What Are The Side Effects Of CyberKnife Treatment?

What is CyberKnife?

CyberKnife is a brand name for a device that delivers stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). It’s a form of external beam radiation. It can be used to treat prostate cancer and other types of cancer. Although it contains the word “knife” and is sometimes referred to as “radiosurgery,” there’s no knife or incision.

SBRT is an image-guided technique of delivering high doses of radiation with extreme accuracy. The purpose is to kill cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy tissues and organs.

CyberKnife vs. traditional treatments

Prostate cancer treatment is not the same for everyone. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy are designed to do different things.

There are a few benefits of CyberKnife when compared to other treatments:

1. There’s no incision or pain, as you might have from surgery.

2. There’s no need for anesthesia or a hospital stay.

3. As soon as it’s over, you can get up and return to your normal activities.

4. It’s a lot less time-consuming than conventional radiation or chemotherapy.

5. There’s no extended recovery period.

Key CyberKnife® treatment benefits

a couple recovered, Credits: pexels

1. Radiation treatment is non-surgical and non-invasive

2. Good cancer control

3. Significantly reduced incidence of common side effects such as shortness of breath, swallowing difficulties or a sore throat

4. Treatments are typically completed in as little as 3 to 4 sessions across 1 to 2 weeks

5. Most patients can continue normal activity throughout treatment

Side Effects of Cyberknife

a man with fatigue. Credits: pexels

Orinarily, the prospect of undergoing radiation therapy – or any treatment – for a cancerous tumor can be as distressing as the disease itself.

That’s because conventional forms of radiation therapy can have severe side effects depending on the type of cancer you have, and the area being treated. These unwanted side effects may include:

1. Fatigue

2. Skin problems

3. Nausea and vomiting

4. Diarrhea

5. Incontinence

6. Shortness of breath

7. Difficulty swallowing

8. Damage to surrounding tissue

Potential side effects of CyberKnife® treatment for lung cancer

lung cancer, Credits: pexels

Most radiation side effects are minimal and last only a short time. Side effects can, however, be severe. Possible side effects could include but are not limited to:

1. Fatigue

2. Breathing difficulties

3. Cough

4. Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)

5. Radiation pneumonitis

6. Radiation fibrosis

7. Complications (such as pneumothorax) resulting from fiducial marker insertion

8. Exposure to airways and/or nearby tissue