There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to prostate cancer treatment.
It often depends on the stage of the cancer, a man’s overall health and to some extent the treatment that he’s most comfortable with given the risks, chances of curing cancer, and the side effects.
One of the most popular treatment choices is robotic-assisted prostate surgery instead of open surgery because it’s less invasive.
Another option, which is noninvasive and is becoming the number one treatment choice for curing prostate cancer is highly targeted radiation therapy using CyberKnife robotic technology, also known as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or SBRT, instead of other forms of radiation.
Let’s look at these two options.
Robotic Prostate Surgery
This is typically known as a robotic prostatectomy. Unlike traditional open surgery which requires a large abdominal incision, robotic-assisted surgery requires making only four to five small key-hole incisions into the pelvic area, which are used to insert specialized surgical instruments including, a lighted laparoscope and a tiny camera to see, examine and remove the prostate.
The surgeon controls the robotic arms and according to The American Cancer Society is extremely safe in experienced, skilled hands, but some complications are possible in any abdominal procedure.
Possible complications may include bleeding, infection, blood clotting, heart attack, hernias, permanent urinary incontinence, impotence, and strictures. Plus, since the surgeon’s range of vision is limited through small incisions, there is a greater risk of accidentally, nicking or cutting nearby organs, nerves, and healthy tissue.
A 2017 study from a research hospital in Turkey reveals that as the popularity of robotic prostate surgery grows so may complication rates. Yet this technique is also considered safer than open surgery resulting in less blood loss, a much shorter recovery time and less pain.
CyberKnife Treatment for Prostate Cancer
CyberKnife treatment uses external beam radiation to treat prostate cancer.
Despite the name, CyberKnife does not involve a knife, cutting, or surgery for treatment. It uses a linear accelerator on a robotic arm to deliver radiation beams from hundreds of different angles to target and kill tumors.
CyberKnife also uses real-time Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) which tracks the tumor as it moves, targeting the cancer site with extreme accuracy, greatly reducing the risk of dreaded side effects like incontinence and impotence.
Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director at CyberKnife Miami says, “CyberKnife has few side effects. Its pinpoint radiation beams hit only the tumor, so we can give a much higher dose with a lot fewer treatments, leaving healthy surrounding tissue virtually unharmed. There is 20+ years of published studies supporting SBRT.”
Prostate Cancer Treatment: The CyberKnife Advantage
■ CyberKnife has a 97% cure rate for prostate cancer.
■ CyberKnife treatments can be done in five radiation therapy sessions over 10 days compared to 42 to 45 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
■ It has none of the risks that come with surgery.
■ It’s quicker and safer and causes less disruption to a patient’s life.
■ Plus, it’s noninvasive.
■ The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are so precise which means there is less risk of side effects including impotence and incontinence.
Listen to Dr. Pomper compare CyberKnife to Robotic Prostate Surgery to health specialist Marilyn Mitzel in this short interview.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Center Miami
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, call CyberKnife Miami for a consultation or for a second opinion.
Whatever treatment option your doctor recommends, it’s always a smart idea to get a second opinion, and it is your right to do so. Whatever treatment you choose, it should be an informed decision on your part, and that responsibility is on you.
Whether it is CyberKnife or another treatment option, our highly experienced radiation oncology team will help you make the best decision for your particular type and stage of cancer.
When it comes to CyberKnife treatment, we have one of the most experienced teams in South Florida because we have been doing it the longest. That is why some of the most complicated and difficult cases are referred to us. We have treated thousands of patients nationwide, worldwide, from the Caribbean and right here at home in Miami.
Our goal is to get you treated as effectively, safely, and quickly as possible so you can get cancer behind you and back to your life before cancer. We will hold your hand every step of the way, helping you and your family get through this process as easy as possible.
If you would like to find out more about Prostate Cancer Treatment with CyberKnife, call CyberKnife Miami at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information on what we do and how we do it. www.prostatecancertreatmentmiami.com