News & Events
Spotlight On: Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is a dynamic organization committed to funding cutting-edge prostate cancer research. Since 1993, the PCF has funded more than 1,600 programs at nearly 200 research facilities around the world. In 2012, the organization raised a record $47 million and expanded their research programs to China.
Each year, the PCF partners with sports giants like Arnold Palmer, Jim Thorne and Chipper Jones to organize special programs to support prostate cancer research. The organization also acts as a resource for cancer patients and their families, providing information about prostate cancer, treatment options, financial resources and support groups.
For more information on the PCF and for ways to get involved, visit their website.
This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important health issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife® treatment.
New Philadelphia CyberKnife Study Shows SBRT Effective in Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Newly published research from Philadelphia CyberKnif
e provides some of the most convincing evidence yet that stereotactic body radiation therapy is among the most effective types of treatment for prostate cancer.
Authors say that, while more follow-up is needed, the study shows SBRT’s success rate is comparable to other treatments, including conventional surgery, which is often held as the gold standard treatment for prostate cancer. In addition, SBRT offered more convenient treatment and less risk of side effects like erectile dysfunction.
“Radiation oncologists believe the results with SBRT are equivalent to what you’d get from surgery or other forms of radiation, but there’s never been a head-to-head comparison,” says Dr. Rachelle Lanciano, chief of radiation oncology at Delaware County Memorial Hospital, who co-wrote the study. “This is another piece of the puzzle showing that SBRT works, the toxicity is low, and the outcomes are very good.”
From the Doc: Benefits of CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer Patients
Find out how stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with CyberKnife® can benefit prostate cancer patients. Below are some advantages from Philadelphia CyberKnife radiation oncologist Dr. Rachelle Lanciano.
What sets CyberKnife apart from other treatment options?
CyberKnife offers patients a noninvasive treatment option that doesn’t impede on their lifestyle. CyberKnife can treat prostate cancer patients in five or fewer sessions, a much shorter time period than conventional forms of treatment, and patients can return to their normal routines immediately following each session. The accuracy of treatment can also reduce side effects associated with other forms of treatment for prostate cancer. View our treatment options overview here.
How is SBRT with CyberKnife different from conventional radiation therapy?
CyberKnife has the ability to directly target the prostate while compensating for normal patient movements, which minimizes radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Treatment time is also significantly shorter given traditional radiation therapy can last up to seven to eight weeks. CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer is completed within five sessions lasting one to two weeks.
Is CyberKnife treatment covered by insurance?
We accept most insurance coverage as well as Medicare.
To find out whether you may be a candidate for CyberKnife treatment, request more information.
Prostate Cancer by the Numbers: American Cancer Society Facts and Figures
Have you seen the latest prostate cancer facts and figures released by the American Cancer Society? We’ve included some noteworthy stats below.
To learn more, visit the prostate cancer section of the American Cancer Society website.
This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important health issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife® treatment.
Prostate Cancer Series: Treatment Options
Once prostate cancer has been diagnosed, the right treatment option can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. Not only is the stage and grade of the tumor important, but also the age, health and lifestyle of the patient. Below is a basic overview of prostate cancer treatment options. Consult your doctor and physicians with an expertise in each of these fields to make a fully informed decision.
*Click to enlarge. Source: American Cancer Society
This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important health issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife® treatment.
Prostate Cancer Series: What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is a disease specific to men and develops in the prostate – a walnut-shaped organ in a man’s lower abdomen that controls the flow of urine and semen through the reproductive system.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer is typically a slow-growing tumor, often causing no symptoms until it reaches a more advanced stage. Once the disease begins to grow more rapidly or spreads outside the prostate, it can become a much larger health issue. This aggressive type of prostate cancer can occur at any age, though more commonly in men over 50.
Prostate cancer is suspected if men have an elevated level of a substance in the bloodstream known as prostate specific antigen or PSA. To diagnose prostate cancer, an outpatient biopsy procedure is performed. If cancer is found, biopsy findings are used to determine the patient’s risk level, such as low-risk, intermediate-risk or high-risk. The risk level assigned to a patient typically guides a doctor’s recommendations on what type of treatment, if any, should be pursued.
If facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, it is important to consider all treatment options and have a conversation with your doctor to determine the best care plan for your individual needs. Learn more about prostate cancer and how CyberKnife® treats the disease by viewing our Prostate Cancer: CyberKnife Treatment Overview below or visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation for an Introduction to Prostate Cancer Guide.
In our next post, we will highlight various treatment options for prostate cancer.
This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife® treatment.
Philadelphia CyberKnife Continues Trailblazing Cancer Research
Philadelphia CyberKnife physicians are set this week to present innovative research findings demonstrating the effectiveness of stereotactic body radiation therapy for treating primary and recurrent lung cancer.
Two studies will be presented Feb. 22 at the Radiosurgery Society’s 2013 SRS/SBRT Scientific Meeting in California. These are the latest studies from Philadelphia CyberKnife, which has carved a niche for trailblazing clinical research focused on stereotactic body radiation therapy. CyberKnife® is a robotic technology that provides stereotactic body radiation therapy, or SBRT, a noninvasive method of treating tumors with very precise, high-dose radiation beams in five or fewer procedures.
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Get to Know: Chief Medical Physicist Jun Yang
Our chief medical physicist, Dr. Jun Yang, is one of the most experienced CyberKnife® physicists in the country and has spearheaded numerous studies on radiation dosage safety for patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy.
Dr. Yang serves as chairman of the physics committee and on the board of directors of the Radiosurgery Society. He was also lead author of a chapter dedicated to CyberKnife in the recently published “Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.”
Read more about his experiences since joining Philadelphia CyberKnife:
What inspired you to become a medical physicist?
I originally planned to be a biomedical engineer but focused on medical imaging before earning my PhD. I discovered therapeutic medical physics after spending three years researching optimization and image processing. I learned that my research was a solid foundation for understanding how to create an optimal patient treatment plan and assist with precise treatment delivery. Once I realized I could help cancer patients with my knowledge, I knew nothing else could beat that.
What do you like best about your job?
We see more and more patients returning for their follow-up appointments feeling great and doing well. It’s a really great feeling to make such a positive impact on a patient’s life.
Describe one of your most memorable experiences since you began working at Philadelphia CyberKnife.
One of my most memorable experiences would be having the opportunity to learn from world-renown radiobiologist, Dr. Jack Fowler. In 2008, Dr. Fowler made the first of three visits to our center, and his lecture showed me not only that were we providing an excellent treatment option for patients, but also we were doing so using the safest and minimally toxic doses of radiation. Learning from him and having our treatment methods validated by someone so respected in the industry is something I will never forget.
What do you feel is the most important thing that Philadelphia CyberKnife offers?
Our center offered the first CyberKnife in Philadelphia, and we have treated more patients than any other CyberKnife in the region. We do not focus only on following the clinical trend, but also lead it with solid and consistent research effort.
How do you stay abreast of the latest medical developments?
Philadelphia CyberKnife has developed a strong research-oriented culture that encompasses knowing the latest advancements in all aspects of patient care. With our research nurse’s assistance, every team member specializes in a certain disease. We have also made a practice of sharing useful knowledge or research with our team members to encourage healthy discussion.
Spotlight on: Brain Tumors
According to the American Cancer Society, brain tumors account for one in every 100 cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. CyberKnife® stereotactic radiosurgery is an advanced treatment option for brain tumors, providing an important nonsurgical alternative for patients. Below is a brief overview of brain tumors, incidence rates and treatment options.
The information provided about medical conditions, treatment options, comparisons and associated risks is a very brief overview. Consult your doctor for any diagnosis and its best treatment.
Profiles in CyberKnife Treatment: Role of the Medical Physicist
At Philadelphia CyberKnife, medical physicists play a key role in the patient treatment process, working closely with other members of the treatment team to support imaging, treatment planning and quality assurance testing of our CyberKnife® technology and its components.
Our physics team develops a customized treatment plan that will deliver the radiation dose prescribed by each patient’s treating radiation oncologist. Using the CyberKnife treatment planning system, the physicist determines the angles and intensities of the CyberKnife’s radiation beams that will be delivered during treatment. This process directs the radiation dose precisely to the three-dimensional shape of the tumor being treated, minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. When treating areas near critical organs or structures, such as the spinal cord, sparing normal tissue is particularly important.
Chief Medical Physicist Jun Yang leads the physics team and quality assurance program at our center. Dr. Yang is one of the most experienced CyberKnife physicists in the country. He has managed the treatment plans of more than 2,500 CyberKnife patients during the course of his career.