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Q1: To find out if I am a candidate for CyberKnife® treatment, who do I
contact at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System?
A1. Please call: 1-888-474-HOPE (888-474-4673)
or e-mail us at: aami-CyberKnife@trinity-health.org
Q2: What are the key benefits of CyberKnife®?
A2: The key benefits of CyberKnife® are:
- No incision
- No blood
- No pain
- No anesthesia
- No stereotactic frame surgically attached to the skull
- No recovery time
- Rapid return to normal activity
Q3: What is CyberKnife® radiosurgery?
A3: CyberKnife® radiosurgery is a precise, painless, non-invasive radiation
treatment that can be an alternative to traditional, open surgery in certain
cases.
Multiple beams of high energy radiation are delivered from multiple points
outside the body and come together precisely at the tumor or lesion inside the
body. Each individual beam is not sufficient to cause harm. But when all the
beams come together at the tumor, they give a very high dose of radiation to
the lesion, while sparing nearby normal tissue.
CyberKnife® radiosurgery is so precise, radiation beams can be sculpted to
small, complex-shaped tumors near critical structures, such as hearing and vision
nerves. This ability to accurately irradiate only the tumor and protect healthy
tissue allows the CyberKnife® to treat many lesions which may be considered
inoperable or untreatable with other radiosurgery systems - giving many patients
new hope.
Q4: Is the CyberKnife® clinically proven?
A4: The CyberKnife® System is based on radiation technology that has been
proven for over 30 years. Worldwide, more than 40,000 patients have received
CyberKnife® treatments, and many clinical studies with the CyberKnife® have
been published in medical journals. At Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, our
oncologists, surgeons and physicists collaborate with other international cancer
experts who have destroyed thousands of tumors with this technology.
Q5: What types of tumors can be treated?
A5: The CyberKnife® System is approved by the FDA to treat tumors and lesions
anywhere in the body when radiation treatment is indicated. Consult with your
physician to see if the CyberKnife® treatment is right for you.
Q6: How does the CyberKnife® work?
A6: The CyberKnife® is a revolutionary new way of performing stereotactic
radiosurgery. It combines two advanced technologies:
- The first innovation is a lightweight radiation delivery system mounted
on a multi-jointed robotic arm. The robotic arm provides unparalleled
access to tumors anywhere in the body, reaching areas of the body that are
untreatable with other radiosurgery systems and allowing more flexible delivery
of radiation for optimum treatment.
- The second innovation is an image guidance system. This advancement allows
the CyberKnife® System to locate the tumor throughout treatment and correct
for small patient movements, which allows radiation to be delivered without
the use of a stereotactic frame.
Q7: What makes CyberKnife® so different?
A7: It's 100% Frameless:
The ability of the CyberKnife® System to correct for patient movement during
treatment spares you from the pain and inconvenience associated with the conventional
head frame that must be affixed to the skull with screws. Published studies
have shown that frameless CyberKnife® radiosurgery is as accurate, if not more
accurate than traditional frame-based radiosurgery.
Full Body Capability & Staged Treatment:
The unique design of the CyberKnife® System allows it to deliver precise high
dose radiation not just to lesions in the brain, but to lesions in the spine
and other organs throughout the body. In addition, because no frame is required,
the CyberKnife® System can perform "hypo-fractionated" or staged radiosurgery.
With this approach, the total radiation dose is divided into 3-5 smaller doses.
This is especially beneficial for treating lesions near sensitive structures
and larger tumors, because it better protects surrounding healthy tissue.
Painless Surgery:
The CyberKnife® System allows you to be treated in a unique radiosurgery suite
where painless "surgery" is performed on an outpatient basis, eliminating
the risk of complications and lengthy recovery time associated with traditional
open surgery.
Better Quality of Life During & After Treatment:
The simple outpatient CyberKnife® procedure allows you to undergo your treatment
and immediately resume normal activities.
Q8: Who will be involved in my treatment?
A8: CyberKnife® treatment utilizes a team approach where medical experts collaborate
with you as their central focus. Team members may include your surgeon, radiation
oncologist, medical oncologist, physicist and other team members within the
hospital.
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