London CyberKnife® treatment experts combine to describe the future of cancer care

Total Health | January 25th, 2010

Following the treatment of the 100th patient Drs Nick Plowman, Andrew Gaya and Chris Nutting describe in this illustrative, plain English video clip how CyberKnife® works.

Following the treatment of the 100th patient Drs Nick Plowman, Andrew Gaya and Chris Nutting describe in this illustrative, plain English video clip how CyberKnife® works. Chris Nutting talks about a lung cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. patient who would not respond to chemotherapyThe use of chemical substances to treat disease, particularly cancer., but is now in remissionThe lessening or disappearance of the symptoms or signs of a disease. thanks to CyberKnife. The point is that the therapeutic benefits of radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. have been known since the days of Marie Curie, but thanks to computer software, MRIAn abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging, a technique for imaging the body that uses electromagnetic waves and a strong magnetic field. and CTThe abbreviation for computed tomography, a scan that generates a series of cross-sectional x-ray images, therapeutic radiation can now be delivered precisely to where it counts.

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Expert articles

CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery

By Dr Andrew Gaya, Consultant Clinical OncologistContact
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, The Harley Street Clinic

The CyberKnife® System is a robotic radiosurgery instrument that is revolutionising the way cancers are treated. It was developed by John Adler, a neurosurgeon from Stanford University in the 1990's as a way of extending radiosurgery from the head and brain to include the rest of the body. He went on to found Accuray Incorporated, manufacturers of the CyberKnife® System. CyberKnife® is in clinical use throughout the world with over 60,000 patient treatments conducted. There are currently three units in the UK, and over 300 worldwide.

What can modern neurosurgery treatments be used for?

By Mr Ranjeev Bhangoo, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
King's College Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic

The aim of neurosurgery has always been to gain the maximal benefit for the patient with the minimum amount of risk. Modern neurosurgery and radiosurgery can be used to treat a variety of conditions including brain tumours, brain haemorrhages, pain, epilepsyA tendency to have recurrent seizures., and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Neurosurgery for brain tumours

By Mr Ranjeev Bhangoo, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
King's College Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic

It is now well recognised that patients with brain tumours (and their family) do best if managed by a group of doctors, both medical and surgical, who have a particular interest in the management of brain tumours. This is known as a tumour Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). All patients with brain tumours should receive highly individualised care that delivers not only the best treatment possible for the patient but treatment that is appropriate to the patient’s and family’s psychological and emotional needs. The aim of neurosurgery has always been to gain the maximal benefit for the patient with the minimum amount of risk.

CyberKnife® FAQs

By Dr Andrew Gaya, Consultant Clinical OncologistContact
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, The Harley Street Clinic

The CyberKnife® System is a robotic radiosurgery instrument that is revolutionising the way cancers are treated. It was developed by John Adler, a neurosurgeon from Stanford University in the 1990’s as a way of extending radiosurgery from the head to include the rest of the body. CyberKnife® is in clinical use throughout the world with over 100,000 patient treatments conducted.

CyberKnife® – A Novel Treatment Solution

By Dr Chris Nutting, Consultant Clinical OncologistContact
The Royal Marsden Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic

Cancers can arise from any cellThe basic unit of all living organisms. in the body and therefore can take any form. When cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. forms a single solid tumourAn abnormal swelling. or mass, surgery can be straightforward, but what about when the cancer invades around other essential tissues and organs – especially in the head and neck? Many tumours, particularly of the head and neck have previously been effectively inoperable, and so major changes in treatment approach were needed.

CyberKnife® – Cancer Search and Destroy

By Dr Nick Plowman, Senior Consultant in Clinical OncologyContact
Barts and the London NHS Trust

Seek and Destroy

The type of radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. used in radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation. for cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is called ‘ionising’ radiation. This form of radiation, in the right dose will kill all living cells, but cancer cells are particularly susceptible. The trick therefore is to deliver the right dose, to the correctly identified affected areas (focal) even when presented with a moving target such as the heart or lungs.

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London CyberKnife® treatment experts combine to describe the future of cancer care

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