Hearing that you have cancer can be frightening and confusing. An important step following a diagnosis is learning about your treatment options and potentially seeking second opinions from other physicians.
If you learn you’re one of the more than 65,000 people in Ohio the American Cancer Society predicts will receive a cancer diagnosis in 2015, take time to learn about the treatment options available not only in your community, but also surrounding areas. Educating yourself and asking your physician questions will allow you to make an informed decision that is best for your specific case and lifestyle.
Based in Westerville on the campus of hospital partner Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital, Columbus CyberKnife has been treating patients from areas throughout Ohio, West Virginia and Indiana for the past five years. Having established the first CyberKnife program in central and southeastern Ohio in 2010, Columbus CyberKnife brought together an expert team of radiation oncologists with decades of experience treating patients with a variety of radiation therapy approaches.
For patients who live in areas around Columbus, such as Zanesville, Lancaster, Chillicothe or Newark, CyberKnife treatment may provide an option not available in your community or that may complement and be used in combination with a treatment available from a local provider.
At Columbus CyberKnife, the CyberKnife is used to deliver highly advanced radiation treatments called stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). CyberKnife SRS is used to treat benign and malignant brain tumors, certain types of head and neck cancer and non-cancerous conditions like trigeminal neuralgia. CyberKnife SBRT treats several different types of cancer throughout the body, including prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer. It can also treat metastatic tumors that may develop in the brain, lung or bones from the spread of a primary cancer in another area of the body, such as breast cancer or skin cancer.
While the name may invoke images of knives and scalpels, CyberKnife treatment is completely noninvasive and does not require incisions or sedation. The technology delivers high doses of radiation to precisely targeted locations in the body. The precision and accuracy of radiation delivered directly to tumors minimizes exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
While some treatments like intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) also focus on precise areas and reduce radiation to normal tissue, these therapies typically involve around 40 treatments delivered daily over the course of six to eight weeks. In contrast, CyberKnife treatments are delivered in one to five outpatient sessions over the course of one to two weeks. The convenience of CyberKnife SRS and SBRT is a key benefit for patients seeking not only an effective and high-quality radiation treatment, but also one that allows them to spend less time stressing about treatment and more time with their families and friends.
We encourage you to learn more about CyberKnife treatment from real patients who have undergone the procedure. View testimonials here. You can also find support resources here.
If you live in or around Columbus or in the southeastern part of Ohio and have been diagnosed with cancer, contact Columbus CyberKnife to schedule a consultation and find out if CyberKnife treatment is an option for you. Call us at 614-898-8300 or request additional information here.
This is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your health care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.