Is the cyberknife really a knife?

Is the CyberKnife really a ‘knife’?
Though its name conjures up images of a scalpel – the CyberKnife in fact is the alternative to surgery! It is a Robotic Radiosurgery System. It is non-invasive procedure ideal for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body. It uses image guided technology and computer controlled robotics to continuously track, detect and correct for tumor and patient movement throughout the treatment allowing for its extreme precision.
Here are more FAQs about the cyberknife:
1. Will a CyberKnife procedure be like a minor surgery?
In fact, much less strenuous! It involves no incisions, no blood, no anesthesia, and virtually no recovery time.

2. What does non-invasive procedure mean?
- It simply means that the procedure involves no invasion into the body – which means no cuts or incisions are made during the CyberKnife procedure.

3. How does a CyberKnife work?
- CyberKnife performs robotic radiosurgery during which precise radiation beams are focused on tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

4. Will patients have to get admitted to the hospital for this procedure?
- Certainly not. CyberKnife is a simple, outpatient procedure. Patients can undergo their treatment and immediately resume normal activities – as the side effects are minimal.

5. How long will the session last?
- Each treatment session may be between 30 - 90 minutes, depending on the type and location of the tumor. Sometimes the treatment is offered in stages in which case patients may have to return for additional sessions over a few days (not more than a week) – as advised by the doctor.

6. What are the pre-preparations for this treatment?
- Before starting treatment, the medical team will perform a high resolution CT scan to determine the size, shape and location of the tumor. Once this data is obtained it is transferred to the Cyberknife database and the treatment is planned in detail.

7. What can one expect during a CyberKnife treatment?
- Each case is unique depending on the health of the patient and the type as well as location of the tumor. Some patients need just one sitting while other may need to come for repeat sessions. A detailed orientation is given to patients – based on their specific case so that they know what to expect before they go in for treatment.

8. What types of conditions are considered for CyberKnife treatment?
- The CyberKnife is capable of treating tumors anywhere in the body, but its precision makes it ideal for sensitive zones like the brain, spine, lung, prostate, liver and pancreas.

9. They say CyberKnife does not require a headframe – what does that mean?
- Radiation treatment needs to be extremely precise – wrong tissues exposed to radiation could cause irreparable damage. Hence traditional radiation treatment like Lenear Accelerator use headframes or immobilization devices that are used to hold patients still. These could be extremely uncomfortable and painful. But CyberKnife eliminates all that! It has a built in sensor that only works at a particular body rhythm,. When the rhythm varies or when there is body movement (like coughing or sneezing) it automatically stops functioning.

11. Who determines if CyberKnife is the ideal treatment option for a particular case?
- The physician or a specialist can determine if CyberKnife is the ideal treatment option after evaluating the condition of the patient.

12. Can the elderly and children be treated with the CyberKnife?
- In most cases – yes. CyberKnife is less risky than traditional surgery as it involves no incisions at all. This makes it a suitable option for the elderly and the very young. The decision to perform the procedure will however be taken in consultation with the concerned physicians and anesthesiologist. The safety and comfort of the such patients are always kept in mind.

13. How is CyberKnife different from traditional Radiosurgery?
- While traditional radiosurgery methods (like the Linear Accelerator or Gamma Knife) worked on the same principle of focused radiation beams – none of the previous forms of treatment offered the precision and flexibility that CyberKnife does. Because of its robotic arm like structure the Cyberknife can reach tumors at angles that were previously inaccessible. Moreover CyberKnife uses a combination of a robotic arm, linear accelerator (high energy X-ray source), and image guidance technology – to give high precision results.

14. What are the advantages of CyberKnife?
- It has several inherent advantages. It is a pain free, non-invasive, outpatient procedure and the patients need virtually no recovery time. Moreover, there are no intrusive body or head frames and no breath-holding required during the procedure.

15.Is the CyberKnife safe?Being a non-invasive procedure, the CyberKnife is radically different from traditional surgery. It requires no anesthesia, no incision, no bleeding and no post-operative pain or unpleasant anesthesia after effects. Because of its precision, CyberKnife does not affect the surrounding healthy tissues thereby minimizing side effects – something that is not always possible with traditional radiation therapy.

16. After treatment, when will my tumor or lesion disappear?The effects of radiosurgery are not always immediately visible. Tumors also behave differently – depending on their location and the patient’s metabolism. Some tumors resolve more slowly than others and may or may not eventually disappear completely, while others simply stop growing and present no further biologic activity. After CyberKnife treatments patients will need to periodically undergo tests to assess their progress.

17. Will CyberKnife cause hair fall out or skin burn?The radiation delivered by the CyberKnife is so focused on a specific target that it is highly unlikely that hair loss or skin burn will occur. In the event that a treated lesion is very close to the scalp or skin though, the adjacent hair or skin may be affected. If so affected, this hair or skin will typically recover over time. All medical procedures, including CyberKnife treatment, have potential side effects and associated risks, and every patient will be individually evaluated and counseled in detail before a final plan of treatment is made.

18. Where in India can patients go for CyberKnife treatment?
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, is the only hospital in India to have the CyberKnife. It is not just India’s first, but also Asia’s most advanced CyberKnife. Apollo Hospitals has trained technicians, doctors and counselors who can guide patients through the treatment process.

19. What are the facilities available for cancer care at Apollo Hospitals? Apollo Hospitals, across India have dedicated centers that offer comprehensive cancer care. The hospital's cancer centers have experienced surgical and radiation cancer specialists as well as diagnostic consultants. The center's teams of doctors examine each case jointly and decide on the best line of treatment for the patient. Since treatment of cancer involves tremendous physical and emotional strain, the hospital provides extra support to cancer patients by counseling them to stay positive and to eat right - thereby speeding up the recovery process. Specially trained medical counselors, speech therapists, dieticians and other professionals, appropriate to the individual case, provide support to the teams of doctors. The measurable success that the hospital has achieved in cancer care attracts thousands of national and international patients each year

Cyberknife

The CyberKnife® is a state-of-the-art, radiotherapy equipment for robotic radiosurgery that allows radiation oncologists to treat pathologies painlessly, without the need for an operation.
CyberKnife® uses pencil beams of radiation which can be directed at any part of the body, from any direction with the help of a robotic arm. The system tracks the tumour's position, detects any movement of the tumour or patient, and automatically corrects its positioning .It then targets the tumour with multiple beams of high-energy radiation, destroying abnormal tissue without damaging surrounding areas.The treatment is so accurate that it's now possible to treat tumours previously thought to be inoperable. Although the results of treatment do not always show immediately, in most cases, the procedure will initially stop the growth of tumours, before gradually reducing their size.As there is no open surgery, the risk complications normally associated with an operation are eliminated, as is the need for a long recovery time. This makes treatment suitable even for those who are not well enough to cope with surgery. Most patients leave the hospital the same day.