CyberKnife has Decades Of Extremely High Rates of Brain Tumor Control and Despite its Name, CyberKnife is not a Knife at all.
Also known as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), this cutting-edge radiation technology is completely non-invasive.
There’s no cutting, incision, blood, anesthesia, or pain. There are few, if any, side effects and no recovery time. You can resume your normal activities immediately following treatment.
Each treatment takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Patients typically require only one to five treatments instead of 10 or more treatments with conventional radiation therapy. If tumors come back, we often can treat them again.
The CyberKnife system can be used either on a stand-alone basis or in combination with other brain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or whole-brain radiation therapy.
Unlike other radiosurgery systems – such as the Gamma Knife – the CyberKnife system does not require patients to be fitted with a rigid and invasive head frame and is done on an outpatient basis. In the set-up stage, the radiation therapist will create a soft mesh mask that is custom fitted to the patient’s face. This comfortable and non-invasive mask helps keep the patient’s head and neck still during treatment.
While wearing the mask, a CT scan will be performed. The CT data will be used by the CyberKnife team to determine the exact size, shape and location of the tumor.
The medical team will determine the size of the area that must be targeted by radiation and the appropriate radiation dose.
The CyberKnife will move slowly around you during treatment and you won’t feel a thing. It’s completely pain free. Patients dress comfortably in their own clothes and can bring music to listen to during treatment. Nothing will be required of the patient, except relaxation. In fact, patients often sleep through the treatment.
There are generally only minimal side effects from CyberKnife treatments, which may include mild headache and fatigue.
After completing the CyberKnife treatment, patients will schedule follow-up appointments.
Keep in mind that the brain tumor will not suddenly disappear. In fact, it could take several weeks or longer for the full effect of the treatment to be known.
Response to treatment varies from patient to patient. Clinical experience has shown that most brain cancer patients respond very well to CyberKnife treatments.
CyberKnife radiosurgery has been used for more than three decades with extremely high rates of tumor control, and most patients are good candidates for treatment.
The Types of Brain Tumors We Treat:
Brain Tumors that Begin in the Brain
Acoustic Neuroma (Shwanoma)
Meningioma
Pituitary Adenoma
Medulloblastoma
Germ Cell Tumors
Cranialpharmyngiomas
Cancers that Can Spread to the Brain
Breast Cancer
Colon Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Lung Cancer
Melanoma
Benign vs Cancerous Brain Tumors
Cancerous or malignant brain tumors may spread to other parts of the brain, whereas benign brain tumors may grow but do not spread.
Symptoms of Brain Tumors & Early Warning Signs of Brain Tumors
Headaches
Seizures
Personality or Memory Changes
Nausea or Vomiting
Fatigue
Drowsiness
Sleep Problems
Changes in Motor Skills
When to See a Doctor?
If you have a headache that starts suddenly and continues for a long period of time, becomes reoccurring, or worsens with activity, are among the earliest warning signs that you may need to see a doctor.
Diagnosing Brain Tumors
Doctors may use a variety of methods including neurological exams, imaging tests (such as an MRI, CT or PET scans), to determine whether cancer spread from other parts of the body. A surgical biopsy may be done to determine whether the tumor is cancerous or benign.
While a brain cancer diagnosis can be very scary, the good news is today we have many new treatment options and CyberKnife is one of the most effective way to treat tumors and just as important, it’s among the easiest and quickest ways to get it treated and over with.
The CyberKnife Center of Miami has the most experienced CyberKnife team in Miami. That’s why our oncology team takes on even the most difficult cases that other doctors won’t touch.
We have lots of Patient Success Stories which you see on our website.
Click here to see Maria’s story:
And click here to see a time lapse video of brain tumor treatment with CyberKnife:
Call our team if we can help you, or if you want or need a second opinion on the best treatment option for your particular needs. We’re happy to help. We will guide you every step of the way, whether that is with CyberKnife or not. Here’s our number 305-279-2700.