CyberKnife Questions? We have answers.

Am I a candidate for CyberKnife treatment?

CyberKnife^®  has the ability to treat tumors that were previously considered inoperable or untreatable. CyberKnife treats both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors of the brain, spine, head and neck, lung, pancreas, prostate and liver. We encourage you to talk with your oncologist or neurosurgeon to learn more.  Or, to schedule a consultation, please call Meg Kennedy, R.N., CyberKnife Nurse Care Coordinator at 262-928-8500.

How is CyberKnife® different from other robotic radiosurgery systems, like Gamma Knife or TomoTherapy?

Mainly, the flexibility of the CyberKnife robotic arm, along with precision image guidance technology, allows the system to reach areas of the body that are unreachable with other radiosurgery systems.

Secondly, CyberKnife does not use an invasive head or body frame in order to keep you perfectly still during treatment. 

What are the benefits of CyberKnife treatment?

• Better quality of life, reduces pain
• Fewer visits to the hospital as treatment is completed often in one session and usually no more than five sessions total.
• Procedures are done without incisions, so no blood loss and surgery-like results.
• No uncomfortable, invasive head or body frame needed for treatment
• No anesthesia required
• Shorter or no recovery periods
• Patients go home the same day, so no hospital stay required.

How does CyberKnife work?

This non-surgical treatment uses doses of highly focused radiation beams, delivered from outside the body, to destroy cancer cells.

What happens during CyberKnife treatment?

During the outpatient treatment, patients lie on a table while CyberKnife's flexible robotic arm moves around them, delivering raditation to their tumors with surgical precision. Treatments last an average of 1 - 2 hours.

How many CyberKnife treatments would I need?

The number of treatments will vary based on your particular type and stage of cancer. In most cases, CyberKnife can be completed in as few as 1 - 5 outpatient treatments.

How can I find out more?

• Request more information.
• We encourage you to talk with your oncologist or neurosurgeon to learn more. Or, to schedule a consultation, please call Meg Kennedy, R.N., CyberKnife® Nurse Care Coordinator at (262) 928-8500.