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Can you post anything on this technique & your thoughts versus IMRT Radiotherapy. I can only find discussions going back to 2010!!

Comments

  • yankeefan
    yankeefan Member Posts: 69
    my urologist was not a big fan and advised against it....

    My sense was he thought the cyber knife was a lot of hype with unproven benefits over the longer IMRT therapy.....ultimately i decided on surgery and not radiation, at least as the ifrst measure.....make sure you get some unbiased views before you go aheasd with this....by unbiased i mean not from the radiation mafia.....if it's really that good, your urologist should tell you it is.....

  • yankeefan
    yankeefan Member Posts: 69
    my urologist was not a big fan and advised against it....

    My sense was he thought the cyber knife was a lot of hype with unproven benefits over the longer IMRT therapy.....ultimately i decided on surgery and not radiation, at least as the ifrst measure.....make sure you get some unbiased views before you go aheasd with this....by unbiased i mean not from the radiation mafia.....if it's really that good, your urologist should tell you it is.....

  • Kongo
    Kongo Member Posts: 1,166 Member
    CK Vs. IMRT

    Robert,

    As you may be discovering there is much emotion about choosing a treatment method for prostate cancer.  Yankeefan outlined typical urologis views of technologies that do not involve removing the prostate.  When I was diagnosed in 2010 my urologist also strongly urged prostate removal but downplayed potential side effects.  SBRT, which CyberKnife is just one form of delivery, is a highly accurate method of delivery a high dose of radiation completely within the prostate, minimizing potential damage to surrounding organs and tissue.  Long term statistics (five years or more) show significantly better results than surgery with respect to side effects and recurrence rates.

    Compared to IMRT, CK is more accurate in delivering the radiation dose, is done in a much faster time frame, and has slightly fewer urinary side effects which mostly manifest themselves as a sense of urgency which tends to pass within a few weeks.

    I had CyberKnife in June 2010, have had zero side effects, and consistently low and declining PSA levels.

    Urologists and radiation oncologists tend to tout their own equipment and specialty.  Studies show that urologists (who are surgeons) recommend surgery more than 90% of the time.  Radiologists tend to recommend radiation more than 80% of the time.  It is important to seek multiple second opinions to get a balanced perspective.

    Whichever course you or your loved one decide upon, make sure you completely understand ALL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS associated with the treatment in the areas of penile atrophy, incontinence, bowel disorders, sexual potency and impotence, success rates, and danger in treatment for each course of action.  Other areas of consideration are cost, insurance coverage, convenience, and so forth.

    I visited six specialists before deciding on my treatment.  If you are considering CK, I highly urge you to visit a radiation oncologist that specializes in this equipment and procedure rather than take anyone's opinion from the internet or from a doctor who treats prostate cancer with another method.

    You may also wish to look at the patient forum at www.cyberknife.com for much related information.

    Best,

     

    K

  • Samsungtech1
    Samsungtech1 Member Posts: 351
    Kongo said:

    CK Vs. IMRT

    Robert,

    As you may be discovering there is much emotion about choosing a treatment method for prostate cancer.  Yankeefan outlined typical urologis views of technologies that do not involve removing the prostate.  When I was diagnosed in 2010 my urologist also strongly urged prostate removal but downplayed potential side effects.  SBRT, which CyberKnife is just one form of delivery, is a highly accurate method of delivery a high dose of radiation completely within the prostate, minimizing potential damage to surrounding organs and tissue.  Long term statistics (five years or more) show significantly better results than surgery with respect to side effects and recurrence rates.

    Compared to IMRT, CK is more accurate in delivering the radiation dose, is done in a much faster time frame, and has slightly fewer urinary side effects which mostly manifest themselves as a sense of urgency which tends to pass within a few weeks.

    I had CyberKnife in June 2010, have had zero side effects, and consistently low and declining PSA levels.

    Urologists and radiation oncologists tend to tout their own equipment and specialty.  Studies show that urologists (who are surgeons) recommend surgery more than 90% of the time.  Radiologists tend to recommend radiation more than 80% of the time.  It is important to seek multiple second opinions to get a balanced perspective.

    Whichever course you or your loved one decide upon, make sure you completely understand ALL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS associated with the treatment in the areas of penile atrophy, incontinence, bowel disorders, sexual potency and impotence, success rates, and danger in treatment for each course of action.  Other areas of consideration are cost, insurance coverage, convenience, and so forth.

    I visited six specialists before deciding on my treatment.  If you are considering CK, I highly urge you to visit a radiation oncologist that specializes in this equipment and procedure rather than take anyone's opinion from the internet or from a doctor who treats prostate cancer with another method.

    You may also wish to look at the patient forum at www.cyberknife.com for much related information.

    Best,

     

    K

    Cyber-knife/radiosurgery

    When I went through radio-surgery for nodules in lungs this is what they call it.  Now it is radio-surgery/cyber knife.  Awesome machine.  Got a little paranoid towards the end.  I knew when it was going to shoot, and towards the end, having that thing going around body,having to keep arms over head, had to take antivan and Percocet, and it was still a struggle.  Glad it is over.  Can they give it to me again or is that all they can do?

     

    Mike

  • Kongo
    Kongo Member Posts: 1,166 Member

    Cyber-knife/radiosurgery

    When I went through radio-surgery for nodules in lungs this is what they call it.  Now it is radio-surgery/cyber knife.  Awesome machine.  Got a little paranoid towards the end.  I knew when it was going to shoot, and towards the end, having that thing going around body,having to keep arms over head, had to take antivan and Percocet, and it was still a struggle.  Glad it is over.  Can they give it to me again or is that all they can do?

     

    Mike

    Do Overs

    Mike, as I understand it, CK can be used again but probably not in the same spot. Good question, though.  You might want to check on the Accuray website at www.cyberknife.com

    When I had my treatments i just plugged Enya into my headphones, closed my eyes.  Actually fell asleep a few times.  My treatment was five sessions, every other day, and each session lasted 42 minutes.

  • Samsungtech1
    Samsungtech1 Member Posts: 351
    Kongo said:

    CK Vs. IMRT

    Robert,

    As you may be discovering there is much emotion about choosing a treatment method for prostate cancer.  Yankeefan outlined typical urologis views of technologies that do not involve removing the prostate.  When I was diagnosed in 2010 my urologist also strongly urged prostate removal but downplayed potential side effects.  SBRT, which CyberKnife is just one form of delivery, is a highly accurate method of delivery a high dose of radiation completely within the prostate, minimizing potential damage to surrounding organs and tissue.  Long term statistics (five years or more) show significantly better results than surgery with respect to side effects and recurrence rates.

    Compared to IMRT, CK is more accurate in delivering the radiation dose, is done in a much faster time frame, and has slightly fewer urinary side effects which mostly manifest themselves as a sense of urgency which tends to pass within a few weeks.

    I had CyberKnife in June 2010, have had zero side effects, and consistently low and declining PSA levels.

    Urologists and radiation oncologists tend to tout their own equipment and specialty.  Studies show that urologists (who are surgeons) recommend surgery more than 90% of the time.  Radiologists tend to recommend radiation more than 80% of the time.  It is important to seek multiple second opinions to get a balanced perspective.

    Whichever course you or your loved one decide upon, make sure you completely understand ALL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS associated with the treatment in the areas of penile atrophy, incontinence, bowel disorders, sexual potency and impotence, success rates, and danger in treatment for each course of action.  Other areas of consideration are cost, insurance coverage, convenience, and so forth.

    I visited six specialists before deciding on my treatment.  If you are considering CK, I highly urge you to visit a radiation oncologist that specializes in this equipment and procedure rather than take anyone's opinion from the internet or from a doctor who treats prostate cancer with another method.

    You may also wish to look at the patient forum at www.cyberknife.com for much related information.

    Best,

     

    K

    Cyber-knife/radiosurgery

    When I went through radio-surgery for nodules in lungs this is what they call it.  Now it is radio-surgery/cyber knife.  Awesome machine.  Got a little paranoid towards the end.  I knew when it was going to shoot, and towards the end, having that thing going around body,having to keep arms over head, had to take antivan and Percocet, and it was still a struggle.  Glad it is over.  Can they give it to me again or is that all they can do?

     

    Mike

  • shipjim
    shipjim Member Posts: 137 Member
    Techniques

    My urologist wanted to do the old fashioned cut and stitch.  The robot had just been approved, there was one in Houston near where I live (it wasn't MD Anderson) the other in Austin about 160 miles.  I contactd Dr Patel ath the Ford Clinic in Cleveland as on of the then national leaders.  I explained where I was, with no hesitation he said he didn't like the old method and he knew both docs for the robot and to go to Austin.I wen t toAustin for a visit and withing 7 days was on the table.  Walked out Drove to San Antonio the next day the back to Houston the next.  

    I've never looked back. I've been impotent with minor leakeage PSA under .01 doe 6 years.

    Research and find the best.  For me it was an extra  miles but Ford Clinic of ferd to do it and offered the same results for the robot it's not a big deal.

    By the way my urologist expanded his practice which now offers the Robot.

    Good luck, research,research and post here so we can help and keep up with you. jj