When it comes to treating prostate cancer, the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, want you to understand that because your body – in particular your bowels, breathing and bladder – is in constant motion, so is your prostate cancer tumor.
That’s why in the case of prostate cancer, any treatment should take into account that constant motion inside the body, even if a patient is completely still on the outside.
And that – in a nutshell — is the benefit of what’s called Motion-Synchronized Radiation Therapy (MSRT) – radiation that targets a mobile prostate cancer tumor with less damage to healthy tissue because it moves with your body.
Motion-Synchronized Radiation Therapy: The CyberKnife Advantage
One of the most precise forms of MSRT is CyberKnife.
“The CyberKnife System is a non-invasive, non-surgical, pain-free treatment option for prostate cancer with proven results. It is the first and only radiotherapy device that brings true robotic precision and the ability to track, detect and correct for tumor motion in real-time, to the treatment of cancer,” according to Accuray, the maker of CyberKnife.
CyberKnife uses a robotic radiation system coupled with real-time image guidance to move around a patient.
“The prostate gland can move unpredictably throughout the course of treatment — as much as half an inch in as little as 30 seconds because of normal patient bodily functions (filling of the bladder, gas in the bowel, or even slight patient movement),” according to Accuray.
Unlike traditional radiation or other types of radiation, Accuray says CyberKnife “continually tracks the target, automatically adapts and synchronizes the radiation beam with movement of the prostate in real-time throughout the entire treatment session. This helps to ensure the radiation dose is delivered to the target.”
CyberKnife Benefits for Mobile Prostate Cancer Tumors
That precision has three huge benefits for patients:
- It maximizes effectiveness of the treatment.
- Protects surrounding healthy tissue.
- It reduces side effects.
Here are additional benefits:
- With CyberKnife, treatment lasts 5-to-10 days instead of months with other forms of radiation.
- Treatments are outpatient and last 30 to 60 minutes.
- Side effects are minimal and may include fatigue and nausea.
- If the cancer returns, patients can be treated repeatedly with CyberKnife.
Five years after treatment with CyberKnife, the disease-free survival rates were 97%-99% for low-risk patients, making CyberKnife superior to the 92%-94% of patients who were treated with conventional radiation, according to CyberKnife’s patient brochure.
The rates were 88%-97% for intermediate-risk patients, making it equal to or higher than the 85%-90% reported with conventional radiation. And the 12-year disease-free survival rates with CyberKnife were 93% for low-risk patients compared to 81%-85% with conventional radiation.
According to Accuray’s patient satisfaction data:
- 99% of patients would choose CyberKnife treatment if they needed treatment again.
- 93% report CyberKnife didn’t interrupt their normal routine.
- 98% would recommend CyberKnife to others.
Keep in mind, those are real patients who have undergone CyberKnife for prostate cancer treatment.
CyberKnife Treatment for Prostate Cancer in South Florida
CyberKnife Miami opened our doors 23 years ago. We were the first CyberKnife center to open in the Southeast. And we’re here to help you.
If you are interested in learning more about CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer and the CyberKnife Center of Miami, call us at 305-279-2900 or right now go to our website.