While both treatments are forms of radiation therapy, the CyberKnife system has advantages over Proton therapy, including the number of treatments needed.
CyberKnife treatments are usually completed in 3 to 5 days, compared to 6 to 7 weeks needed for Proton therapy.
Plus CyberKnife’s radiation beams continuously stay on the targeted tumor site. The robotic arm corrects itself as the patient breathes normally, and/or moves slightly during treatment.
That greatly reduces the risk of damage to surrounding healthy tissue and nearby vital organs, resulting in much fewer side effects.
What is the success rate of CyberKnife radiation therapy vs Proton therapy?
They are about the same. Survival rates are between 97% and 100% for low risk patients.
For intermediate risk patients the rate is between 88% and 97%, but much depends on the type of cancer and the stage level of your cancer.
Is CyberKnife and Proton therapy covered by insurance?
CyberKnife is covered by most insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Proton therapy often is not covered. While it’s more expensive, insurance companies don’t outright base their denials on cost. Instead, they say Proton therapy is “experimental,” “investigational,” or “unproven.” Yet the facts of the matter prove this simply isn’t so.
Proton and CyberKnife therapy were both approved as cancer treatments by the FDA in 2001.
Why are there so few Proton therapy centers? The cost of setting up a Proton center is huge, costing up to 60 million dollars or more. Plus with many insurance companies still refusing to pay for Proton treatments, patients have to pay for it themselves and simply can’t afford it.
If you are trying to decide if you should chose CyberKnife or Proton for your treatment, call our radiation oncologists at CyberKnife Miami. They are top cancer experts and will tell you the best treatment option for your particular needs, whether that is CyberKnife or Proton therapy, or something else.
You can reach us at 305-279-2900.