Debra Tobey, a Colorado CyberKnife breast and bone cancer patient, shares her story. |
Learn More About How CyberKnife Treats Spine Tumors |
What is Cyberknife VSI and How Can it Help Treat Spinal Tumors?
The Cyberknife VSI is a robotic radiosurgery system that can deliver extremely precise doses of radiation to spine tumors, while sparing healthy surrounding tissue and structures. Cyberknife can even treat inoperable tumors and offers the most sophisticated non-invasive radiation treatment available, as other radiosurgery systems cannot treat tumors with the same level of accuracy and are more invasive. Cyberknife can be used in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy, and offers many benefits over traditional radiation therapy. The advantage that Colorado Cyberknife offers patients is that we are one of a few facilities in the world to offer the latest non-invasive radiation treatment, with the next-generation Cyberknife VSI unit, which brings revolutionary benefits. We also boast the region’s leading radiosurgery doctors.
Types of Spine Tumors
Primary spine tumors are relatively rare and they originate in or around the spine. Benign spine tumors include Meningiomas, Neurofibromas and Schwannomas, while malignant tumors include Astrocytomas and Ependymomas.
The most common types of spine tumors are ones that have metastasized from cancerous tumors in other parts of the body, such as the lung, breast, skin and colon. One or more tumors can grow within or around the spine.
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Benefits of Cyberknife VSI Treatment for Spine Tumors
Non-Invasive & PainlessThe CyberKnife System is completely non-invasive and is able to achieve a high level of accuracy for targeting spine tumors. Compared to traditional radiation options, Cyberknife does not require the use of body frames or implanted fiduciary radioactive markers. Cyberknife can pinpoint a tumor’s exact location in real-time throughout treatment. |
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Targets the Tumor, Spares Healthy TissueSpine tumors present a treatment challenge because they move as the patient breathes. Conventional radiation treatment cannot account for this movement, so surrounding healthy tissue is damaged by the radiation. Cyberknife is able to avoid damaging nearby healthy spinal cord tissue and structures by targeting a tumor with sub-millimeter accuracy. This precision is achieved by combining 3D images of the tumor with live images during treatment, which allows for automatic, real-time corrections of tumor movement when the patient breathes. |
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Little to No Side Effects or Recovery TimeCyberknife has minimal to no side effects or recovery time due to its ability to precisely target tumors without over-exposing healthy tissues and structures to radiation. The treatment is done on an outpatient basis, typically over one to five sessions, and no anesthesia is required. Cyberknife’s treatment time is significantly reduced compared to other radiation therapy options, making it east to return to work and regular activities. |
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What Are the Indications for Using Cyberknife on Spine Tumors?
- Localized, Solid Mass Tumors.
- Medically Inoperable Tumors.
- Unresectable and Marginally Resectable Tumors
- Metastasized Tumors to Brain, Spine, and Bone.
- Tumors Adjacent to Critical Structures.
- Tumors Treated with Radiotherapy Previously.
- Tumors with High Risk of Recurrence.
- Radioresistant Tumors.
- Tumors that Cause Pain.
- Tumors that Move.
- Adjunct Therapy to Other Treatments to Maximize Success.
Compassionate Care Travel Assistance Program:
Offered Exclusively By Colorado CyberKnife.
We are setting the standard for compassionate care.
Colorado CyberKnife will cover air travel and lodging within the cost of treatment.*
Our goal is to help patients focus on their education and clinical decision making with their Physician Specialists by alleviating the anxiety insurance and other financial factors can add to this trying time.
Please inquire about our Compassionate Care Travel Assistance Program.
*All patients with governmental insurance plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare, VA, DOD, etc excluded by law.
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