So Your Doctor Has Recommended The Cyberknife
by Julia Gregory
Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be quite scary. You might feel some sense of relief when your doctor tells you there's a treatment that's known to be very effective — but then when you learn that treatment is called a "CyberKnife," you're sure to have a few questions. The full, proper name for this treatment is CyberKnife radiation therapy, and luckily it is not as scary as it sounds. Here are the answers to some questions patients often have after this treatment is recommended.
1. What is the instrument like?
You're probably picturing a knife, which is certainly not a pleasant thing to be picturing when faced with prostate cancer. But actually, CyberKnife radiation therapy does not involve a knife at all. Instead, it uses a special imaging tool to guide where the beam of radiation is placed. The beam of radiation is, essentially, the "knife."
2. What are the advantages of CyberKnife radiation therapy?
Because the radiation is delivered very precisely and only to the cells that need the treatment, this procedure comes with a lot fewer risks than conventional radiation treatment. There will be less damage to healthy tissues, which means you may be able to retain some of your prostate function. The other organs and tissues in the area, such as your vas deferans, are less likely to be damaged, too. This adds up to a lower risk of impotence following treatment.
Cyberknife treatment also has the advantage of being non-invasive. There are no incisions, and therefore little to no risk of infection after treatment.
3. What is it like to get CyberKnife treatment?
The procedure is very simple from a patient's perspective! Your doctor will position you on the treatment table, and the instrument will be correctly placed over the treatment area. You won't feel a thing while it works, which takes about an hour.
4. What is the recovery period like?
The recovery from CyberKnife radiation treatment is really simple. You can return to work or your other activities straight away. In the weeks that follow, you will probably have to go for an MRI or some other imaging to see how well the treatment worked, and your doctor may or may not want you to go in for a second follow-up treatment.
You may feel some fatigue and experience erectile dysfunction for a couple of weeks after treatment, but this is typical with any radiation-based therapy. The side effects should wear off quickly.
CyberKnife Raditaion for prostate cancer treatment is not nearly as scary as it seems. In fact, it might be one of the easiest, least invasive cancer treatments out there.
Share
About Me
The decision to move one of my parents into assisted living was one of the most difficult I have ever made. I had extreme feelings of guilt that led to me being at the facility with my parent practically around the clock. It took a few months before I realized that I could not let my own life fall apart from the guilt I was feeling. I also learned that my parent was fine without me constantly hovering around. Since that time, I have had several friends express similar feelings of guilt. I started this blog to help others in the same situation understand not only their feelings about assisted living, but those of their parents.