The CyberKnife System

Discover the Innovative Radiotherapy Treatment: The CyberKnife System

 

 

Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, has been a viable cancer treatment since the early years of the 20th century. Since then, radiation oncologists have made significant advances in using radiotherapy to treat cancerous and noncancerous tumors that are both non-invasive and effective.

The radiation oncologists of Advanced Oncology Associates (AOA) offer the most advanced non-surgical radiation therapy options for the treatment of cancers throughout the body. AOA is the only group that offers the CyberKnife in the entire state of Alaska. Each of their technologies serves a role in providing patients with the best treatment for their unique condition.

AOA’s Alaska CyberKnife Center at Providence Cancer Center is the only oncology that offers the CyberKnife System, the latest technological advancement in radiotherapy that uses precise, high-dose radiation for the treatment of cancer. The treatments are delivered in just one to five sessions in less than a week.

We encourage patients to explore all treatment options for the best outcomes,  including External Beam Radiation Therapy, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). Our team of radiation oncologists at AOA will work with you to determine the best treatment for your condition.

The CyberKnife System

The CyberKnife System is a non-invasive cancer treatment and an effective alternative to surgery. This system utilizes the most advanced forms of radiation therapy: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The CyberKnife System can be used to treat the following:

  • PRIMARY TUMORS - Main tumor site
  • METASTATIC TUMORS - Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (lung, liver, brain, spine, etc.)
  • INOPERABLE CANCERS - Cancers that cannot be treated with surgery
  • RECURRENT CANCERS - Cancers that have returned

The CyberKnife System offers precise and exact, high-dose radiation, targeting the tumor. This precision minimizes side effects and exposure to surrounding organs, tissues, and nerves. What sets CyberKnife apart from other radiation technologies is the system’s ability to adjust to the movement of the tumor. Tumors of the lung, liver, pancreas, and kidney can shift as much as 2 inches with every breath. Other cancers, such as those in the prostate, move uncontrollably throughout treatment due to bowel movements, the bladder, and gas. Therefore, the CyberKnife System will target the tumor’s exact location before radiation is delivered. With its pinpoint precision, patient outcomes have continued to improve.

CyberKnife's tracking and target verification was extensively developed in its inception with the treatment of brain, head, neck, and spine cancers. CyberKnife treatment for such cancers is pain-free and does not require the large, cumbersome headframe often used with other technologies.

The Treatment Process with CyberKnife

Treatment with CyberKnife is designed to be as comfortable as possible for the patient while delivering effective results. Radiotherapy with CyberKnife is a non-invasive alternative to surgery. As a patient, you will receive one to five radiotherapy sessions, depending on your diagnosis. Here is what you can expect while undergoing radiotherapy treatment with CyberKnife:

  • 1 to 5 radiotherapy sessions, usually within a week.
  • No overnight stays.
  • Continue with your life -- even on treatment days.
  • Relaxing care; just lie down, listen to music, and let the CyberKnife System do its work.

At AOA, we treat a number of cancers, including: lung cancer, prostate cancer, brain cancer, skin cancer, and many more! Contact us for more information about our innovative radiation therapy treatments and the conditions we treat.

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