CyberKnife FAQ

The CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System treats cancerous and noncancerous tumors. This noninvasive method pinpoints tumors and accurately delivers high doses of radiation to their specific location. CyberKnife is a great alternative for patients with surgically complex or even inoperable tumors.

CyberKnife can treat a wide variety of tumors and lesions in the brain and head, such as acoustic neuroma, neurofibroma, vestibular schwannoma and much more.

In addition, the system can treat the following bodily tumors:

• Ovarian cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Small-cell lung cancer
• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Osteosarcoma
• Uterine cancer
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Colon cancer
• Brain cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Acoustic neuroma
• Early stage breast cancer
• Inoperable/ complex tumors

Patients who receive tumor treatment with the new CyberKnife M6 series will experience all the advantages that the original CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System provides in comparison to traditional radiation therapies and other radiosurgery treatments with a few added benefits. These added benefits include:

• Shorter treatment times
• Enhanced precision in tumor treatment
• More tumor sites eligible for treatment, including inoperable or complex tumors
• Fewer side effects

Speak with our CyberKnife nurse navigator at 1-800-537-5142 ext. 5149 to learn more about this noninvasive procedure and schedule an appointment to take the first steps in determining if you are eligible for CyberKnife.

CyberKnife has treated over 100,000 patients around the world.

Patients can greatly benefit from CyberKnife as an alternative to surgery.

Some of the benefits include the following:

• Minimal recovery time
• Painless procedure
• No need for anesthesia
• No need for incisions
• No need to stay in the hospital

In 2001, CyberKnife was cleared to treat tumors throughout the body.

There are generally no side effects after treatment. A small number of patients have reported feeling nauseous or fatigued.

Treatment frequency will be determined based on the location and type of tumor. Your doctor will inform you of whether your tumor will require multiple treatments.

The timeframe involved in the effectiveness of a CyberKnife treatment depends on the tumor size, location and type. Your physician will update you on its progress as you receive treatment.

The difference between traditional radiation therapy and CyberKnife treatment is largely the reach of the radiation involved. Traditional radiation therapy affects a larger amount of tissue and is therefore broken up into thirty to forty sessions. CyberKnife pinpoints the radiation so that the surrounding tissue is minimally affected and higher doses of radiation can be administered. Treatments are typically completed within one to five sessions.

The primary difference between CyberKnife and other radiosurgery systems is its ability to pinpoint high-dose radiation to the exact location of the tumor.

Take a look at the difference:

1. Its targeting accuracy is unprecedented and corrects itself based on patient motion.
2. Its mobility allows for radiation to be beamed from numerous angles.
3. Its precision spares healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.

CyberKnife can treat patients that are undergoing chemotherapy or have already undergone chemotherapy. Talk to your physician to determine if this is the best treatment option for you.

Patients who are undergoing radiation therapy or who have already undergone radiation therapy may still be eligible for CyberKnife treatment. Your physician can help you determine if CyberKnife is the right treatment for you.

Medicare and most insurances cover CyberKnife treatments. Always check with your insurance company if your physician has suggested CyberKnife treatment.