Max was 72 when he got his first prostate cancer check, and only because he had changed doctors.
“No doctor up till then had recommended I get my prostate checked, and she found it was rough and had an unusual shape,” Max said.
That was April 2021 when his PSA score was ‘right on the limit’ but Max said, he wasn’t too worried. “I guess I was a little naive.”
When his PSA rose again in 2023, biopsies confirmed prostate cancer.
Max, is from New Zealand, where they have socialized medicine. Getting in line, waiting for treatment could take a very long time. Something this father of four and grandfather of seven, didn’t want to take his chances on.
He did a lot of research and found out about CyberKnife radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer.
There is only one cancer center that has CyberKnife technology in New Zealand, and to get the treatment Max would have to pay for it himself, which he did and says, “It was worth it.”
Max was treated by radiation oncologist, Dr. Giuseppe Sasso at Auckland Mercy Hospital, who says, “CyberKnife technology delivers the highest doses of radiation therapy to the tumor site. Its robotic arm can adjust to the patient’s smallest movements during treatment, so the tumor site is always being zapped with sub-millimeter accuracy and the results are quite spectacular and the patients need many fewer treatments. Five compared to 42 with other types of radiation therapy.”
Treatment is done over five to ten days, compared to several months with older types of radiation therapy, and considerable recovery time with surgery.
Plus there is less risk of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction with CyberKnife because the treatment is so targeted.
There is no down time with CyberKnife. Most patients get up off the treatment patient and go about their regular daily routine.
The only side effect Max noticed was slight urinary discomfort, “But otherwise, I wouldn’t have known I’d had a treatment.”
Dr. Sasso says, “All my CyberKnife patients have done very well and had very few side effects.”
It cost Max thousands of dollars out of his own pocket because he doesn’t have health insurance but he says, “What price is life?”
CyberKnife can treat tumors any where in the body.
In America we don’t have socialized medicine and most insurance companies pay for CyberKnife treatments, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Residents in South Florida are lucky to have the CyberKnife Center of Miami In Kendall, Florida.
Because we are among the most experienced CyberKnife teams worldwide, patients come to us from all over the world for treatment.
Our goal is to make cancer treatment as easy as possible and get you treated as quickly as possible so you can get back to your life.
We work with you every step of the way and hold your hand through the entire process.
We are a concierge service. We answer the phone and return calls and emails. Being diagnosed with cancer is tough enough without having to battle a medical maze.
If you would like to find out if we can help you call us at 305-279-2900. We’re happy to answer all your questions.