The first time one hears the term CyberKnife, they’re liable to get the wrong impression.
Despite its name, CyberKnife does not involve surgery or cutting of any kind. On the contrary, CyberKnife is a non-invasive, painless radiation treatment that is not only an alternative to open surgery in many cases, but also an alternative to conventional radiation therapy.
A Major Breakthrough in Radiation Therapy
The FDA-cleared CyberKnife System is based on proven technology that has been in use for more than 30 years. It utilizes image-guided robotics to precisely – and non-invasively – target and destroy tumors and other lesions using multiple beams of high-energy radiation.
CyberKnife’s missile-guided technology zeroes in on tumors with pinpoint accuracy so it can deliver radiation directly to the tumor, while leaving healthy surrounding tissue unscathed. In fact, CyberKnife is so precise that it can track the tumor even when a patient moves or breathes.
The Beam of Life
This ability to isolate its radiation allows CyberKnife to treat many tumors that might otherwise be inoperable and untreated with other radiosurgery systems, providing many patients with new hope. That’s why CyberKnife is also referred to as “The Beam of Life.” It effectively treats:
· Primary cancers, including lung, liver, prostate, brain, pancreas, and spinal cord;
· Metastatic cancers, which have spread to other areas of the body;
· Recurring cancers in areas previously treated; and
· Benign tumors such as meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, pituitary adenomas, and cavernous angiomas.
One of the Safest Options Available
Although CyberKnife is considered radiosurgery, it is not a real surgical procedure and poses very few of the risks and complications associated with surgery. For one thing, it does not require anesthesia and there is no downtime or hospitalization. All you need to do during the procedure is lie down and relax while CyberKnife treats your tumor or lesion without harming surrounding organs or tissues.
Also, there are few if any minor side effects with CyberKnife. Your medical history or condition may make you more or less prone to fatigue or mild nausea, but you will experience none of the unpleasant effects common with conventional radiation therapy.
Perhaps best of all, your CyberKnife therapy is often completed in one to five, 30- to 90-minute sessions, compared to the dozens of exhausting sessions over a period of weeks or months most often required with conventional radiation treatments. In fact, the vast majority of patients have treatment in the morning and are fine to head to work or school afterwards.
Plus, when undergoing treatment at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, you have the most highly trained radiation oncologists, surgeons, medical physicists and radiation therapists overseeing your entire procedure.
Hundreds of thousands of patients have received CyberKnife treatments worldwide. With The Beam of Life, the CyberKnife Center of Miami is giving thousands of people a profound sense of relief knowing they have a choice when it comes to treating cancer. Our dedicated staff would love to talk to you about your treatment options and help you on your journey to recovery. Call (800) 204-0455 or (305) 279-2900, or fill out our online form today to make an appointment and visit our website. www.cyberknifemiami.com