Precision surgery without anaesthetic (or knife) – The future of cancer medicine has arrived

Total Health | November 11th, 2009

Dr Chris Nutting has written an article in plain English entitled, CyberKnife® – A Novel Treatment Solution.Dr Chris Nutting has written an article in plain English entitled, CyberKnife® – A Novel Treatment Solution. This really does seem to be an excellent example of how technology is altering the entire landscape of modern medicine. It really is quite simple, modern imaging methods can accurately map the extent of the cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. and this information can be fed back to precisely inform the irradiation treatment target. Known as ‘image guided therapy, it’s precision surgery without the need for a knife, or even an anaestheticA medication that reduces sensation..

Cancers that can now be treated include the following:

Brain Cancer

Spinal Cancer

Many of the vascularRelating to blood vessels. problems that occur in the brain also occur in the spine and CyberKnife® has marked advantages over other radiosurgical techniques in that it is capable of targeting spinal lesions. Also, vertebralAffecting the vertebrae, the bones of the spine, or the joints between them tumours (the vertebra is the spine bone) may similarly be treated by this technology (with sparing of the radiosensitive spinal cord that runs through the vertebra).

Lung Cancer (Single or several tumours in the lung)

Prostate Cancer

Pancreas Cancer

Liver Cancer

Kidney Cancer

In his article, Dr Chris Nutting says, “Quite simply, CyberKnife® seems the important advance that we have been waiting for, and more than one lesion can be targeted.”

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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.

Recent news

The sky’s the limit in Cyberknife® and cancer care

Total Health | April 19th, 2012

Sky Factory is promoting healing for cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. patients through their Illusions of Nature™ and SkyCeiling™, which aim to create a pleasant environment in which patients receive their cancer care from operating theatres to CyberKnife® treatment rooms. Sky Factory create virtual skylights and windows of blue sky and nature, known as biophilic art – art which is connected to our innate love of nature.

CyberKnife® revolutionary radiosurgery – what can and cannot be treated

Total Health | January 11th, 2012

CyberKnife®, a robotic radiosurgery treatment, was developed in the 1990’s and has since been used to treat over 100,000 patients. The ‘surgery’ is in fact an alternative form of radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation. involving hundreds of pencil thin beams of radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. which are moved around the body by a robotic arm allowing for highly precise targeting of tumours.

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