effectively eliminated with appropriate treatments. More challenging, of course, are metastatic cancers, whose cells spread from the primary source of origin to new areas of the body, often via the lymph node system or the blood steam.
If cancer spreads only to nearby tissues, it is classified as locally advanced cancer. If it spreads to other areas of the body, it is called metastatic cancer. Common areas of metastasis are the liver, the lungs, lymph nodes and bones. Even when the cancer spreads to a new location, it is named after the part of the body from which it originated. One example is breast cancer that spreads to the lungs. In this case, it is diagnosed as breast cancer with lung metastasis.
No matter the type of cancer, where it originated and the size and location of the metastasis, the primary treatment goal is to slow down the rate of growth. This typically requires systemic therapy or medication targeting the cancer cells throughout the body. Options include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of all of these treatments.
Unfortunately, many patients with metastatic cancer find that traditional treatment can often be as debilitating as the disease itself. For example, conventional radiation therapy aimed at eradicating cancer cells can inadvertently damage healthy tissues and organs surrounding the cancerous areas of the body. Also, extended treatment can take a toll in terms of side effects that include fatigue, nausea, soreness, stiffness, and skin problems.
However, there is a safe alternative to conventional radiation that is far more comfortable but just as effective. It’s called CyberKnife®, also known as the Beam of Life. It’s a noninvasive form of radiotherapy that utilizes a robotic arm to target cancerous tumors with such pinpoint accuracy that it doesn’t harm any surrounding tissue or organs. In fact, CyberKnife is so precise that it automatically adjusts to the slightest movements to deliver high-doses of radiation to the cancerous cells and only those cells.
CyberKnife is a great treatment even for patients with cancer that has metastasized. If the cancer cells have spread to multiple parts of the body, CyberKnife can kill cancer cells in each area with significantly less side effects than traditional radiation therapy.
Unlike low-dose, conventional radiation therapy, which requires months of seemingly endless treatment sessions, CyberKnife technology is designed to do the job in as little as five, 30-60-minute sessions. There is no downtime, so when the session is over, you can return to your normal activities immediately.
For more than 30 years, the clinically proven CyberKnife system has helped hundreds of thousands of patients with metastatic cancer around the world. To find out if you are a suitable candidate for this revolutionary technology, contact the CyberKnife Center of Miami today to arrange a consultation with one of our specialists. You can reach us at (800) 204-0455 or (305) 279-2900 or fill out our convenient online form to make an appointment and visit our website now www.cyberknifemiami.com