CyberKnife® Stereotactic Radiosurgery has been shown to be an effective form of treatment for prostate cancer, and as of 2014, it is now included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines as a valid treatment option for prostate cancer.
“If my husband had prostate cancer, this would be my treatment of choice for him” said Dr. Shirnett Williamson, medical director of Radiation Oncology Services at Capital Health.
Last year, CyberKnife® was included as part of the NCCN’s national guidelines that oncologists across the country use to determine cancer treatment decisions.
“I wish this treatment could be used for all prostate cancer patients. The current indications for CyberKnife® include low-risk and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients, but it can also be used as a boost to the high-risk patient in some cases,” said Dr. Timothy Chen, medical director of Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Capital Health.
Trial tested
In 2007, Capital Health participated in the Accuray CyberKnife® prostate cancer research protocol (20 of the 249 men in the study were enrolled by Capital Health). The trial reported data from the first five years at the 2013 Radiosurgery Society meeting, and the results for intermediate risk men were also reported at the 2013 ASTRO (American Society for Radiation Oncology) meeting. The trial’s results show that prostate cancer patients have zero recurrence, minimal urinary and bowel problems and quality of life is excellent. The rate of erectile dysfunction also compares favorably over other radiation and surgical treatments.
A track record of excellence
A prostate cancer registry has also been created from more than 35 CyberKnife® Centers throughout the country. The registry contains treatment information from more than 1,100 men who have been treated with CyberKnife®. The registry data reported at the 2013 Radiosurgery Society meeting in 2013 indicated that none of these men showed any recurrence of their prostate cancer after their CyberKnife® treatment. In addition, all men in the registry had a decrease in their PSA blood test level to normal range, a decrease in their prostate symptom scores and there was not much change in erectile dysfunction or impotence.
“After treating patients with prostate cancer and seeing the ease of treatment, lack of possible side effects compared to other modalities, and outcomes, in my mind, CyberKnife® is a clear winner,” Dr. Williamson adds. “CyberKnife® patients have two weeks duration of treatment, just five days, and the side effects were of a shorter duration compared to other options such as intensity modulated radiation treatment [IMRT], which has a longer duration of treatment [6-7 weeks] with similar side effects. In addition, CyberKnife® does not require the extensive recovery that a patient would see from a surgical procedure.”
The medical professionals at the CyberKnife® Center at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell receive extensive training in CyberKnife® from the Accuray physicians and physicists that develop it, which means our patients receive very precise treatments. For more information or to find out if you are a candidate for CyberKnife®, call our patient coordinator at 609-303-4565.