Treatment Process

Consultation

Each patient will meet with the CyberKnife® radiation oncologist to discuss the potential treatment benefits.

Fiducial Placement - Depending on your case, you may require placement of several small, gold markers called fuducials. This is an outpatient procedure done at the hospital either in radiology or in the outpatient surgical suites.
The markers allow the CyberKnife® to track changes in the tumor position with breathing throughout your treatment. Patients being treated for brain and spine tumors do not require this step.
Custom Mask or Body Mold - A custom mask or body mold is formed and used to help minimize movement during your treatment. The procedure is simple and painless.
Imaging - A CT scan and possibly an MRI will be performed to identify the size, location and shape of your lesion. This is not a diagnostic study but rather a scan that will be used to define the treatment areas specific to each individual patient.

Dress in comfortable clothing and bring your favorite CD to listen to during your treatment.

Positioning - You will lie on the treatment table and be fitted in your custom mask or body mold. No sedation is needed.
Painless Treatment - You will need to lie as still as possible. The process typically lasts 45 to 90 minutes, and you will be awake the entire time. The image guidance system continually takes images and compares them to data from your CT scan. This ensures radiation is targeted accurately on the tumor. Treatment itself is painless.
Completion - If you are undergoing a single session treatment, your treatment is complete. You can now leave the center and resume normal activities immediately. If your physician prescribes a staged treatment plan, you will be required to return for additional daily treatments as scheduled
Follow Up - As with any procedure, there will be follow-up imaging and physician consultation to monitor the response to treatment.