CyberKnife Radiation Therapy: Treatment & Side Effects

The CyberKnife Radiation Therapy System is an innovative cancer treatment technology designed to perform non-invasive radiosurgery on both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors located anywhere in the body.

The CyberKnife System works by delivering beams of high-dose radiation to tumor cells, destroying the cells and preventing them from repairing themselves or reproducing while preserving healthy tissue in the areas surrounding tumors.

SERO no longer offers CyberKnife treatment due to further advancements in technology that have allowed our physicians to better treat patients without the maintenance required of CyberKnife machines. However, we are always committed to providing the highest quality service and Cancer treatment for our Charlotte patients, which includes education on the available treatment options, including CyberKnife therapy.

CyberKnife may be used to treat both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body. It is most commonly used as an alternative to traditional surgery for patients with inoperable tumors or in cases in which surgery would be too complex or dangerous to perform.

Doctors have also recommended the use of CyberKnife radiation in place of conventional radiation therapy in some cases. Due to the system’s extreme targeting accuracy, CyberKnife therapy at one point was touted as being able to deliver a shorter, more effective course of treatment compared to External Beam Radiation Therapy. With advances in more common technologies, this may no longer be the case.

Common CyberKnife treatment areas include:

• Prostate
• Lung
• Brain
• Spine
• Liver
• Pancreas
• Kidney

While CyberKnife radiation therapy can be effective for many patients, there are certain situations where other treatment options may be more appropriate. Understanding these limitations can help you and your doctor make the best treatment decision for your specific situation.

CyberKnife may not be recommended when:

• Large tumors: Tumors larger than 5-6 centimeters may be better treated with conventional radiation therapy or surgery
• Multiple widespread tumors: When cancer has spread extensively throughout the body, systemic treatments like chemotherapy may be more effective
• Certain anatomical locations: Some areas near critical organs may be too risky for high-dose radiation
• Patient movement issues: Patients who cannot remain still during treatment may not be good candidates
• Previous radiation exposure: Areas that have already received maximum radiation doses
• Certain cancer types: Some aggressive cancers may require more comprehensive treatment approaches

For prostate cancer specifically, CyberKnife radiation may not be the best option when:

• The cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland
• There are multiple large tumors within the prostate
• The patient has severe urinary symptoms that could worsen with radiation
• Previous prostate surgery has created anatomical complications
• The patient’s life expectancy is less than 10 years due to other health conditions

Your radiation oncologist will evaluate your individual case to determine if CyberKnife or alternative treatments like IMRT, IGRT, or conventional surgery would be more appropriate for your prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer: CyberKnife offers similar effectiveness to conventional radiation with potentially fewer side effects and shorter treatment duration.

Lung Cancer: Particularly effective for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer and lung metastases from other cancers.

Brain Tumors: Excellent precision for treating brain metastases and some primary brain tumors, often in a single session.

Understanding potential CyberKnife treatment side effects helps patients prepare for their treatment journey. While CyberKnife radiation side effects are generally milder than traditional radiation therapy, some patients may experience:

• Fatigue: Mild to moderate tiredness that typically improves within 1-2 weeks
• Skin reactions: Slight redness or irritation at treatment sites (less common than with conventional radiation)
• Nausea: Particularly when treating tumors in the abdomen or near the digestive system
• Site-specific effects: Depending on treatment location

• Brain tumors: Possible headache, temporary swelling, hair loss in treated area
• Lung tumors: Mild cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness
• Prostate: Urinary frequency, mild rectal irritation
• Liver: Temporary elevation in liver enzymes, mild abdominal discomfort

Most CyberKnife radiation side effects are temporary and resolve within days to weeks after treatment completion. Side effects tend to be minimal or non-existent for most patients, and side effects that manifest in the patient will normally go away within the first ten days after treatment.

With the introduction of CyberKnife Radiation technology in the 1990s, the world of radiation oncology gained an innovative tool with exceptional capabilities. After several advances over the past two decades, CyberKnife remains unique among radiation technology in its accuracy and effectiveness and continues to provide a viable alternative to traditional surgery.

The CyberKnife System works by combining advanced robotics with real-time imaging. The robotics are used to deliver beams of radiation—a general-purpose robotic arm which is controlled by a computer, is programmed using data from CT scans of the patient to target certain spots. Then, while the arm is delivering the radiation treatment, the system is also taking X-rays of the patient, which are fed directly into the computer system that controls the arm. By feeding 3-D images of the patient into the computer in real-time, the arm can adjust its positioning very quickly. The range of motion of the robotic arm and the real-time image guidance allows for the highly accurate delivery of radiotherapy anywhere in the body.

These important characteristics also make the system much more comfortable for the patient. Many SRS technologies, particularly those used to deliver treatment to tumors in the brain, in the past have required the patient to be rigidly immobilized during treatment. In many cases, this is achieved by a tight framing that is fastened to the patient’s head with titanium screws.

CyberKnife treatment capitalizes on the free range of motion provided by its robotic arm and the real-time image updates to deliver radiation from multiple angles and gives the patient much more latitude to rest comfortably during treatment.

Though SERO does not offer CyberKnife treatment, other physicians may recommend this course of action. In these cases, we want you to feel prepared for the treatment you will undergo.

Imaging technicians use a high-resolution CT scan to pinpoint the size and shape of tumors and their precise location inside the body.

The images taken by the CT machine are transferred electronically to the CyberKnife guidance computer, and clinicians begin planning treatments based on the specifics of the patient’s condition.

Your doctor will then use the CyberKnife software to create a treatment plan that is carefully designed to target tumors with the proper doses of radiation while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy cells.

Once your doctor has developed cancer treatment plans, the patient is ready to undergo the CyberKnife procedure.

Upon arrival, patients will be positioned on the treatment table. The CyberKnife System’s computer-controlled robotic arm then moves around the patient at various angles, delivering radiation therapy to the tumor locations.

Treatment sessions with the Cyberknife System last between 30 and 90 minutes. Session time depends on the type and location of the tumor. In many cases, patients will be treated in stages over several sessions, although there are typically no more than five days of treatment.

After receiving a full course of Cyberknife Radiation Treatment, patients will return for a follow-up visit to monitor progress and treat side effects.

Side effects tend to be minimal or non-existent for most patients. Depending on the treatment site, some patients may experience mild nausea or fatigue. Side effects that manifest in the patient will normally go away within the first ten days after treatment.

While SERO no longer offers CyberKnife treatment in Charlotte, we provide advanced alternatives that offer similar or superior outcomes through our expertise in multiple treatment platforms including Novalis Brainlab, Varian TrueBeam, and Elekta Synergy.

SERO’s Advanced Radiation Technologies

• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): Delivers equivalent precision to CyberKnife with similar short treatment courses (1-5 sessions)
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS): Pinpoint accuracy for brain tumors, often in a single session
• IMRT/IGRT: Advanced targeting with real-time imaging guidance

Benefits of SERO’s alternatives

• Equivalent or superior tumor targeting accuracy
• Comparable side effect profiles
• More reliable technology with less maintenance downtime

Learn more about our stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SRS/SBRT) options, or contact us to schedule a consultation and discuss the best treatment approach for your specific cancer diagnosis.