Prostate cancer patients have two layers of fear when it comes to side effects from their cancer treatment. They worry about short-term and long-term side effects.
In the short-term, questions about pain, discomfort, and cure rates may be at the top of their minds while weighing treatment options. In the long-term, patients worry about incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and recurrence. This seems to be especially true when prostate cancer hits younger men.
The experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, a state-of-the-art non-invasive radiation treatment center in South Florida hear about these fears every day.
Yet mounting research shows patients who opt for treatment with CyberKnife have fewer short-and-long-term symptoms than patients who choose surgery or other forms of radiation.
CyberKnife uses a technology called Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy or SBRT. CyberKnife is different from traditional radiation treatments because it continuously tracks the prostate in real-time, even if you move slightly while being treated on the CyberKnife table. That means your prostate gets the maximum dose of radiation continuously, but the healthy surrounding tissue remains unharmed. That precision helps greatly to reduce side effects. And because CyberKnife is noninvasive, it has fewer short-term side effects than surgery. Surgical procedures run the risk of infection, pain from incision and problems with anesthesia.
Prostate Cancer in Younger Men
That is one reason younger men with prostate cancer, who are considering surgery, may want to get a second opinion with the experts at CyberKnife Miami.
“There’s a general thought among surgeons that surgery is better for men under age 60 because radiation’s long-term effects may cause problems years later, like impotence and incontinence, but that’s not what research is proving,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, medical director of CyberKnife Miami and a board-certified radiation oncologist. “Surgery has long-term effects too. CyberKnife has few side effects. Its pinpoint radiation beams treat only the prostate, so we can give a much higher dose with fewer treatments, leaving healthy surrounding tissue unharmed.”
Short-term Side Effects of CyberKnife Treatment for Prostate Cancer
While many prostate cancer patients experience no side effects with CyberKnife, some may experience discomfort or irregularities during or right after treatment. They typically resolve with over-the-counter medications.
“Most radiation side effects are minimal and last only a short time. Side effects can, however, sometimes be severe because of rectum or bladder wall exposure to radiation,” according to Accuray, the maker of CyberKnife.
Those side effects include constipation, rectal bleeding, fecal urgency or incontinence, urinary frequency or incontinence, urgency, or blood in the urine. Some patients also experience sexual dysfunction.
Long-Term Side Effects of CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer
While there is no guarantee there won’t be long-term issues with CyberKnife, research shows side effects are no worse than with traditional radiation, according to Accuray, the maker of CyberKnife.
“Despite the higher dose rate associated with SBRT, multiple studies have validated that there are no worse side effects with CyberKnife SBRT than with traditional radiation,” Accuray says.
And in many cases, CyberKnife’s precision can significantly reduce the risk of sexual, urinary and bowel function side effects.
According to Accuray, additional CyberKnife benefits include:
- Excellent long-term cancer control.
- Fewer treatments over a shorter time frame.
- Lower incidence of sexual, urinary and bowel function side effects.
- The cure rate with CyberKnife for prostate cancer is 98%.
- Plus, if the cancer comes back, you can be treated again with CyberKnife.
Prostate Cancer Treatment in Miami
CyberKnife Miami’s team is made up of the region’s top experts in SBRT. They have more experience with CyberKnife technology than any cancer center in South Florida. CyberKnife Miami has treated hundreds of prostate cancer patients in the Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties with excellent results. We also treat patients from around the country and the world who come to us because our excellent reputation precedes us.
If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information www.prostatecancertreatmentmiami.com.