News & Events
Columbus CyberKnife participates in Wake Up To Wellness Event
Columbus CyberKnife took part in the 
Cancer Support Community Central Ohio presentation “Wake Up to Wellness: Living Healthy With, Through and Beyond Cancer” at Wexner Heritage Village.
The event highlighted the importance of mental and physical wellbeing while undergoing cancer treatment. Guests participated in a variety of discussions, including presentations on healthy eating, breathing exercises and Tai Chi. Columbus CyberKnife Medical Director Dr. Douglas Widman spoke about our CyberKnife® technology and its benefits for treating cancer.
Thank you to all who attended!
The Cancer Support Community provides social and emotional support for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. For more information about their Central Ohio location, visit their website.
ASTRO Endorses Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy As First-Line Prostate Cancer Treatment Option
The American Society for Radiation Oncology has announced the classification of stereotactic body radiation therapy as a first-line treatment option for prostate cancer.
As a first-line treatment, SBRT can be considered a primary form of treatment for prostate cancer. The results of long-term clinical trials supporting the safety and efficacy of stereotactic body radiation in treating prostate cancer led ASTRO to announce the decision. The results of clinical studies show patient outcomes with SBRT are at least as good as other forms of radiotherapy treatments.
Columbus CyberKnife performs SBRT using CyberKnife® technology. During the procedure, the CyberKnife delivers precisely targeted, high-dose radiation beams to the prostate. CyberKnife treatment is painless and requires no cutting or sedation. Patients are treated in five or fewer sessions and experience few to no side effects.
ASTRO classifies treatments into first- and second-line options to help define coverage policies for various radiation oncology services. Read more about more ASTRO’s policy on SBRT here.
Columbus CyberKnife is pleased with this exciting milestone! For more information about the benefits of SBRT in treating prostate cancer, click here.
Research Notes: High-dose Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Effective, Quick for Localized Prostate Cancer
In a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Radiation Oncology, researchers found that men with organ-confined prostate cancer can be treated successfully with stereotactic body radiation therapy. The five-year, multi-center study evaluated low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk patients for up to four years following treatment. At the five-year mark, the relapse-free survival rate was 95 percent for low-risk patients, 90 percent for intermediate-risk patients and 80 percent for high-risk patients.
Men with organ-confined prostate cancer can be treated with focused stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as outpatients in as little as five days, saving them time and money.
Centers who participated include CyberKnife Center of Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston; CyberKnife Centers of San Diego; San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy; Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA; Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, and UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles.
To read more about the study, click here.
Additional prostate cancer news from around the web:
- A recent study published by the Cancer Institute of New Jersey found that the definition of low-risk prostate cancer should not be the same for African American and Caucasian men. Read more.
- The Wall Street Journal reports the results of a survey showing that the majority of people who receive cancer diagnoses choose to continue working after diagnosis and during treatment. Read more.
- The New York Times reports that a new prostate cancer test could help supplement PSA testing to reduce false alarms and help determine more definitive diagnoses. Read more.
Columbus CyberKnife to Host Free Wellness Event
Please join us at Wexner Heritage Village for “Wake Up to Wellness” on April 30!
Prostate Cancer Series: Treatment Options
Once prostate cancer has been diagnosed, the right treatment option can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. Not only is the stage and grade of the tumor important, but also the age, health and lifestyle of the patient. Below is a basic overview of prostate cancer treatment options. Consult your doctor and physicians with an expertise in each of these fields to make a fully informed decision.
*Source: American Cancer Society
This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important health issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife® treatment.
Prostate Cancer by the Numbers: American Cancer Society Facts and Figures
Have you seen the latest prostate cancer facts and figures released by the American Cancer Society? We’ve included some noteworthy stats below.
To learn more, visit the prostate cancer section of the American Cancer Society website.
This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important health issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife® treatment.
Prostate Cancer Series: What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is a disease specific to men and develops in the prostate – a walnut-shaped organ in a man’s lower abdomen that controls the flow of urine and semen through the reproductive system.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer is typically a slow-growing tumor, often causing no symptoms until it reaches a more advanced stage. Once the disease begins to grow more rapidly or spreads outside the prostate, it can become a much larger health issue. This aggressive type of prostate cancer can occur at any age, though more commonly in men over 50.
Prostate cancer is suspected if men have an elevated level of a substance in the bloodstream known as prostate specific antigen or PSA. To diagnose prostate cancer, an outpatient biopsy procedure is performed. If cancer is found, biopsy findings are used to determine the patient’s risk level, such as low-risk, intermediate-risk or high-risk. The risk level assigned to a patient typically guides a doctor’s recommendations on what type of treatment, if any, should be pursued.
If facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, it is important to consider all treatment options and have a conversation with your doctor to determine the best care plan for your individual needs. Learn more about prostate cancer and how CyberKnife® treats the disease by viewing our Prostate Cancer: CyberKnife Treatment Overview below or visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation for an Introduction to Prostate Cancer Guide.
In our next post, we will highlight important prostate cancer data from the American Cancer Society’s 2013 statistics.
This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important health issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife® treatment.
Spotlight On: Types of Cancer Treatment
When facing a cancer diagnosis, patients should consult their doctor to learn more about the best treatment for their diagnosis. Consultation is a key part of making an informed treatment decision given the impact different forms of treatment can have on a patient’s quality of life.
There are several different treatment options available depending on the type of cancer and the size, shape and location of a tumor. Treatment options can include surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, sometimes in combination.
Columbus CyberKnife offers a treatment option called stereotactic radiosurgery, an advanced form of radiation therapy that delivers high-dose radiation beams to a tumor from virtually unlimited angles. Compared with conventional radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery has key differences. Though both treat tumors noninvasively, radiation dosage, duration of treatment and potential side effects can differ.
The following table provides a brief overview of stereotactic radiosurgery and conventional radiation therapy.
The information provided about medical conditions, treatment options, comparisons and associated risks is a very brief overview. Not all patients are CyberKnife® candidates. Consult your doctor for any diagnosis and its best treatment.
*Source: American Cancer Society.
Spotlight On: Lung Cancer Treatment
As the most common cancer diagnosis in the world, lung cancer will be detected in nearly 220,000 people this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Lung cancer kills more people annually than breast, colon and pancreatic cancers combined.
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Other risk factors can include secondhand smoke, chronic lung disease, radon gas in the home and family history.
Common symptoms of lung cancer can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing up blood. To diagnose lung cancer, doctors may use biopsies, x-rays and CT scans.
While surgery or external-beam radiation therapy is considered a standard treatment for lung cancer, patients who are in poor general health or suffer from chronic pulmonary disease, like emphysema, may need to consider other options.
Our center offers a noninvasive form of treatment for lung cancer called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). This advanced procedure is provided using CyberKnife® technology. While the name may conjure images of knives and scalpels, CyberKnife treatment involves no incisions, no sedation and no overnight hospital stay. Lung tumors are treated with very precise, high-dose radiation beams while radiation exposure to healthy tissue surrounding a tumor is minimized.
Learn more about CyberKnife treatment here or request more information.
Spotlight On: The CyberKnife Treatment Process
In the fight against cancer, CyberKnife® provides an important alternative for patients seeking a nonsurgical option with shorter treatment times, fewer side effects and a more rapid recovery.
Our center uses a team approach to patient care in which physicians and other team members collaborate to develop a customized CyberKnife treatment plan to best suit each patient’s needs.
The infographic below provides an overview of the CyberKnife treatment process:
*The procedures required as part of your individualized treatment plan, and the order in which they will occur, will be explained during your consultation visit.
We encourage our patients to offer input and ask questions throughout the treatment process to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience.
Learn more about the key advantages of CyberKnife treatment or request more information.