KIDNEY CANCER TREATMENT IN ANCHORAGE

If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney cancer, you owe it to yourself to find out how the CyberKnife Radiosurgery System can effectively treat your tumor. The  radiation oncologists at Alaska CyberKnife will work closely with your medical team to find out how CyberKnife can best fit your treatment plan – either alone or in conjunction with other cancer treatment methods.

Treating kidney tumors can be challenging due to the kidney’s location in the body. Near the bowel and lungs, your kidney tumor experiences constant movement from regular bodily functions, including breathing and the passing of gas. This can result in traditional radiation therapies not being able to direct the needed high doses of radiation to the tumor to kill the cancerous cells. CyberKnife overcomes this challenge by combining the flexibility of a robotic arm with a high-tech imaging and software system that can track your tumor’s smallest movement. The ability to target your tumor also limits radiation exposure to vital surrounding organs and tissue keeping those cells healthy and side-effects minimized. And the recovery time is usually hours instead of weeks.

If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney cancer, how to proceed with treatment can be complicated. There are many different types of treatment and combinations of treatments that can be developed based on:

• The stage of your cancer
• The size and location of your tumor(s)
• Whether the kidney cancer has spread to other parts of the body
• Your age
• Your physical condition
• Any past surgeries you’ve had
• Any past treatments you’ve had
• Current medications you may be taking

At Alaska CyberKnife, our radiation oncologist will work with your medical team to evaluate your condition and circumstances completely. They will develop a multi-disciplinary treatment plan that addresses all of your needs in the best way possible. Options for treatment may include:

surgery, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are occasionally used. Patients with kidney cancer that has spread (metastatic cancer, see below) often receive multiple lines of therapy, which are treatments given one after another.

• Surgery – Surgery is a common method used for treating kidney cancer, and involves removing part or all of the kidney along with the affected tissue. It’s usually used when the tumors are centralized and not likely to spread. Surgery may also be used before, during, or after other forms of cancer treatment, such as radiation therapy, to ensure patients receive the best options to fit their individual needs. This type of procedure can often be challenging and our board certified radiation oncologists work closely with surgeons, pulmonologists, and medical oncologists to determine the best method for each patient. Non-invasive alternatives are always considered.

• CyberKnife and Other Radiation Therapies

• Chemotherapy

• Targeted therapy

• Immunotherapy

• Clinical trials, and/or palliative care

Radiation therapy is often used to treat kidney cancer, sometimes in conjunction with chemotherapy and surgery. Utilizing the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, you can target your kidney tumors with a precision unmatched by any other radiation treatment method.

Kidney tumors are always moving due to normal breathing and bowel operations. Unlike ALL other treatment systems, the non-surgical and non-invasive CyberKnife synchronizes with the movement of the tumor, continually verifying that it is precisely on target, delivering beams of high-dose radiation from all angles with pin-point precision. The unique combination of a flexible, robotic arm, the intelligent tumor tracking software and real time imaging track the smallest of movements and adjust radiation directly to the cancerous cells while you rest on a comfortable outpatient treatment center table.  This focus minimizes the radiation exposure to healthy surrounding tissue and organs and limits some of the short and long-term side effects common with conventional treatments. Much shorter than traditional radiation treatment, CyberKnife treatment is administered in one to five days.

1. Once you contact Alaska CyberKnife, our radiation oncologist will confer with your oncologist, surgeon and the rest of your team of caregivers to determine the best treatment options for you.
2. On your first visit, before your treatment begins, you will visit our conveniently located CyberKnife center in Anchorage to prepare a body cradle and have an initial CT scan of your body. This soft padded mat will be formed in your shape. You will lie in this treatment couch during your CyberKnife treatments to help keep you as still as possible while receiving the radiation. Your initial CT scan will show the doctors your exact shape, size and location of your tumor(s). Sometimes other scans may be ordered to make sure your doctors have a clear picture of your cancer.
3. The images from your scan(s) will be uploaded to the CyberKnife software where your cancer team will analyze and evaluate the radiation needs for your kidney cancer as well as the vital healthy tissue around the kidneys to avoid. They will determine the dose of radiation you need in each tiny area and program this information into the CyberKnife system.
4. Once your team discusses the proposed treatment plan, dress comfortably, grab your music, and return to our outpatient Anchorage CyberKnife Center, located in Providence Cancer Center, for your first treatment.
5. Your short treatment session involves lying in your cradle on our comfortable treatment couch and listening to your music, if you choose, while our pain-free CyberKnife robotic arm moves around your head delivering high doses of radiation to your tumor. Our sophisticated tumor-tracking software and real-time imaging system work together to pinpoint the exact location of your tumor and move with any movement of your tumor to kill the cancerous cells.
6. With few side effects, most patients can go about their normal daily routine within a few hours of finishing their CyberKnife radiation treatment.
7. Your doctors may plan up to five daily short sessions, depending on your individual needs. You would return to the Center for each of these sessions.
8. Once your treatment is complete, you will want to follow up with your doctor to monitor the success of the treatment and insure the cancer doesn’t return.

• No cutting or anesthesia. With CyberKnife treatment, you can avoid the trauma and potential dangers of surgery.

• Absolute accuracy. With CyberKnife’s flexible robotic arm paired with the sophisticated software and real-time imaging system, high doses of radiation are beamed to the precise location of your tumor(s) to kill cancerous cells and avoid damaging healthy surrounding tissue.

• Pain-free comfort. Not only can you avoid surgery, you can relax on a comfortable treatment couch for each short, pain-free session.

• Follows your moving kidney tumor. CyberKnife’s advanced system is able to track even the tiniest submillimeter movement of your kidney tumor(s) and adjust the radiation beams accordingly. It accomplishes this using all of your CT, MRI or PET scan images, combined with the real-time images sent through the software to insure radiation hits the mark every second.

• Short Treatment Time. Your CyberKnife treatments for kidney cancer will be short daily sessions that last from one to five days. With other types of radiation therapy, treatments can be daily and last daily up to 45 days.

• Fewer Side Effects. CyberKnife’s incredible accuracy helps save nearby healthy kidney tissue from damage and reduce side effects. With fewer side effects, you’ll usually be able to get back to your regular activities in only a few hours without the delay of surgery recovery in a hospital or more serious radiation therapy side effects.

Give your Anchorage radiation oncologists a call today and find out more about kidney cancer and how it is best treated. We want to make sure you understand all of your treatment options. Call today at (907) 312-2112 and speak to one of our caring professionals. Your first phone consultation is free, so don’t delay! You can also reach out to us using our online message form and we will respond to your questions or appointment request right away. WE look forward to working with your to provide the best possible outcomes.

Find out more about kidney cancer:

• Kidney Cancer – About Kidney Cancer
• Kidney Cancer – Types & Grades