November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and The CyberKnife Center of Miami is offering tips on reducing the risk of one of its most frequently treated diseases.
The center treats lung cancer patients with a procedure called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) using CyberKnife® technology.
Here are simple things you can do to reduce your risk of dying from lung cancer:
Reduce exposure to cigarette smoke:
- Smokers who quit can cut their risk of cancer in half within five years according to the American Cancer Society. This can also reduce the risk of a smokers loved ones developing cancer through secondhand smoke.
Get screened:
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently released a recommendation on CT lung cancer screenings for long-term smokers. Though pending finalization, the recommendation applies to current and heavy smokers between ages 55 and 79.
Check your family history:
- Learning about your family medical history can give you a better idea of whether you may be at risk not only for developing lung cancer, but other diseases or cancers as well.
For those who may face a lung cancer diagnosis, treatment options vary depending on a patients circumstances.
For example, patients in poor health or suffering from chronic pulmonary diseases may not be able to undergo surgery and could benefit greatly from CyberKnife treatment.
CyberKnife can also be an excellent treatment option for those who simply may not want to undergo surgical treatment and prefer a noninvasive approach.
Treatment is nonsurgical and is completed within five or fewer procedures.
Patients typically return to their normal routines, experiencing few to no side effects.
CyberKnife treats lung tumors with very precise, high-dose radiation and minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissue surrounding a tumor.
If you are looking for an alternative to invasive surgery, CyberKnife Radiosurgery may be right for you.
Contact the CyberKnife Center of Miami and we can help you decide the best treatment for you or a loved one.
Call us at 800-204-0455 and visit our website – www.cyberknifemiami.com
“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
~ Dalai Lama