CyberKnife Tedavisi

CyberKnife: Precise, Painless, and Non-Invasive Innovative Technology in Cancer Treatment

What is CyberKnife?

CyberKnife is an advanced linear accelerator used in cancer treatment. It is used to treat both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, as well as certain other conditions for which radiation therapy is appropriate. The CyberKnife system consists of a linear accelerator that produces 6 MV x-rays, mounted on an industrial robot with six joints, and a robotic patient table that can move in six directions. This device uses computer-controlled robotic technology to rotate the patient and apply radiation from hundreds of angles. The robot's precision is 0.2 mm, allowing it to treat cancerous areas in the brain and body with high-dose radiation while largely sparing normal tissues from the effects of radiation.

How Does CyberKnife Work?

CyberKnife is applied to the patient without the need for surgical intervention by fitting a plastic mask or body stabilizer. During the treatment, the patient lies on a robot-controlled table that can move in six dimensions. The imaging system tracks the tumor's position and monitors the patient's movements to adjust the positioning if necessary. This helps in the safe treatment of lung and liver tumors that move with respiration. Patients do not need to hold their breath or breathe regularly during the treatment. The system compares pre-treatment computed tomography and magnetic resonance images with real-time images taken during treatment. The tumor coordinates obtained are evaluated instantly by computer, and the radiation dose is adjusted accordingly. Therefore, the treatment is not affected by minor patient movements. The radiation dose delivered is confined to the tumor, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The results of the procedure appear gradually over time, causing the tumor to shrink.

Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy

CyberKnife can apply stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). SRS is an alternative to surgical procedures without incisions. Instead, focused radiation beams are used to treat cancerous tissues with surgical precision. The aim is to destroy the tumor with a high dose of radiation in a single session. When this treatment is applied over multiple sessions (usually 3-5 sessions), it is called stereotactic radiotherapy. Unlike the Gamma Knife device, CyberKnife can apply treatment to any part of the body. This method is often referred to as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or SABR. SABR applies high doses to target areas with extreme precision, causing minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

Advantages of CyberKnife

• Sub-Millimeter Precision: The system delivers treatment with less than millimeter precision, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
• Whole Body Capability: CyberKnife enables the treatment of tumors or lesions throughout the body.
• Surgery Alternative: CyberKnife is particularly useful in treating complex multiple tumors and tumors that cannot be surgically removed.
• Motion Synchronization: CyberKnife monitors the patient's breathing and tumor movements, making precise adjustments and delivering radiation accordingly.
• Short Treatment Cycle: Radiation therapy is typically administered in one to five sessions.
• Painless Treatment: There is no pain associated with the radiation therapy delivered by the CyberKnife radiosurgery system. No anesthesia is required.
• Outpatient Treatment: CyberKnife treatment significantly reduces the risk of complications and recovery time associated with traditional surgery. Most patients can go home and resume normal activities after treatment.

Conditions Treatable with CyberKnife

CyberKnife can be used to treat cancer anywhere in the body where radiation therapy is appropriate. It is preferred for treating malignant and benign tumors, metastases, arteriovenous malformations, and certain functional diseases. However, patients should consult their doctors to determine if this treatment is appropriate for them.

Some conditions that can be treated with CyberKnife include:

• Primary and metastatic brain tumors
• Head and neck cancers
• Spinal and vertebral tumors
• Soft tissue tumors (lung, kidney, liver, and pancreatic cancers)
• Acoustic neuromas
• Meningiomas and skull base tumors
• Pituitary tumors
• Eye cancer
• Recurrent and residual tumors
• Arteriovenous malformations
• Functional disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia
• Prostate cancer

This method can also be safely used in patients who have received radiation therapy for a recurrent disease in the same area.

CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer

CyberKnife treatment can be used as a first-line option for early-stage, low, or intermediate-risk prostate cancer. In patients with advanced prostate cancer, this method can help slow the progression of the disease. Surgery and radiation therapy are common treatment options for prostate cancer. CyberKnife is as effective as surgery and more accurate than conventional radiation therapy. Clinical data indicate that SBRT prostate treatment offers excellent disease-free survival rates five years after treatment. It is also non-invasive, painless, and convenient for patients. CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer is typically completed in 4-5 sessions over 1-2 weeks, while conventional radiation therapy takes 8-10 weeks.

Side Effects of CyberKnife

Due to its unique characteristics, CyberKnife typically causes fewer and milder side effects than standard radiation therapy. Most patients experience few or no side effects. However, like any radiation treatment, CyberKnife has some potential risks. These side effects vary depending on the tumor type and location, the treatment dose, and the patient's overall health. In some cases, temporary fatigue, skin irritation, nausea, and vomiting may occur. Some patients may experience other issues depending on the treated area. Our doctors discuss potential side effects and their management in detail with patients before the procedure.

Why Choose Well Dems Travel Agency?

• Internationally Recognized Expertise in Cancer Treatment: Patients from over 40 countries come to Well Dems Travel Agency Oncology Centers for cancer treatments. Advanced technology, leading medical specialists, and a multidisciplinary approach are our best tools against cancer.
• Diverse Treatment Options: Radiation oncology is rapidly evolving to provide greater safety and efficacy for cancer patients. At Well Dems Travel Agency, we have the latest devices and treatment options to ensure our doctors can select the best solution for each patient.
• Comprehensive Service for International Patients: Our International Patient Center offers 360-degree services for our foreign patients, from scheduling treatment appointments to assisting with travel and accommodation arrangements.

Types of Cancer Treatable with CyberKnife

CyberKnife can be used for primary or metastatic cancers. A primary tumor originates from the cells of an organ or tissue, while a secondary (metastatic) tumor forms when cancer cells from one part of the body spread to other areas. CyberKnife treatment is used for both malignant and benign cancer types. Additionally, if a previously treated cancer recurs (recurrent cancer), radiation oncologists may apply CyberKnife treatment. This technology can be beneficial in eradicating tumors in the brain, lungs, prostate, liver, pancreas, kidneys, breasts, ovaries, spine, spinal cord, and certain tumors in the head and neck. CyberKnife can provide better outcomes for patients with localized tumors and a limited number of metastases.

Brain tumors are one of the most commonly treated areas with CyberKnife. Different types of brain tumors, such as astrocytomas, gliomas, skull base tumors, meningiomas, schwannomas, pituitary adenomas, and brain metastases, can be treated with this technology. Depending on the size, location, and type of the tumor, doctors decide whether CyberKnife treatment will be applied. Well Dems Travel Agency's brain tumor boards meet to evaluate patients and decide which treatment will provide the most benefit to patients.

CyberKnife is a significant treatment alternative for localized prostate cancer. With traditional radiation therapy, cancer would be treated in more than 30 sessions and over 2 months. However, CyberKnife treatment is completed in just 5 sessions and in less than 2 weeks. To date, more than 20,000 prostate cancer cases have been treated with CyberKnife.

What to Expect After CyberKnife Treatment?

Once a definitive diagnosis is made, the most appropriate treatment for your cancer is evaluated by the Well Dems Travel Agency tumor board. The tumor board, a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine doctors, and pathologists, evaluates the various factors affecting the patient's condition at their regular meetings. They then decide on the best possible course of treatment. Well Dems Travel Agency tumor boards include:

If CyberKnife is the best treatment option for you, the radiation oncology team will plan your treatment process step by step. After a high-resolution CT scan, the image is transferred to the CyberKnife system. Radiation oncologists examine the size, shape, and location of the tumor. Accordingly, the radiation beam is shaped, the dose is determined, and the number of sessions is decided.

In CyberKnife treatment, Well Dems Travel Agency aims to deliver high-dose, precisely targeted radiation beams to the tumor. While the tumor is being destroyed, healthy tissues are preserved. The entire treatment takes no more than five sessions. Each session is completed in 30 to 60 minutes. CyberKnife treatment is painless and non-invasive. During a treatment session, the patient can comfortably lie on the treatment table without anesthesia. The robotic arm delivering the radiation beams moves around the patient, delivering radiation beams from different angles. CyberKnife is an outpatient procedure, and patients can leave the hospital building after the treatment session. All sessions take about 1 to 2 weeks, and after the treatment is completed, doctors may request a scan to check the tumor's response to treatment.

What Are the Disadvantages of CyberKnife?

After treatment, patients can generally return to their routine lives. By nature, radiation therapy has some side effects, but when considering the pros and cons of radiation therapy, the disadvantages are much more limited than the advantages. Side effects may occur during or after radiation therapy. The Well Dems Travel Agency Radiation Oncology department is equipped with the latest technologies, such as CyberKnife, MRIdian, and ETHOS, which deliver radiation beams precisely targeted to the tumor. This means that healthy organs and tissues are protected from radiation, significantly minimizing the side effects of radiation therapy.

The most common side effects of CyberKnife treatment are fatigue, nausea, and skin irritation. These side effects usually only last for a short time. The possible side effects of CyberKnife vary depending on the treated area. For example, if a patient has prostate cancer and is being treated with CyberKnife, they may experience increased frequency of urination, urgency, weak urine flow, and difficulty starting urination. These effects are usually not severe or permanent and disappear after treatment is completed.

CyberKnife is one of the most preferred radiosurgery devices for treating brain tumors. The primary reason for this is that this treatment approach preserves the brain's important functions and minimizes the treatment's side effects compared to traditional radiation therapies. Side effects associated with CyberKnife brain treatment typically include mild and temporary headaches, vomiting, seizures, and necrosis.