Dr. Eric Anderson: Lung Cancer Treatment with CyberKnife - [Video Transcription]
- When did GUH begin to treat lung cancer patients with CyberKnife?
In 2004 software was developed that allowed us to treat tumors outside the brain and spine. This allows us to accurately to follow tumors that move with respiration including tumors that are in the lung, pancreas, and stomach.
- What is CyberKnife and how is it different from conventional radiation?
CyberKnife is a form of radiation that is applied to tumors. It is different than conventional radiation, because it is a pencil thin beam of radiation. It is applied from many different directions from around the patient. This allows for a very high dose of radiation to be given to a tumor with limit to damage of the surrounding structures.
- What is involved in getting a CyberKnife treatment?
The CyberKnife treatments are very well tolerated. The first part of the procedure is to place small gold fiducials which are small gold seeds which are placed near or around the tumor. These may be placed by CT scan guided procedure, by bronchoscopy, or by endoscopic ultrasound procedure all available here at Georgetown. Once the gold marker is in place, we wait one week before we do a planning CT scan. This CT scan is used to guide the treatment for the CyberKnife. Shortly after that, the patient will go through three treatments usually Monday, Wednesday, and Friday within seven to ten days with each treatment an hour and a half long to deliver the radiation to the patient. There are no restraints to the patient. They merely lie on the table while getting the treatment.
- How will I feel after the CyberKnife treatments?
Patients tolerate this procedure extremely well. They usually have no side effects. Two patients have reported some fatigue from the treatments. An hour and a half lying on your back is the most important complication that we have seen on patients. For treatment of the lung, we have only seen a couple patients develop shortness of breath as a side effect. When we have evaluated pulmonary function tests, we have seen a slight decline in lung function, but this is comparable for what might happen when you take out a portion of the lung surgically.
- Who is the ideal lung cancer patient candidate for CyberKnife?
The ideal candidate for CyberKnife is a candidate that has an inoperable lung cancer. One that is small and in the periphery is ideal and has a very a good chance of cure. Our follow up in the first two to three years of treatment of these patients suggest a survival around 85 to 90% for the solitary peripheral lung cancer nodule. This treatment is also available for patients that have solitary or limited pulmonary metastasis, cancers that start outside the chest that move to the lung. These patients are also candidates for use of CyberKnife.
- What are the results for CyberKnife and lung cancer?
A patient with Stage I lung cancer has a survival of five years or approximately 67%. Our data suggests that our treatment with CyberKnife is comparable to patients who have undergone surgical removal of the tumor.
- Why should I come to Georgetown for my CyberKnife treatment?
Georgetown was one of the first centers to have CyberKnife available for treatment of patients with brain and spine lesions. In 2004, software was developed and implemented here at Georgetown to track tumors that move with breathing including lung tumors.
