Community Regional Medical Center was the first medical center in the world to offer "Gen 4" CyberKnife
® technology. This revolutionary knifeless, non-invasive surgical system uses image-guided technology to accurately target and treat tumors throughout the body.
The CyberKnife
® stereotactic radiosurgery system (SRS), located at the Charles and Ann Matoian Oncology Unit at
Community Regional Medical Center, is the only one of its kind in central California. Other locations in California that offer CyberKnife
® are Stanford University Medical Center, UCSF Medical Center, USC Medical Center and Newport Diagnostic Center.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a non-surgical treatment that uses focused beam radiation on small and previously inoperable tumors or lesions deep within the body.
During the CyberKnife® procedure, more than 100 beams of radiation enter the body from different angles. By itself, each small beam of radiation does not damage the healthy tissue or organs it passes through. It is when these beams intersect at the target that a high enough dose is delivered to destroy the target.
Not only does the CyberKnife® reach tumors that are unreachable with other stereotactic systems, but CyberKnife® patients do not have to wear uncomfortable restraints fixed to their skulls or bodies during treatment as is required with other systems. Its advanced image-guided stereotactic robotic system delivers radiation so precisely that it can stay on target even if a patient moves during treatment.
The patient benefits to such sophistication include:
- Minimal pain or discomfort
- No incisions
- Minimal risk of complications associated with other conventional therapies
- Ability to treat tumors previously considered inoperable
- Treatment performed as an outpatient procedure (no hospital stay or anesthesia)
- Short to no recovery period
- Immediate return to normal activity
- Fewer visits
- The ability to treat multiple tumors at different locations during a single treatment
- May also experience dramatic pain relief after CyberKnife® treatment
Use of CyberKnife® technology has been expanded to treat cancers of the lung, pancreas, liver and prostate. Treatments for the breast and other areas of the body are expected in the future. The CyberKnife® multi-disciplinary team typically consists of a surgeon, radiation oncologist, physicist, radiation therapist and a nurse specialist. To further explore this procedure logon to www.cksociety.org.
For more information about Community's CyberKnife services please call Natalie at (559) 447-3591.