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CyberKnife® robotic radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Get back to your normal life sooner.

Cyberknife

A prostate cancer diagnosis may seem daunting at first, but the good news is that there are excellent prostate cancer treatment options available to help get you back on track. And a conversation with your Urologist or GP could result in this game changing radiation therapy being the right choice for you.

Talk to your Urologist, GP or Radiation Oncologist about whether CyberKnife radiotherapy for prostate cancer is the right treatment for you.

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What’s so different about it?

CyberKnife is extraordinarily accurate, enabling it to treat the prostate cancer with radiation therapy, while minimising damage to the surrounding area, helping deliver better patient outcomes.

Because the prostate can move during treatment and it’s close to sensitive parts of the body like the bladder or parts of the bowel, CyberKnife uses tiny gold markers to continually track the prostate during treatment. It then adjusts the delivery of the radiation beams to precisely target the prostate cancer from hundreds of different directions.

These gold markers (fiducials) are inserted into the prostate through a biopsy-like procedure.

This means high doses of radiation therapy can be delivered to the tumour with sub-millimetre precision. As few as five highly targeted thirty-minute sessions could be all you need.

How does CyberKnife® work for prostate cancer?

What are the main benefits?

  • A precise prostate cancer treatment that minimises damage to surrounding tissues and side effects.
  • Fewer treatments than conventional radiotherapy saves time.
  • It doesn’t hurt and helps minimise disruption to your life.

“The music starts followed by an electronic humming sound. CyberKnife comes to life. The robotic arm then moves with incredible agility and accuracy over me, side to side, even underneath the table in order to zap my prostate from every conceivable angle. There I lay completely mesmerised by the machine’s grace and power.”

Patient experience

Some things you might want to know

What’s the referral process?

You’ll need a referral from your specialist or GP to an ARO Radiation Oncologist. If you are uncertain who to be referred to, the ARO team can assign you to an appropriate consultant accredited to use CyberKnife.

ARO will then contact you, usually within a week, to arrange your first Oncologist appointment. This can be in person, by phone or video call. The Oncologist will discuss the suitability of CyberKnife for you and your prostate cancer treatment, and if it’s an option, will book you in.

How do I know if it’s the right treatment for me?

b) CyberKnife is an effective treatment for some forms of prostate cancer, but only the (an?) ARO Oncologist, in consultation with our team of experts, can give a definitive answer as to whether it is the most appropriate prostate cancer treatment for you.

The good news is that if it isn’t right for your individual needs, there are other advanced prostate cancer radiation therapy options at ARO that may suit better.

What’s the timeline for me starting treatment?

The ARO team will determine the appropriate timeframe to effectively deliver your treatment. You will need to have fiducial markers (see below) inserted into your prostate at least two weeks prior to your planning appointments.

What are fiducial markers?

Fiducial markers are tiny gold seed-like markers inserted via needles like a biopsy procedure. They’re necessary for accurate targeting of the prostate by CyberKnife.

ARO will arrange your referral to a Urologist for their insertion. This cost is not included in the ARO estimate - the Urologist provides you with this detail.

Your CyberKnife treatment planning at ARO cannot be completed until at least two weeks after insertion to allow any swelling from this procedure to subside.

Does CyberKnife involve surgery?

Unlike the name suggests there is no surgery involved. CyberKnife is an advanced radiation therapy and is non-invasive.  

How long does the CyberKnife treatment process take?

As little as five thirty-minute CyberKnife sessions spaced out over a ten-day period is likely all you need.

What are the immediate side effects of treatment?

Most people can carry on with their day-to-day life throughout their CyberKnife treatment. Any prostate radiation side effects are usually localised to the treatment area, but you may also experience some general fatigue. Your ARO Oncologist will be able to discuss any side effects from the prostate radiation treatment with you at your first appointment.

What about long term side effects?

With all forms of treatment to the prostate area there is a risk of unwanted damage to the surrounding tissue. But because CyberKnife is so accurate the risk of urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction or bowel problems after radiotherapy for prostate cancer is minimised.

How much will it cost?

If you meet the criteria in your insurance policy for radiation therapy, then CyberKnife treatment at ARO will likely be covered. You should check with your insurer. The price for Cyberknife prostate cancer treatment can vary depending on the complexity of your treatment plan. An estimate will be sent to you once the Oncologist has submitted a booking sheet.

There is a separate cost for the insertion of the fiducials by the urologist.

Can CyberKnife be used on other types of cancer?

CyberKnife is also used at ARO to treat brain, spine and liver cancers, and some forms of metastatic disease (disease that has spread from its original site). Talk to a Radiation Oncologist to find out if CyberKnife is right for you.

How do I find a Prostate Cancer CyberKnife Expert?

The following ARO Radiation Oncologists are experts in CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer: Dr David Anderson, Dr Benji Benjamin, Dr John Childs, Dr Roger Huang, Dr Ramesh Pandey, Dr Maria Pearse, Dr Giuseppe Sasso, Dr Vikash Patel. You can read about them here.

Questions to ask your GP, Urologist or Radiation Oncologist

  • What is CyberKnife robotic radiotherapy?
  • How do I find out if CyberKnife is the right treatment for me?
  • What are the pros and cons compared to prostate surgery (prostatectomy / removal of the prostate)?
  • What are the side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer and how do these compare with prostate cancer surgery?
  • How long does treatment take and how will it impact my normal life?
  • How long will my recovery take?

What other people have said

  • “The whole experience from the initial set up appointment through to the 5 radiation treatments was professional, caring and reassuring.”
  • “The more I researched this option the more convinced I became. To read case studies of patients was inspiring.” 
  • “Excellent care from nursing staff, radiation techs and doctor. They all combined to make my experience less scary. I had been very fearful and nervous before treatment.”
  • “Amazing care & attention from all staff. Nothing was too much trouble & every query/problem had a workable solution.”
  • “Thank you, everyone made a daunting process as good as could be.”

What do I do next?

Download this brochure (maybe print it out for further reference). Talk to your urologist, GP or radiation oncologist about whether CyberKnife radiotherapy is the right treatment for you.

It could turn out to be precisely what you need.

Download the brochure Watch the video
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