The KUTRRH CyberKnife Centre was officially commissioned by H.E President William Ruto on Monday, 24th April 2023. CyberKnife is the latest generation of non-invasive precision treatment that treats cancerous and noncancerous tumors in areas of the body previously thought to be untreatable. It is also the first of its kind in Sub-saharan Africa.
What is CyberKnife?
CyberKnife is a non-surgical way to deliver high-dose radiation to cancerous or noncancerous tumors with extreme accuracy while not damaging healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. CyberKnife System’s treatment accuracy is unrivaled. Its ability to treat tumors with pinpoint accuracy is unmatched by other radiation therapy and radiosurgery systems.
What Makes Cyberknife Different From Other Radiosurgery?
The CyberKnife uses a combination of a robotic arm and image guidance technology for sub-millimeter accuracy. Because of the robotic arm’s flexibility, the system can reach areas of the body that are unreachable by other radiosurgery systems. The system can also detect tumor movements during the treatment and breathing to deliver an even more accurate dose.
Types Of Conditions Are Considered For Cyberknife Treatment.
CyberKnife is that it treats both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors on sensitive organs such as:
- Brain tumors
- Head and neck cancers
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Spinal cord tumors
- Other benign tumors
How do I know if I can be treated with CyberKnife?
To see if you can be a candidate, make an appointment with our oncologists and neurosurgeons to discuss treatment options and see if CyberKnife will work for you.
What are the benefits of the CyberKnife?
There are many benefits to a CyberKnife procedure.
- Non-invasive (no surgery or anesthesia); thus, painless and has a shorter treatment time.
- Able to reach areas of the body previously thought untreatable. Thus, it can treat a variety of tumors and cancers.
- Almost immediate recovery.
- Movement of the tumor during treatment caused by coughing, breathing, swallowing, etc., does not alter precision since the machine automatically adjusts the radiation beams accordingly.
- Precision treatment limits damage to healthy tissue; hence very few side effects.
- The above benefits make it ideal for patients unable to undergo surgery or who do not wish to have surgery.
Who determines if CyberKnife is an appropriate treatment?
Your physician or specialist can determine medical necessity after evaluating your condition. The CyberKnife is a unique modality, and only a CyberKnife-trained physician can best determine if it is an appropriate treatment for a particular condition.
After treatment, when will my tumor or lesion disappear?
The effects of radiosurgery occur gradually and over a period. The timeframe can range from days, months, or years depending on the medical condition targeted. After treatment, patients are periodically monitored using images (CT scan or MRI) of their tumor(s) so that the doctor can determine their response to treatment.
Is CyberKnife a safe procedure?
The CyberKnife System is one of the safest cancer treatment options currently available. Despite its name – and although it involves radiosurgery – it does not involve cutting and is not a real surgical procedure. It does not also present the risks and complications associated with conventional radiation therapy since the organs and tissues surrounding the tumor are not exposed to radiation.
Can the elderly and children be treated with the CyberKnife?
Because CyberKnife is less risky than traditional surgery, it is a suitable option for the elderly or for pediatric cases.
Age is not a crucial factor in excluding patients from CyberKnife treatments. In the case of small children, they must be able to hold still and follow directions to ensure the safety and comfort of the child during treatment.
Will I need to be hospitalized?
Treatment with the CyberKnife System is a non-surgical and outpatient procedure that does not require general anesthesia, hospitalization, or a long recovery time. The majority of patients can continue normal activity during and immediately following treatment.