The cancer experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami – the premiere radiation cancer treatment center in South Florida specializing in CyberKnife technology — know you and your loved ones have many questions about CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer.
So, we compiled a list of the top 10 frequently asked questions about CyberKnife for prostate cancer. So let’s get started.
How successful is CyberKnife for prostate cancer?
CyberKnife, a form of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) which uses laser-focused high-dose radiation to pinpoint tumors and destroy them — has a 98% cure rate for prostate cancer – especially when the cancer is caught early.
“CyberKnife is the most sophisticated and refined way to treat most tumors,” says Dr. Mark Pomper on CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel.
CyberKnife alone can treat prostate cancer, especially if it’s low grade and localized to the prostate cancer. For these early prostate cancers, cure rates with radiation are about the same as men treated with radical prostatectomy, which is surgery to remove the prostate gland, according to the American Cancer Society.
What are some disadvantages of the CyberKnife prostate cancer treatment?
If you’ve done your research on CyberKnife and came across anything that concerns you, our experts want to set the record straight. The science behind CyberKnife for prostate cancer disputes any disadvantages or misinformation you may have come across.
While treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage of the cancer and the overall health of the man being treated, we believe CyberKnife has some distinct advantages.
Here are just a few:
- Excellent long-term cancer control.
- A non-surgical and non-invasive treatment.
- Fewer treatments over a shorter time frame.
- Lower incidence of sexual, urinary and bowel function side effects.
- Patients continue normal activities during treatment.
- Patients can be treated repeatedly with CyberKnife.
- “Years of mounting research is proving CyberKnife to be the gold standard for treating prostate cancer, and as more men learn about CyberKnife, it is becoming the number one treatment of choice,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami.
Who is a candidate for CyberKnife for prostate cancer?
In short, any man facing a prostate cancer diagnosis may be a candidate for CyberKnife.
At the CyberKnife Center of Miami, we treat prostate cancer patients all day, every day. That’s one reason patients from around South Florida, the country and even world wide turn to us. To determine if you’re a candidate set up a consultation with us to discuss your case.
When is CyberKnife recommended for prostate cancer?
According to Accuray, the maker of CyberKnife: “The American Urological Association (AUA), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the Society for Urologic Oncology (SUO) support SBRT (such as the CyberKnife System) for select low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.”
However, CyberKnife can also be used to treat metastatic prostate cancer. That’s why a consultation with our experts is key.
What should your PSA be after CyberKnife?
For men who choose a prostatectomy, the PSA or prostate-specific androgen will likely be zero since the prostate has been taken out completely. After radiation for prostate cancer, the prostate can still make some PSA so levels will drop gradually over the next few weeks and might not reach their lowest level for two years or more after treatment, according to the American Cancer Society.
According to the University of Louisville Medical Center, “After SBRT for prostate cancer, the chance that the PSA will drop and remain within normal limits is 92 percent at five years after treatment and 88 percent at 10 years after treatment.”
According to Harvard Medical School, after radiation “recent studies have shown that for optimal results, PSA levels should be lower than 1 ng/ml, and even lower than 0.5 ng/ml. Levels that are above 1 or 2 ng/ml 12 to 18 months following completion of radiation treatments are very worrisome, because they indicate that the cancer may not have been eradicated.”
How many times can you have CyberKnife?
CyberKnife is safe – even for patients who have had radiation before. According to Accuray, patients who are treated with CyberKnife can be treated again in the event of a recurrence.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, regardless of your treatment, prostate cancer will recur in one-quarter to one-third of all men. That includes men treated with either surgery or radiation.
“CyberKnife radiation therapy is an excellent tool to treat recurrent prostate cancer or cancer of any kind,” says Dr. Pomper.
Prostate cancer recurrence is treatable and may even be curable, and survival rates remain high. At least 94% of patients live at least 15 years after their original diagnoses.
Men who continue to battle the disease for years can manage the disease and its symptoms with CyberKnife, according to the experts at CyberKnife Miami. For these men, prostate cancer becomes akin to managing long-term diseases like diabetes or heart disease. CyberKnife can also be helpful to treat bone pain associated with metastatic prostate cancer.
How long does it take to recover from a CyberKnife?
“The majority of patients can continue normal activity during and immediately following treatment. Nonetheless, urinary incontinence, bowel issues, and erectile dysfunction are all possible complications with any treatment option and should be discussed with your physician,” according to Accuray.
Essentially, there is little downtown during and after treatment with CyberKnife.
How painful is radiation for prostate cancer?
CyberKnife is a painless outpatient procedure with no cutting and no anesthesia. That means no risk of infection or long periods of downtime like there is with surgery.
Plus, the CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are so precise that healthy tissue is left unharmed so there is a lower risk of side effects like impotence and incontinence.
What are the worst side effects after radiation therapy for prostate cancer?
Side effects of CyberKnife can include tiredness, and urinary and rectal irritation. However, medications help minimize these, and they usually resolve themselves in a few weeks.
Accuray, the maker of CyberKnife, says there can also be loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, mild abdominal pain and mild redness on the skin near the area being treated.
“Multiple studies have validated that there are no worse side effects with CyberKnife SBRT than with traditional radiation. The ability to deliver precise doses of radiation enables clinicians to decrease exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and minimize negative side-effects on urinary, bowel, and sexual function that can reduce a patient’s quality of life,” according to Accuray.
Is CyberKnife for prostate cancer covered by insurance?
According to Accuray, as of January of 2020, Medicare in all 50 states and the District of Columbia cover SBRT for prostate cancer. Many private insurance companies do as well. It’s best to check with your insurance policy. But keep in mind, the expert staff at CyberKnife Miami can help you navigate the paperwork and get the answers you need.
CyberKnife Treatment for Prostate Cancer in Miami
We know this may not answer all your questions, so call us if you have more.
Our goal is to partner with you through your treatment journey and make sure you are as comfortable and confident as possible.
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.