality of life was unchanged. I couldn’t be happier with how things have worked out.â
Markâs journey with his acoustic neuroma started years before he knew it.
In 1991 he remembers sitting in his living room listening to music through headphones and thinking that the right speaker didn’t sound right. He assumed that the stereo was broken and heâd just have to replace it someday.
Several months later, Mark woke up to birds chirping outside his window. When he rolled over onto his left side, he noticed the chirping went away, and that it came back when his left ear was uncovered. This was the first moment that Mark realized something was wrong.
Three years later in 1994, Markâs hearing hadnât improved and now there was a “plugged up” feeling. He complained about it during a physical exam, so his doctor scheduled an audiogram â his first since grade school.
The audiogram confirmed that he had some unilateral high frequency hearing loss in his right ear. When he looked for reasons, Mark received a variety of answers ranging from too much rock music, a firecracker when he was young, or “just one of those things.”
Mark still wondered about the “plugged” feeling. Could something in his head be causing it? Mark was told that it was probably just a sensation relative to his hearing loss. He wasn’t comfortable with those answers and blamed the issues on a plane flight he had taken while sick a few years back.
Seven years later in 2001, during a routine check-up, Mark mentioned it felt like his hearing had dropped again, so his doctor scheduled another audiogram.
The test confirmed that his right ear had deteriorated in the high frequency range. This time, however, the audiologist scheduled an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist who conducted several tests and scheduled an MRI.
Two weeks after his MRI, Mark met with the ENT and learned that he had an acoustic neuroma.
âI reacted like anyone would faced with such news: fear, panic, âwhy meâ thoughts raced through my head all at once,â said Mark. âMy wife, Nancy, was a great support and she immediately helped me search the Internet in an effort to better understand this diagnosis. We found a lot of helpful web sites and slowly began to get a handle on what my diagnosis involved and what the options were for treating it.â
Mark consulted neurosurgeons at two different facilities who suggested various surgical approaches with differing results and potential side effects including facial nerve damage and permanency of his hearing loss.
Mark determined that he wasn’t comfortable with their approaches or the risk levels associated with the surgeries, so he decided to seek out another opinion. He went to Stanford where he had a consultation with Lawrence Shuer, MD, professor of neurosurgery and chief of staff for Stanford Hospital and Clinics.
This is where his acoustic neuroma journey took a major turn. Dr. Shuer listened to his overview of previous consults and asked why Mark was not considering treatment with the CyberKnifeŸ Robotic Radiosurgery System. Mark shared what he had heard about the risks.
Dr. Shuer was able to clarify some of the misinformation and brought in Steven Chang, MD, neurosurgeon and director of the CyberKnife Radiosurgery program at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. They pointed out that radiosurgery had been used for more than 30 years with extremely high rates of tumor control.
This new information gave Mark a lot more to think about, but his final decision was made easier knowing that both Dr. Shuer and Dr. Chang recommended CyberKnife radiosurgery, in light of their ability to do surgery. Dr. Chang also put him in touch with several patients who had been treated with the CyberKnife System previously to hear about their experience.
Mark decided to undergo CyberKnife radiosurgery for his acoustic neuroma. The treatment itself was done on an outpatient basis over the course of three consecutive days before Thanksgiving in 2001.
Each day, he would lie on the treatment table and listened to the CyberKnife system move quietly around him. While he took the week off from work and took it easy those three days of treatment, the rest of his life was uninterrupted.
Mark went back to work the next week and resumed his workout schedule the day after treatment.
Markâs follow-up tests to date have been very positive. At six months, the audiogram showed that his hearing was unchanged and the MRI showed that the acoustic neuroma was darkening and was slightly smaller in size.
After one year, the audiogram actually showed some improvement in speech recognition and in nerve function.
The latter was significant as it suggested that the radiation dosage had been tolerated well by the nerve. The second follow-up MRI showed the acoustic neuroma was essentially the same size, but had turned white again, indicating scarring.
Dr. Chang told Mark that this acoustic neuroma was following the classic progressions of necrosis â or cell death.
âIâm so thankful for having had the opportunity to have been treated by the wonderful physicians at Stanford and to have found a non-invasive technology like the CyberKnife,â said Mark. âWhen I first started down this path I was resigned to having a very risky surgical procedure and certainly a loss of hearing and a possibility of other deficits. Instead, I never saw an operating room and my quality of life was unchanged. I couldn’t be happier with how things have worked out.â
In December of 2007 Mark had his six-year post-treatment MRI and audiogram. He met with Dr. Chang and reviewed the results, which continued to be very positive. Markâs acoustic neuroma still showed up as very âdeadâ and had shrunk further in size.
Overall, the tumor was 25 to 30 percent less in volume compared to the time of treatment. His hearing test showed that there had been no decline since pre-treatment levels with speech recognition at 100 percent in his affected ear.
For more than a decade CyberKnife has treated acoustic neuromas with great success. As of the creation of this patient profile, Mark found his CyberKnife treatment to be successful.
Frankâs Story: Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
When it comes to keeping the faith, few are as unwavering as Reverend Dr. Frank Glasford and his wife Shirley.
When Frank began having problems swallowing he went from medical center to medical center and doctor after doctor but Frank says they never addressed what was causing his swallowing problem and would only give him a feeding tube so he didnât have to come back to the hospital as often.
It turns out a cancerous tumor behind his esophagus and trachea was making it impossible for Frank to swallow.
The tumor was a Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.
As a result, Frank was unable to eat and whittled down from 160 to 115 pounds in about two-and-a-half months.
âNot being able to swallow or eat was tough take. Plus I had to sit and watch everyone eat my wifeâs wonderful food. Sheâs a fantastic cook.
Shirley didnât believe doctors couldnât do anything to help Frank, âIt just didnât make any sense to us.â
Months later, while praying for some kind of help to come, Shirley heard a commercial on TV about a treatment for tumors at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, âThe TV ad said, CyberKnife could treat a tumor anywhere in the body and I knew it was the answer to our prayers.â
The Glasfordâs immediately called CyberKnife Miami and came in that same day with Frankâs medical files for a consultation.
Frank says, âA divine intervention took us to CyberKnife Miami and while there we met other patients who were treated. Even a patient who came all the way from England. All we heard were great things and good results.â
CyberKnife Miami radiation oncologist, Dr. Mark Pomper met with Frank and determined the tumor causing his swallowing problems could definitely be treated with CyberKnife Radio-surgery.
Shirley says, âAt last we finally had some hope now.â
âCyberKnife was the perfect tool to treat Frankâs tumor because it could deliver the highest dose of radiation possible with pinpoint accuracy, targeting only the tumor, preventing harm to vital surrounding organs like the heart and lungs,â says Dr. Pomper.
CyberKnife therapy also requires a lot fewer treatments than standard radiation which Dr. Pomper says could have easily been 40 treatments.
Instead Frank only needed five, forty-minute CyberKnife treatments. By the second treatment he already had relief and by the third he was swallowing normally and eating again.
âFood never tasted so good. We take many things for granted, like swallowing and eating. I donât anymore and started gaining my weight back immediately.â
Shirley says, âWe never heard of the CyberKnife Center of Miami before and Iâm sure we saw their commercial on TV many times, but didnât pay attention until Frankâs tumor.â
Dr. Pomper says, âCyberKnife is an amazing option that should be used a lot more often. Patients should be given the choice of standard radiation or CyberKnife radiation. Anyone who wants to call us, weâre happy to talk to them and guide them toward the best treatment. Weâre here to help.â
Frank couldnât believe how easy treatment was, âI would just lay there and listen to the music while the machine did all the work. There was no pain or side effects. No interruption to my life.â
Dr. Pomper says, âI donât think anybody wanted to treat Frank because they were afraid standard radiation would cause more harm. Thatâs where CyberKnife comes in. That radiation beam is so precise, it can treat hard to reach tumors and spare healthy surrounding tissue. Itâs an amazing treatment people need to be aware of and not be afraid of going elsewhere if theyâre not getting the help they need.â
If Frank hadnât been treated with CyberKnife, Dr. Pomper says the tumor would have continued growing, causing more problems and he wouldnât have been able to live life to its fullest potential.
During the entire time, Frank and Shirley never lost faith. Frank says, âI wasnât afraid of dying, I just didnât want to speed it up due to medical negligence.â
âIâm a pastor and I believe this happened for a reason, so I could spread the word about CyberKnife Miami. We tell everyone we know and we pass out their cards and brochures. I have faith and know the Lord, Shirley, Dr. Pomper and CyberKnife saved my life.â
To find out if CyberKnife is the right treatment choice for you, talk to one of our cancer experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami
305-279-2900Â and visit our website www.cyberknifemiami.com
Mike's Story: 13 Years Ago CyberKnife Successfully Treated Lung Cancer
âItâs scary when you find out you have cancer, especially lung cancer, but itâs not a death sentence anymore. It doesnât mean youâre going to die. I was treated for lung cancer in February 2005 at the CyberKnife Center of Miami and Iâm still cancer-free.â
 Mike Sluder was 50 years old when, during a routine medical exam, a chest x-ray discovered a tumor in his right lung that turned out to be cancer.
âI was freaking out. My heart skipped a beat every time I thought about it.
 Mikeâs doctor recommended chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor, but as luck would have it, his wife, Sharin saw a TV commercial about CyberKnife, a non-invasive alternative to surgery for cancer and kept it in the back of their minds while researching Mike’s options.
Mike says, âWhen we heard that TV ad the second time around, we immediately called the CyberKnife Center of Miami. They saw me right away, said we can help you and set up my treatment plan. In the meantime, we went to their website and read everything, including research that showed CyberKnife was very successful at treating lung cancer. Iâm just glad CyberKnife was around back then.â
âI had three, one-hour treatments in three weeks. It was even easier than I imagined. I laid on the CyberKnife table, listened to music, relaxed and nearly fell asleep while the CyberKnife moved all around me.â
âThat machine is amazing. Every time I took a breath it moved with my breath. That was pretty cool. At one point, I opened my eyes during treatment and the machine was very close to me, I jumped and the machine jumped back. Itâs almost like it’s alive, following your every move.â (Mike laughs)
Lung cancer is a frequently treated disease at the CyberKnife Center of Miami.
CyberKnife Radiosurgery, also known as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or SBRT, is becoming the number one treatment choice of lung cancer patients.
Dr. Mark Pomper, CyberKnife Miamiâs Medical Director and Board Certified Radiation Oncologist says, âThe benefits of this non-invasive treatment are numerous and often far outweigh other options. Itâs the only technology that can continually track the tumor as the patient breathes, so radiation focuses only the tumor, sparing healthy lung tissue from being damaged. The CyberKnife also delivers much higher doses and is a more precise radiation treatment than conventional radiation, destroying tumors with little chance of it returning. If a tumor does come back, often we can treat it again.â
CyberKnife Radiosurgery is usually done on patients who are unwilling or unable to undergo open surgery and may be used instead of, or along with, surgery and chemotherapy.
Mike says, âIâd choose CyberKnife all over again. It was completely pain-free and I had no side effects. I went back to work after each treatment. Everybody at CyberKnife Miami was so kind and helpful. Theyâre excellent at explaining everything and making you feel at ease. My whole family was pleased too and thatâs important because when you have cancer it affects the entire family.â
âWhen I was first diagnosed, 13 years ago, my doctor said we really donât know much about CyberKnife, do you really want to take that chance? I said yes I do. My wife was my rock through it all. She too insisted on trying CyberKnife. Weâre glad it was around back then.âÂ
âI changed my doctorâs mind about CyberKnife. I went back to him for follow-up visits every three months and we saw the tumor dissolve, until all I had left was some scar tissue. Now my doctor uses me as an example and tells other patients, this lung cancer patient denied surgery, had CyberKnife and is still alive.â
âI quit smoking when I found out I had lung cancer.
I feel like Iâve been given a second chance at life. Iâm lucky I found out about CyberKnife and tell everyone about it. Many people are stunned and never heard of CyberKnife.â
âI also tell everyone, donât wait, if something doesnât feel right, get it checked out. Many people was too long, especially guys.â
âIf you do find something wrong, donât panic. Research all your options. Donât just do what your doctor tells you to do right away. Take your time making your decision until you find whatâs right for you.â
âAt 63, Iâve lived longer than I thought I would. If something else pops up, Iâll fight it too. I have a positive attitude and great support from family and friends.â
Find out if you’re a candidate for CyberKnife – call our Cancer Specialists at 305-279-7900 and go to our website now www.cyberknifemiami.com
CHARLES: SURVIVING CANCER ALL MY LIFE âNEVER LOSE HOPE FIGHT TO THE END
âIâve been battling or I should say surviving cancer for 47 years. Iâm 81 now and I was 34 when my fight began. A tumor the size of a football was discovered on my kidney in 1973. It was scary, I thought I was going to die and my wife thought she was going to be a widow. Fortunately the cancer hadnât spread, the surgeon removed the tumor in one piece and said we got it all, youâre going to be fine.â
Everything was fine until 37 years later when his worst fear became reality. Having had cancer, Charles was monitored closely and in 2010 his Kidney Cancer also known as Renal Cell Carcinoma had spread and he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer.
Since then Charles has fought Pancreatic Cancer twice, Lung, Liver and Lymph Node Cancer in his neck.
In addition to surgery, Oncologists have treated Charles with Conventional Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy which reduced the size of his pancreatic tumor, but not completely. He knew he needed to find something else to battle the tumor and other tumors that may evolve. He started researching and discovered CyberKnife Radiation Therapy also known as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) or Radiosurgery (SRS).
Charles says, âI went on the internet and read that CyberKnife could kill tumors without causing any harm to surrounding organs, that it was non-invasive, there were no side effects or downtime and it could be repeated if a tumor came back or another one popped up in my body. I called the CyberKnife Center of Miami and right away I got to meet with the doctor and the whole team. I didnât have to go through a big, long process like you do at a lot of medical centers. I didnât have to wait weeks to get in or go through a bunch of more tests or see more doctors. The staff is excellent. I got to know everyone, theyâre all very nice and professional. They answer their phones, you get a call back if you need to speak to someone and if you want to talk to the doctor, he will get on the phone and talk to you too. The way they treat you is amazing. They made it all simple and easy.â
That was 4 years ago, since then Charles has been treated with Cyberknife Radiation Therapy for his lung tumor and twice for pancreatic tumors by Dr. Mark Pomper, Board Certified Radiation Oncologist and CyberKnife Miamiâs Medical Director
Dr. Pomper says, âCharles is a great example of what modern medicine can do for cancer patients and it is not debilitating. Cancer has spread throughout his body yet heâs gotten amazing control of it since we first saw him 4 years ago using CyberKnife Radiation Therapy and chemotherapies. Back then CyberKnife took care of his lung and pancreatic tumors, but recently another tumor began growing in the pancreas, so we just finished treatment in that area.â
A big CyberKnife advantage is the radiation beams are so precisely targeted, they destroy only the tumor, not the surrounding tissue so if a tumor recurs or another one evolves close to the same area we very likely can treat it again. Because CyberKnife delivers a strong targeted dose of radiation it requires many fewer treatments.
Dr. Pomper adds, âCharles is a walking miracle. When you meet him you wonât believe he has cancer. He should give other patients great hope even when cancer has spread throughout the body, modern medicine can extend life and quality of life for an indefinite period of time.â
Dr. Pomper says today cancer can often be managed like a chronic illness, like diabetes.
About CyberKnife treatment Charles says, âYou donât feel anything during the treatments. I had no side effects, no pain during or afterwards. I have an appetite, my strength is good. I bike, swim and walk everyday. I work my real estate business and invest in the stock market on a daily basis. My mind is still sharp. I feel fantastic.â
Charlesâs advice to other cancer patients, âYou have to do your own research on all available cancer treatments. Donât leave any stone unturned. No one told me about CyberKnife, I found out about it myself. I recommend everyone check it out.â
His words of encouragement, âNever lose hope. Keep working, planning, traveling. Continue living your life every day to the fullest. Fight it, fight to the end.â
To find out if CyberKnife can help you or a loved one call The CyberKnife Center of Miami 305-279-2900 and go to our website now to learn more
www.cyberknifemiami.com
Danny's Story: Metatstatic Pancoast Tumor
âIt started with a pain in Dannyâs shoulder. It wasnâtâ bad but it was persistent and wouldnât go away so after a couple of weeks I told my husband he better get it checked,â says Melissa Jo Roger.Â
âWe live north of Lafayette, Louisiana on a farm with cattle and work on deepwater oil platforms for an oil company in Houston so it wouldnât be unusual pulling a muscle on the job, which is what we thought he did, but soon got heartbreaking news.â Â
Danny started seeing a doctor in Houston who ordered an MRI because Danny was a smoker. The scan showed a large Pancoast lung tumor in the upper right lobe invading his chest wall, ribs, shoulder nerves, bones and spread to his lymph nodes and adrenal gland.Â
Pancoast tumors are rare and very aggressive lung tumors. although once considered fatal, today Pancoast tumors are treatable, though not yet curable. treatment for a Pancoast tumor depends on how early it is diagnosed, how far it has spread, the areas involved, and your general state of health. the survival rate associated with this type of cancer is typically 30% to 50% after five years.Â
Melissa, who most often speaks for her quiet husband says, âHearing you have cancer is devastating. Especially cancer that cannot be cured and the doctors in Houston did not break it to us gently. They were terrible. That was in October of 2019. Danny was 55 years old. The doctor said the large tumor was inoperable, you must do chemo, 45 days of radiation and you have about a year to live. She showed no compassion. Giving us no other options, but what they chose. They also knew we had good insurance and were sending him for all kinds of unnecessary tests.âÂ
âDanny is very active and did not want to go through a lot of chemo and radiation. Plus, at the time we were both still trying to work and they wouldnât work around our schedule. They would call at the last minute and say you must come in now. If we couldnât make it, they would say, âif you cancel, we wonât treat you here.â We were just another number to them it seemed. On top of all that, they lost Dannyâs biopsy, so he needed another one. We were fed up and decided to find another hospital and look for other treatment options.âÂ
âMy daughter whoâs a doctor was also appalled by their behavior and said, weâre going to figure out what treatment he needs and do it with a doctor back home in Louisiana.â Â
âIn the meantime, I was researching on the internet other treatment options for the big lung tumor and discovered CyberKnife Radiation Therapy. Everything I read about it and what patients said was good and it could be done with only 3-to-5 treatment sessions.âÂ
âThe Houston hospitals donât have CyberKnife and the other medical centers I called that do, including one in Lafayette, LA wouldnât treat Danny because they said the tumor was too big. I called all over the country trying to find a doctor that would treat him with CyberKnife.âÂ
âI was beside myself, I was losing hope, one afternoon coming back home from Houston, I was driving in the pouring rain, I got a call back from the CyberKnife Center of Miami. Gail Suarez, a radiation therapist and vice president of operations said they got Dannyâs medical records and could treat that big tumor and it wouldnât come back.âÂ
âI swear, suddenly it stopped raining, the sky opened up and the sun was shining bright. I felt such an immense sense of peace, it was an answer to my prayers. Gail was so comforting. I knew this was the place to go and it would work so off we went to CyberKnife Miami to get treated and it was all so easy. Danny didnât feel a thing during treatment and no side effects afterward.â Â
Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director at CyberKnife Miami says, âA lot of medical or cancer centers that have CyberKnife technology, donât have as much experience as we have using it, so they get scared when they see a big tumor and think it is not worth treating or are worried about complications. Other doctors feel if it’s incurable why be aggressive?âÂ
âThey donât think itâs worth the risk for patients like Danny, but if you donât offer the patient anything there is more of a risk. This is what we do all day, every day. We know what can and cannot be treated. We looked at what we could do for Danny, his treatment was successful, and he could go a long time before he gets any complications. Itâs defensive medicine.â Â
Dr. Pomper adds, âWe know itâs extraordinarily unlikely we can cure him, but we can give him quality of life while we extend his life. He is doing so well and can for years. It is a different philosophy that is emerging, and it seems to work. If it comes back, we can treat him again. Itâs been a couple of years since his first treatment, and you donât know how many new cancer treatments may come around as we are helping him live longer. yĂu should never just write a patient off.âÂ
Melissa says, âAfter the first CyberKnife treatment, Danny started with an oncologist in Lafayette for chemotherapy because the cancer was in two lymph nodes and a spot on his adrenal gland. We needed a new biopsy since the Houston hospital couldnât locate the one they did and it showed, 30 days after the CyberKnife treatment that the cancer was gone. There was no sign of cancer. The pain he had was gone within two weeks of the CyberKnife treatment and hasnât returned. It was the best Christmas present ever!âÂ
âDanny did six rounds of chemo which killed three cancer spots but six months later they came back. The oncologist in Lafayette recommended more chemo but we chose CyberKnife to treat them. Dr. Pomper treated the two lymph nodes and less than 60 days later a pet scan showed they were cancer-free. He had one remaining cancerous spot on his adrenal gland which is being treated now at CyberKnife Miami. If a tumor or cancer pops up anywhere in his body, weâll be right back here for treatment.â Â
Melissa adds, âCyberKnife sounded too good to be true, but I believed in what the patients who were treated had to say and now weâre believers. Even our oncologist in Lafayette and my daughter the doctor were amazed. We tell everyone we can about Cyberknife and to go for it. we canât believe how many doctors donât know about cyberknife or donât tell patients about it.â Â
âThe whole team at CyberKnife Miami is wonderful. You feel at ease with them. They give you confidence, they are like family, an absolute blessing to have found them. They are different, they donât forget anything, are very conscientious and walk you through it every step of the way. The center is also easy to get to, easy to park and they are always right on time and they even follow up when you get home.â
âDr. Pomper takes his time with patients. He spent more time examining Danny than all the doctors in Houston combined. He said nothing in life is guaranteed but weâre going to try to give you more time and it will be quality time. Other cancer centers tell you they have something like CyberKnife, but they donât and the side effects of their radiation can be awful.âÂ
âWe fly into Miami and Gail makes sure we have that first appointment of the day. We stay in a nearby hotel and they are really good at helping us with arrangements. We have the routine down and after treatment, we drive to the beaches, Florida keys or key west, something fun.âÂ
âBoth Danny and I have all the faith in the world in CyberKnife Miami and even the doctors in Louisiana knew Dr. Pomperâs excellent reputation in the world of oncology.â
âWe have recommended cyberknife to other people and theyâve been treated successfully. I brought back a bunch of brochures from CyberKnife Miami and pass them out to others coping with cancer. According to the doctors in Houston, Danny should have died in March. That was a year ago.âÂ
âDanny is not a talker, but heâs a true believer and wonât go anywhere else but CyberKnife Miami. He has hope now. I see him happy and living life to the fullest. Theyâve given us hope when we were in despair. The game plan is to take one day at a time and enjoy our family. We just went to Jamaica with the whole family and had a great time.â  Â
âThere may come a day when there isnât more we can do for Danny, but for as long as we can, we will try. We have five children between us and four grandchildren. Weâre just simple country people, living a quiet, grateful, blessed and happy life.âÂ
âI tell Gail and Dr. Pomper all the time, God sent you to us, this is the answer to our prayers. I know Dannyâs time is in godâs hands, but I want as much time as I can get with him and CyberKnife Miami is giving us that precious gift.â
Natalia's Story: Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment - A Chance at Life
Family is everything to Natalia Eilers. This happy-go-lucky, filled with laughter, effervescent, stay at home mom loves nurturing and taking care of her two young daughters, 4 and 10 years old. She and her husband were looking forward to expanding their family when facial pain brought it to a screeching halt.Â
Hereâs her story in her words.
Natalia says, âI really wanted to have another baby. We were hoping for a boy, but I started having numbness in my lip. At first I thought it was some sort of allergy but then I started having excruciating facial shocks, 15-to-20 a day that would last about 20 seconds and bring me to my knees. Iâd drop to the floor and cry. It was so awful for me but I worried most about my daughters seeing me in such pain, I wasnât myself anymore and it scared them. It was the worst pain you could ever have.â
âI was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia and my neurologist put me on an anti-seizure medication which helps with nerve problems. It did help in the beginning but the pain got worse so I was given another medication which made me tired, I was in bed all the time, had to be in a dark room when I had a flare up. I was depressed, losing my hair, always hungry and gained 20 pounds. It changed everything and affected my whole family. It was terrible for my daughters to see me like that, having attacks all the time. They suffered a lot, were very sad and scared.âÂ
âAfter 8 months on medication I realized I couldnât live like this anymore. I never knew when I was going to have an attack. A breeze across my face could set it off, so I started doing my own research and watched videos on YouTube to find different options.â
âI saw the surgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia and didnât want to go through all that cutting and trauma. Luckily I came across CyberKnife Radiation Therapy, a noninvasive way to treat it and it sounded so amazing so I started looking for where itâs done in South Florida and discovered the CyberKnife Center of Miami.â
âI asked my neurologist about CyberKnife and all she said is, CyberKnife is for cancer. When I explained to her it can treat nerve disorders like Tri Gem she said, âI donât think youâre there yet, just keep taking the meds.â
âI wasnât going to do that so I called CyberKnife Miami and talked to Mario Tobon, one of their Radiation Therapists. I was so nervous but he said this is definitely something I could try, he explained everything to me so clearly about how it works, potential side effects but that theyâve had great success with CyberKnife for Trigeminal Neuralgia. It sounded too good to be true but I knew the pills would destroy me and I had to do something.â
âI was very nervous, however after talking to Mario at great length he calmed me down and convinced me about the advantages and benefits of CyberKnife. I told my family about it, my husband, mom, dad and the girls and we were all in from the start. After all what did I have to lose except a life filled with pain. They are all so helpful at CyberKnife Miami. From start to finish they worked with me and squeezed me in while my mom was here to help with the kids. They did it all and made everything come together so easily, which is incredible.â
âI met with Dr. Mark Pomper, heâs the chief radiation oncologist and medical director at the center. He was amazing. He gave me a full medical exam and looked at all my scans. The team is so thorough. He explained everything to me in such a simple way. He and everyone there gave me such confidence. Dr. Pomper kept telling me, donât be so nervous. He said it will probably require only one radiation treatment session, but if you need more, Mario and I will be here for you. He talks in such a nice way.â
âThe day of the treatment I was still a little scared.
I went with my husband. They took us into the CyberKnife room and explained exactly how it would go. The process was quick. It took about 45 minutes from the time I laid down on the CyberKnife table and got up. The machine moving around me made me a little nervous at first but I didnât feel a thing and almost feel asleep. Afterwards I had a little headache, took a Tylenol and a nap, woke up and I was fine. It was amazing.â
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Dr. Pomper says, âMost often we can help patients like Natalia and are happy we were able to help her given the desperate situation she was in. She presented with a difficult case and didnât have many options. Medications can control the pain but usually only for awhile and they werenât helping her much. She didnât want to do surgery and with good reason. Brain surgery is always very risky, it can worsen the problem and the pain can come back. Cyberknife is very effective. By hitting the Tri Gem nerve with pin-point targeted radiation, it decreases the function of the nerve fibers which cause the pain, but doesnât do any damage to surrounding nerves or tissue in the face. CyberKnife usually only takes one treatment and relief varies but usually happens within a week. If the pain comes back in anyway shape or form we can retreat it, but I havenât seen that happen.â
âNatalia says, I am so thankful to Dr. Pomper and CyberKnife Miami. At first after the treatment I was scared to sneeze or cough fearing it would set off another pain attack like usual, but it didnât. I did feel a bit more nerve pain in my face right after the treatment, but after a few weeks I was off the pain meds and I felt nothing. It took me a month to stop being so cautious and realize the pain was not coming back.â
âIâm so grateful, I have my energy and my life back. Before I couldnât make plans, I was afraid of waking up because I didnât know what the day would bring. I hated going outside because the wind brushing across my face could start an attack. Now I can exercise and do everything I did before. Living in pain makes you appreciate living with no pain and you no longer take the simple things in life for granted.â
âMy girls are so happy again. The day I got the treatment my oldest daughter kept saying, mommy did it work, did it work? My pain was so hard on them. I went from being a happy, laughing person to living in constant pain. To help them understand we created a game and named the attacks. If it was a Thor attack they knew it was really strong pain. If it was a Spider Man attack it wasnât as strong.â
âI tell everyone I can about CyberKnife. I joined different facial pain groups on Facebook and Instagram. The community is very big, we share our stories and do live talks with doctors answering questions.â
âPeople mistakenly think Trigeminal Neuralgia only affects older people but I know people whoâve had facial pain since adolescents. This can happen to anyone at any age for many different reasons and unknown reasons, like me. Weâre called the Trigeminal Neuralgia Warriors.âÂ
âMy best advice to anyone whoâll listen is, you donât have to live in pain, take pills for the rest of your life or go through risky, invasive surgery. Do your research and check out CyberKnife. It works. If your doctors arenât helping you, are giving you only one option and put CyberKnife down or donât know about it, switch doctors. Donât be afraid. Go to a CyberKnife expert. Iâm so happy I did and more people need to know about CyberKnife. I talk to so many people in the Trigem community. They know about the surgery and pills but not about CyberKnife and that has to change.âÂ
âMy pain started in July of 2020 and ended when I got CyberKnife treatment in April of 2021. Now that Iâm off medication and pain free, we can try to have another baby and we are trying, (Natalia laughs) CyberKnife gave me that gift.â
CyberKnife Miami has treated thousands of patients since opening in 2003. We are the most experienced CyberKnife team in Miami, which is why we can handle the most difficult and complicated cases. call us at 305-279-2900 to find out if we can help you or a loved one and go to our website now to learn more or schedule a consultation – https://www.cyberknifemiami.com/trigeminal-neuralgia/
“I can’t believe I feel so good. Life is great despite living with metastatic cancer for 20 plus years!â

Ruby – Real Patient
To learn more about what to expect with the CyberKnife procedure or to schedule a consultation, please call CyberKnife Miami
at (800) 204-0455 today.