What Are the Side Effects of CyberKnife Treatment?
At Orange County CyberKnife, we’re proud to be one of the premier providers of radiation therapy treatments in the Orange County area. Our flagship treatment is CyberKnife: a revolutionary cancer treatment system that uses high-dose radiation to eliminate cancer cells and tumors. In many patients, CyberKnife produces almost no side effects – but as with any radiation therapy treatment, side effects are possible. If you’re curious to learn the side effects of CyberKnife, we can help.
The Side Effects of CyberKnife
As with any cancer treatments, side effects can vary greatly from patient to patient. The potential side effects of CyberKnife depend on the type of cancer being treated, the amount of radiation required, and the location of the radiation treatment – and they can range between everything from minor skin irritation to serious injury or even death.
Some of the most common side effects of CyberKnife include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Skin irritation or rash at the site of radiation delivery
- Changes in bodily functions like salivary function or urination
- Specific problems in the area being treated (such as damage to nearby structures)
While these side effects are possible and may range in severity, for most patients, CyberKnife is a remarkably noninvasive treatment. Normally, CyberKnife produces few to no side effects in patients and offers one of the most attractive treatments available.
Schedule a Consultation at Your Radiation Therapy Clinic
No cancer treatment is without risk – but CyberKnife may offer a convenient, noninvasive treatment for your cancer. If you’re interested in learning more about CyberKnife, contact us today. We’ll schedule a consultation to help you learn more about your condition, how CyberKnife can help, and what your options are. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we look forward to helping you start the road to recovery.
The Power of CyberKnife
External beam radiation therapy consists of high energy X-rays delivered from a linear accelerator targeting the tumor. The CyberKnife machine at UofL Brown Cancer Center is a lightweight linear accelerator with a robotic arm that delivers radiation to the tumor precisely and accurately. Additionally, the CyberKnife can track the motion of the tumor during the treatment delivery, which allows for a higher amount of radiation to the tumor and less to the surrounding normal tissue.
CyberKnife technology can be used to treat several types of cancer while minimizing side effects for eligible patients including brain, kidney, liver, lung, ocular/orbital, prostate, pancreatic and spinal tumors, as well as metastatic cancer. It is also used to treat acoustic neuroma, arteriovenous malformation and trigeminal neuralgia. For more information about CyberKnife, visit www.louisvilleck.com.
Let’s take a closer look at using CyberKnife for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer patient eligibility
Talk to your doctor to see if you might be eligible for SBRT using CyberKnife. Prostate cancer patients eligible for SBRT using CyberKnife include men with the following:
- Gleason ?3 + 4 = 7, less than 50% biopsy cores containing cancer, PSA < 10 ng/ml, clinical stage T2a or less
- Gleason 3 + 3 = 6, less than 50% biopsy cores containing cancer, PSA < 20 ng/ml, clinical stage T2a or less
- Gleason 3 + 3 = 6, less than 50% biopsy cores containing cancer, PSA < 10 ng/ml, clinical stage T2b or T2c
Technology to reduce side effects
To further increase the accuracy and reduce the side of effects of prostate SBRT, prior to the treatment fiducial markers are placed in the prostate. The purpose of these markers is that they appear bright white on x-ray images taken during SBRT. Therefore, the CyberKnife machine can accurately determine the location of the prostate prior to delivering the radiation treatment.
Additionally, a SpaceOAR hydrogel is inserted in the space between the prostate and the rectum. The purpose of the SpaceOAR is to separate the prostate from the rectum, thereby reducing the radiation dose to the rectum and decreasing rectal side effects. The SpaceOAR is biodegradable and will degrade after approximately six to 12 months.
PSA levels after treatment
Following any type of treatment for prostate cancer, the PSA is checked at regular intervals. After prostatectomy, the PSA should be zero since the prostate has been completely removed. After any type of radiation treatment, the prostate may still make some PSA, but should be within the normal range (< 4 ng/ml). After SBRT for prostate cancer, the chance that the PSA will drop and remain within normal limits is 92 percent at five years after treatment and 88 percent at 10 years after treatment.
Side effects of SBRT with CyberKnife for prostate cancer
Regarding the side effects of SBRT with CyberKnife, there is a 20 percent chance of having to be placed on a medication, such as Flomax, to help with urinary symptoms, including weak stream or waking up at night to urinate. There is a 1-2 percent chance of needing a urinary catheter or a procedure because of blocked urinary flow. There is a 1 percent chance of having bleeding from the rectum.
Ask your doctor if you might be eligible for treatment using CyberKnife or ask the experts at UofL Brown Cancer Center for a second opinion. Call 502-562-HOPE (4673).
Visit www.louisvilleck.com to learn more about CyberKnife at UofL Brown Cancer Center.