CyberKnife Treatment For Lung Cancer: The Advanced Treatment Option
If you or someone you care for has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, we understand how painful it is for you to process it. Uncertainty can weigh your mind and cause stress and anxiety. It’s natural to have concerns about living an active and normal life.
Traditional approaches like surgery and chemotherapy can be intimidating for you. The fear of invasive procedures adds to the stress and pain of diagnosis. The thought of a long recovery period and side effects also increases your worries.
A non-invasive highly precise alternative is the only way to get rid of these fears and anxiety. Fortunately, cyberknife treatment for lung cancer is one such option. It is a robotic radiosurgery system that delivers pinpoint radiation to cancerous cells or tumor. As a result, side effects are minimized and comfort is maximized.
So let’s learn about this super-advanced procedure to help you make a confident decision.
What is CyberKnife?
Cyberknife is a robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumors and cancers. Its exceptional precision helps treat complicated diseases with better efficiency and outcome. What makes it better than conventional radiation therapy is its ability to track tumors in real time and adjust for movements caused by breathing by using state-of-the-art technology.
Because of this quality, cyberknife treatment is most effective for lung cancer.
How does it work for Lung Cancer?
Here’s how it works:
The Cyberknife system uses synchrony technology. It adjusts the radiation beam with the tumor motion in real-time. This is done by tracking the tumor’s position using imaging and matching it with your breathing pattern.
This high-powered tracking helps ensure that the radiation beam continuously adjusts to the tumor’s movement, even when you are inhaling and exhaling. This means you do not need to hold your breath or immobilize yourself to complete the procedure successfully.
The cyberknife technology has robotic arms that deliver highly focused radiation beams from different angles with sub-millimeter accuracy. In short, it is precise to within less than one millimeter. Because of this precision, the surrounding healthy tissues stay protected.
The cyberknife technology has robotic arms that deliver highly focused radiation beams from different angles with sub-millimeter accuracy. In short, it is precise to within less than one millimeter. Because of this precision, the surrounding healthy tissues stay protected.
Cyberknife treatment is a non-invasive process that doesn’t need any incision or anesthesia. You can lie comfortably during the procedure and won’t feel any pain.
In this procedure, high doses are delivered in a few sessions. It takes 1-5 sessions. This approach is called stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). It is highly effective for treating early-stage lung cancer or metastatic ( cancer that’s spreading) tumors.
Why CyberKnife is a Game-Changer for Lung Cancer Patients?
Cyberknife treatment is one of the best treatments for lung cancer. It offers a highly effective and non-invasive treatment alternative to conventional radiation therapy. Its advanced techniques help solve the most pressing problems of the patients. Here’s why cyberknife treatment stands out in the crowd:
If you or your family member is not a candidate for surgery due to age, health conditions, or the location of the tumor, cyberknife is one of the best surgery-free solutions. It uses precise, high-dose radiation to destroy tumors without any incisions, anesthesia, or a long period of recovery.
Cyberknife treatment is highly effective for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is the earliest stage classified as stage I and stage II. Cyberknife helps achieve treatment outcomes comparable to surgery.
It also treats advanced and complex cases like metastatic lung tumors (cancer that spreads to the lung from other parts of the body) and recurrent tumors effectively.
Due to its sub-millimeter precision and real-time tumor tracking, cyberknife delivers the radiation exactly to the tumor. Doing so spares nearby healthy tissues and critical organs like the heart and spine. That’s why there are fewer side effects compared to conventional radiation therapy.
Cyberknife has many benefits for lung cancer patients:
- It is non-invasive and painless, meaning no surgery, incision, or pain.
- Patients can walk in, get treated with cyberknife, and then leave the same day.
- It needs 1-5 sessions compared to traditional radiation which needs weeks of treatment.
- Synchrony Technology tracks and adjusts for tumor movement caused by breathing. This ensures accuracy even in lung tumors.
Cyberknife treatment has a standout advantage in that it offers faster recovery time. It also provides exceptional convenience compared to traditional therapies. It is a non-invasive approach that requires no hospital stays and allows patients to join daily life almost immediately.
To better understand its convenience and recovery process here is a table:
| Factors | Cyberknife | Surgery | Chemotherapy | Traditional radiation |
| Invasiveness | non-invasive | invasive | non-invasive | non-invasive |
| Recovery time | Minimal (most cases on the same day) | Weeks to months | Varies (mostly, weeks of fatigue) | Weeks (multiple sessions are there) |
| Treatment duration | 1-5 sessions | Single procedure | Many cycles over months | 20-40 sessions over weeks |
| Side effects | Minimal or no side effects | Pain, scarring, infection risks | Fatigue, nausea, hair loss | Skin irritation, fatigue |
| Convenience | Outpatient, no hospitalization is required | Hospital stay requires | Regular clinic visits needed | Daily clinic visits needed |
Who is the Right Candidate for CyberKnife in India?
There is no doubt that cyberknife treatment is the best option for lung cancer but it’s not suitable for everyone. Let’s learn who the best candidate is for cyberknife treatment in India.
Ideal candidates for cyberknife are:
- Patients with small and medium-sized tumors are the right candidates because cyberknife is highly effective on them. These tumors are mostly less than 5 cm in diameter.
- Patients who are not suitable for surgery due to their age, underlying medical conditions like heart or lung diseases, or tumor location.
- Patients who want faster recovery without side effects. The treatment is outpatient based and most patients complete the therapy within 1-5 sessions. Plus, they don’t experience any side effects.
- Patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can achieve results comparable to surgery.
- Patients with recurrent tumors and patients who have undergone radiation therapy are the right candidates.
But as we have already said, all are not eligible for this procedure:
- Patients with very large tumors (larger than 5cm in size) are not fit for cyberknife. The high dose of radiation required may pose a risk to surrounding tissues.
- If cancer has spread extensively to multiple organs and distant parts of the body, cyberknife treatment is not appropriate.
Patients with respiratory and cardiovascular problems may need thorough examination before they get a go-ahead with cyberknife treatment.
CyberKnife Treatment Process: What to Expect?
Cyberknife treatment is precise non-invasive and patient-friendly. There are multiple benefits of it which we have already discussed above. Now, let’s move forward and learn about the step-by-step process of it:
At this stage, doctors use high-resolution imaging like CT or MRI to know the precise location of the tumor and map its size, shape, and position. After that, AI-powered software calculates the accurate radiation angles and dosage. It ensures maximum accuracy and protection for the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.
You just need to lie comfortably on the treatment table while the robotic cyberknife system delivers highly targeted radiation beams on the tumor from multiple angles. It doesn’t need any incision or anesthesia so it is a painless procedure. Each sessions take 30-90 minutes.
Most patient can start their daily life immediately after treatment as no downtime is needed. The doctors will schedule follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor tumor response, track shrinkage, and ensure a smooth recovery.
Success Stories: How CyberKnife is Changing Lives in India?
Cyberknife treatment has helped many patients live a better and healthier life. The best part is it gives all these benefits without requiring invasive surgeries. Here are some real-life success stories that show its effectiveness and impact:
🔹 Case Study 1: Reena Makan is a 67-year-old housewife from Mumbai who was diagnosed with early-stage. She was deemed high-risk for surgery because of her age and health conditions.
She opted for cyberknife treatment and after completing the treatment she experienced complete tumor regression and returned to normal life within weeks. She didn’t have any side effects.
🔹 Case Study 2: Dilip Singh, 45, is a stage II lung cancer patient from Delhi. He wanted a faster and less disruptive treatment option. He opted for cyberknife treatment. He underwent 4 sessions of cyberknife and each took around 1 hour. The treatment resulted in 85% of the tumor shrinking and there were no side effects at all.
Singh, now, lives an active and healthy life post-treatment.
🔹 Case Study 3: Sunil Kootam is a 55-year-old chain smoker. He was smoking for a long time. But Sunil’s life turned upside down when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. The situation turned even grimmer when doctors said he was not fit to undergo surgery.
While doing his research on non-surgical options, he came across MedicoExperts and reached out to us for advice. Under our guidance, he underwent cyberknife treatment. Sunil achieved full tumor control after treatment. This saved the surrounding healthy tissues which resulted in no side effects. Sunil has quit smoking since and living a happier and healthier life.
Have a look at one such CyberKnife patient testimonial of us here:- https://www.medicoexperts.com/testimonial/cyberknife-testimonial/
Where can you get CyberKnife Treatment in India?
Medicoexperts understand that choosing the right hospital for treatment can burden your mind and body even more. That’s why we have handpicked these top hospitals for you.
We have chosen these hospitals for you after considering their technology, patient care, and the experience of the specialists.
- Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
- Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon
- Apollo Hospitals (Multiple Locations)
- HCG Cancer Centre, Bangalore
- Manipal Hospital, Bangalore
- Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai
- Artemis Hospital, gurugram
- Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad
- Aster Medcity, Kochi
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram
For more information, visit MedicoExperts Hospital Page.
Cyberknife Cost in India: What You Need To Know?
Understanding the cost of cyberknife treatment is important for you if you or your family member is planning to undergo it. Here’s what you should expect:
The cost ranges from INR 250000 to INR 600000 (approximately USD 3000 to USD 7200) depending on factors like:
- The hospital or cancer center where the patient is getting treatment
- The complexity of the case including sessions required, tumor size, and location.
Is Cyberknife Treatment Covered by Insurance?
Many health insurance policies in India partially cover cyberknife procedures for cancer. However, the coverage will depend on the specific treatment plan and its terms and conditions. That’s why you should check with your insurance provider to confirm the extent of coverage.
You may find the cost of cyberknife treatment at a slightly higher end. However, it is still worth your time and money because of its precision, effectiveness, and minimal side effects. Always discuss with your doctor and insurance provider to plan your treatment effectively.
Takeaway
It is obvious that surgery, long recovery time, or side effects of the treatment are some of the concerns that you have when choosing treatments for lung cancer. Cyberknife is the solution that you are looking for in your problem.
It’s a non-surgical alternative and has no or fewer side effects compared to all traditional treatment options. This means you or your loved one can get back to your life sooner without any hassle. The highly-precise treatment with real-time tracking makes it safer for you.
If you are still unsure whether you should opt for cyberknife treatment, talk to an expert. Once you are ready, consult an oncologist today and learn about your options.
Talk to MedicoExperts today and learn how CyberKnife can be the right choice for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. How is CyberKnife different from normal radiation?
A. Traditional radiation therapy needs 20 to 30 sessions over several weeks. Each of these sessions lasts about 10 to 30 minutes. Cyberknife, on the other hand, delivers precise high-dose radiation in just 1 to 5 sessions. These sessions last for 30 to 90. This precision minimizes exposure to healthy tissues. That’s why it has fewer side effects compared to conventional radiation therapies.
Q2. Does CyberKnife completely cure lung cancer?
A. Cyberknife can completely treat early-stage lung cancer. It shrinks the tumor and gives relief from the symptoms in advanced cases of lung cancer. It may not be an exact cure but it gives the patient and happier and healthier life.
Q3. Is CyberKnife painful?
A. Not at all! It’s a painless. The best part is you don’t need any cuts or incisions and leave the hospital the same in most cases.
Q4. How soon will I see the results?
A. You will start seeing the result in a few weeks or months because the tumor shrinks gradually. How well the treatment works depends on the tumor’s size and type, and how well your body responds to it.
Q5. What is stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung cancer?
A. Stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT is a highly precise radiation treatment used for early-stage lung cancer. Cyberknife is the machine that is used to deliver SBRT.
Q6. What is the success rate of cyberknife treatment for lung cancer?
A. For small-cell lung cancer the success rate is 87%-92%. Studies have shown local control rates (percentage of people who do not experience recurrence of tumor) of around 91.9% at two years and 97% at three years.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11236372/
- https://www.cancer.gov/types/metastatic-cancer
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17922973/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4990666/
- https://radonc.ucsf.edu/cyberknife/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2884306/#:~:text=%5B7%5D%20Unlike%20other%20linac%2D,gives%20warning%20and%20stops%20treatment
- https://hillman.upmc.com/cancer-care/lung/treatment/radiation/synchrony
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Author Bio:
Dr. Ashita Nandgaonkar – BHMS, MS in psychological counseling
Dr. Ashita Nandgaonkar is a highly esteemed homeopathic doctor with a passion for holistic healing and patient-centered care. Dr. Nandgaonkar remains dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of homeopathy and promoting its integration into mainstream healthcare. Her mission is to empower individuals on their journey to health and wellness, embracing the holistic approach that homeopathy offers. She has a special interest in researching Homeopathic solutions for diseases that are difficult to treat with conventional medicines and therapies.
Content Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board
