One in every eight women – and one in every 883 men – will develop breast cancer at some point over the course of their lifetime. Not only that, but the rate of increase in breast cancer diagnoses in the U.S. has more than quadrupled between 1970 and today.
Fortunately, with early detection and a variety of surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, breast cancer can be arrested, diminished or cured. In fact, according to recent studies, one of the most effective treatments for breast cancer – external beam radiation therapy – has been found to increase the probability of surviving for at least 10 years post-diagnosis by 64%.
What Can Happen from Traditional Radiation?
However, there’s a hitch. Traditional radiation therapy comes with a variety of nasty side effects that almost make the treatment as insufferable as the disease. These may include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Hair loss
- Swelling of the affected breast
- Skin problems (redness, peeling, darkening)
- Increased risk of rib fracture
- Increased risk of heart and/or lung damage
- Potential damage to nerves in the arm, leading to numbness, pain and weakness
Besides these side effects, a main problem with traditional radiation therapy for breast cancer is that – in the process of delivering high doses of ionizing radiation to the breast tumor site or the purpose of destroying cancer cells – it can inadvertently also damage healthy tissues or organs in close proximity.
That is why patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer should consider the benefits of an alternative cancer treatment: CyberKnife® radiosurgery.
Breast Cancer Treatment Without the Harmful Side Effects
CyberKnife is a safe, painless form of radiosurgery that uses advanced technology to destroy cancer cells without the discomfort or inconveniences associated with traditional radiation therapy. Plus, since it’s noninvasive, there’s no post-surgery healing involved.
Utilizing a state-of-the-art robotic arm, CyberKnife directly targets tumors with such pinpoint accuracy that surrounding tissues and organs are unaffected. The system is so precise that it automatically adjusts to the slightest body movements – even the patient’s breathing – to bombard only the cancer cells with extremely high doses of radiation.
What Is CyberKnife Treatment Like?
This technique is so powerful that it only requires from three to five 30- to 90-minute treatment sessions, compared to the dozens of treatments necessary with traditional radiation therapy. As a result, your entire treatment may be completed in as little as one week instead of several weeks or months.
Each outpatient CyberKnife session is conducted in a comfortable environment where all you need to do is relax while CyberKnife does its work. No anesthetic is required, there is no downtime following treatment and – perhaps best of all – there are few if any minor side effects. The most common is a little fatigue. Following CyberKnife treatment, the vast majority of patients immediately resume their normal daily activities.
CyberKnife Breast Cancer Treatment in Miami, Florida
CyberKnife’s robotic radiation technology has been in use for more than three decades, during which time hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide have received treatment. Over the years, numerous clinical studies have been published in medical journals, verifying CyberKnife’s safety and efficacy (beneficial results) in treating primary, metastatic (spreading), and recurring cancers, as well as benign tumors.
To learn more about CyberKnife radiation therapy and whether you are a viable candidate for this revolutionary treatment option, contact CyberKnife Center of Miami today at (800) 204-0455 or (305) 279-2900 or use our online contact form to arrange a private consultation. You can also learn more about us on our website www.cyberknifemiami.com
We look forward to partnering with you to good health!