CYBERKNIFE LIVER CANCER TREATMENT PROCESS
At Alaska CyberKnife Center at Providence Cancer Center, we strive to make the treatment process as simple for our patients as possible, and the CyberKnife System makes this easy. As opposed to traditional radiation therapy, treatment with the CyberKnife System can be completed in just one to five sessions, performed over the course of one week. And because it is a non-invasive treatment option, side effects are minimized, and many patients continue with their daily routine immediately following treatment.
The CyberKnife treatment process consists of the following stages:
- Treatment Planning – The first step in the process is imaging. During this step, you will receive a CT scan in order to produce an image of your tumor and surrounding anatomy. Our team of board certified radiation oncologists will then upload the images into the CyberKnife System and design a personalized treatment plan just for you. The plan will determine the dose and how the tumor is targeted with radiation beams.
- Treatment – When you return for treatment of your liver cancer, you will be asked to lie on the treatment couch. The CyberKnife System’s robotic arm will then rotate around you while delivering radiation beams directly to the affected areas. Using its state-of-the-art tumor tracking software, the machine will adapt to tumor movement effected by breathing and other natural body movement. Radiation sessions are generally completed in under an hour, and CyberKnife Treatment is finished in just one to five sessions.
- Post-Treatment – Following a treatment session, you may then return home and continue with your regular routine. Some patients may experience short term side effects, such as fatigue.