About Cyberknife..maybe Joe can answer

[Sherryg683]

I was just doing some reading on the cyberknife. It seems I am lucky enough to have one here in New Orleans, which is only an hour from where I live. I was reading that it is effective in eliminating cancer tumors in almost every part of the body. Parts that are usually inoperable. It can be used during chemotherapy and you wouldn't even have to miss a treatment. It is being used here only for tumors in the brain and spine at the moment. My question is..is that the way it is being used elsewhere? It would seem like it would be perfect to use on someone who may have one or two liver or lung mets. Just go in there and zap them, stay on your chemo and keep going. Especially in cases where the tumors were not responding to chemo. From what I've been reading and films seem, it is painless, takes about an hour and the patient can go home and do their regular routines right away. If this is true, why isn't it being used more often in treating mets? What's causing the holdup...Joe..you may have an idea about this. I am going to email the hospital here and see if I can get some answers also..sherryg683

[pattyz]

Sherry,
It is a matter of cost for one thing. The machines are VERY expensive. If other machines are available to to focused rads, it can be a hard sell to purchase the CK.

Secondly, treatments to different areas must be taught. A CK Center needs to have people in place with experience in each types of treatment. It is usual that the brain tx is the first to be utilized. Then, hopefully, other body areas as personnel become knowledgable.

hope that helps,
pattyz

p.s. Here is the CK center home page:
http://www.accuray.com/

[Joe]

Actually Cyberknife is a form of Gamma Knife which uses the same technology.
For more information about it, go to: www.accuray.com (http://www.accuray.com)

which is the Cyberknife website.

Regards
Joe