Cancer can be a difficult disease to deal with. Fortunately, there are a lot of treatment options available that can work together to eliminate cancer so patients can continue to live long, healthy, and happy lives.
One of the more advanced alternative cancer treatments available on the market today is CyberKnife Radiosurgery. CyberKnife is often confused with Gamma Knife and Proton Beam Therapy because the procedures have some similarities. However, these three procedures have major differences that are important to understand before deciding which one to go with.
Alternatives to Traditional Cancer Treatment
Below is a quick comparison of each cancer treatment:
GAMMA KNIFE
Gamma Knife can treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. But only in the head and neck or cervical spine area. This procedure is considered non-surgical because it does not require incisions to eliminate tumors.
The Procedure
Before Gamma Knife treatment, a metal frame is mounted onto the patient’s head with screws into the skull to hold the head steady and in place so the patient doesn’t move during treatment. The doctor will administer anesthesia beforehand to make the patient as comfortable as possible.
Gamma Knife treatments deliver high doses of radiation beams precisely to the location of the tumor. Typically, only one treatment session is needed. However this radio-surgery technique is limited in it’s use. It can’t be used any where else to eliminate tumors in the body except the head and neck region.
PROTON THERAPY
Proton therapy can target tumors all over the body. A proton is a positively charged particle that can eliminate cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. It delivers a precise dose of radiation to tumors.
The Procedure
Proton therapy is painless and completely non-invasive. The machine does not touch the body.
A specialist focuses and targets the tumor, shooting proton beams at it. However, proton therapy beams deliver a lower dose of radiation so multiple sessions are usually needed for proper results and the results come more slowly.
This factor makes Proton therapy less attractive to individuals who want quicker results to prevent the cancer from growing.
CYBERKNIFE
CyberKnife is a completely non-invasive treatment option for many patients with cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. This technology allows radiation to be used to eliminate tumors throughout the body. Unlike Gamma Knife, CyberKnife can treat tumors almost anywhere in the body.
Unlike older radiation treatments, CyberKnife delivers the most precise dose of radiation possible to tumors located in the body.
Radiation kills cancerous cells and is effective in dissolving tumors. However, it has the same effect on healthy tissue in the body and cannot distinguish between a cancerous cell and a healthy cell. Older radiation treatments exposed patients’ bodies to a lot of radiation – and while their cancerous tumors were usually treated properly through this method, their healthy cells were also affected.
CyberKnife allows us to concentrate the radiation doses only to the tumor. This tremendously decreases the damage the radiation does to healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. Because of its precision and capabilities, CyberKnife is one of the best alternative cancer treatments on the market today.
The Procedure
CyberKnife procedures are done on an outpatient basis. There is no physical contact made with the patient during the procedure, and it is completely painless. The patient lies comfortably on the CyberKnife table while the machine does its work.
With the help of a radiation oncologist, a treatment plan is created.
The device used to perform a CyberKnife procedure has a robotic arm that precisely targets the tumor shooting hundreds of beams of radiation into the tumor, dissolving it over time. Appointments can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, and only a handful of sessions are necessary to complete the treatment. There is no recovery time needed, and patients can return to normal activities right after the procedure. Unlike Proton therapy, CyberKnife is effective in fighting cancerous tumors at a much faster pace.
Non-Invasive Cancer Surgery Center in Miami
While there are a variety of cancer treatments out there, CyberKnife is one of the most advanced and effective treatments available for eliminating almost every kind of tumor in the body. If you or a loved one are looking for a treatment method that offers effective and efficient tumor treatment that is painless, quick, and causes minimal risks to the rest of your body, CyberKnife Radiotherapy may be the right treatment for you.
The CyberKnife Center of Miami uses cutting-edge CyberKnife technology, known as the Beam of Life, to destroy tumors and lesions. This is the most advanced image-guided robotics available today. Our dedicated staff is standing by to help you determine if CyberKnife is the best treatment option for you and get you on your way to recovery. Call (800) 204-0455 or (305) 279-2900, or fill out our online form today to make an appointment and visit our website to learn more www.cyberknifemiami.com.