Cyberknife Treatment of Lung Cancer

The Cyberknife offers a non-surgical option for removal of tumors in cancer patients, sending beams of concentrated radiation into affected areas of the body. Lung cancer treatment is among the Cyberknife's many applications. The invisible beams of radiation permeate to the affected tumor site without need for cutting with surgical scalpels.

Accuracy

• CyberKnife.com concludes that cancerous tumors in lungs pose challenges to surgeons because lung tissue constantly moves as patients breath. The highly accurate radiation beams of the CyberKnife provide a sound alternative to surgical removal of lung tumors because they better zero on in the affected site. A precision robotic arm controls direction of the beams, removing much of the human error associated with traditional surgery.

The Treatment Team

• Use of the CyberKnife for lung cancer treatment typically requires a surgical team consisting of a surgeon, a radiation oncologist, an interventional radiologist, a medical physicist, a radiation therapist and medical support staff.

Defining the Tumor

• In some cases, CyberKnife devices coupled with CT scans identify and treat tumors without the aid of special markers. But depending on tumor size and location, treatment teams may need special x-size devices called fiducial markers to help define tumors before treatment. The markers, tiny seed-like devices, implant into the lung through long needles during outpatient procedures.

Special Accomodations and Attire

• Lung cancer patients undergoing CyberKnife treatement undergo fitting for a special body cradle that holds the patient in a consistent and comfortable position for treatment. A special vest helps the CyberKnife machine track breathing patterns and identify tumor locations.

Minimal Pain, No Cutting

• Unlike traditional lung tumor removal with surgical cutting, the robotic CyberKnife inflicts little or no pain with no surgical scars or stitches.