Treatment of "Soft Tissues"
Lung Cancer
“The initial results in treating lung cancers with CyberKnife are very encouraging. We are able to treat patients who have other complicating conditions, such as advanced COPD or heart disease that would make them otherwise inoperable. We are able to give very high doses of radiation without damaging surrounding structures. We can provide this radiation in very intense doses over just a few days, compared to six weeks in the past.”
John Thayer, M.D.
According to the National Lung Cancer Partnership, approximately 175,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year.
Traditionally, general surgery has been the preferred method when treating patients with lung cancer. However, many patients are ineligible for this type of surgery for a variety of reasons, including an advanced stage or the location of cancer that deems the tumor inoperable.
While radiation treatment is another alternative, high doses can negatively impact surrounding tissue and organs. With CyberKnife, the flexibility of the robotic arm and the precision of targeted radiation beams can dramatically reduce a tumor and deliver an optimum level of safe doses of radiation, all in just a few short visits.
Liver Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 20,000 people were diagnosed with primary liver cancer in 2006.
When it comes to the traditional treatment of liver cancer, combined surgery and chemotherapy are the conventional methods. With CyberKnife, there is no need for surgery. This is critical especially to those patients where surgery is too risky because a tumor is too close to a vessel or vital organ. CyberKnife can radiate those tumors, generally with minimal side effects.
In some cases, patients can even continue their chemotherapy at the same time. With CyberKnife and chemotherapy working together, these two weapons can dramatically increase the chances of survival among patients and improve their overall quality of life.
“It is a fantastic new modality that is minimally invasive and highly effective. The initial results in terms of cost effectiveness and accuracy are amazing. In the future, I anticipate that the long-terms results of primary hepatic radiosurgery will be equal to that of surgical resection in terms of local control and long-term survival.
“We are also using CyberKnife in conjunction with other modalities, such as resection for patients who would have otherwise been considered inoperable.
“We have treated patients at Saint Francis with liver metastases from a variety of cancers and they have been very satisfied with their care.”
James Frank, M.D.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2006, more than 37,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
The typical treatment for a tumor in the abdomen is often radiation and chemotherapy delivered over several weeks to months. For patients, this conventional method is often difficult to tolerate, with many unpleasant side effects. The unique ability of CyberKnife to target lesions more precisely can help relieve symptoms, control the growth of the tumor and alleviate pain associated with pancreatic cancer.