Last updated 3 months ago
If you have been recently diagnosed with cancer, you probably have several questions about your condition and treatment options. The resources below can give you some background on cancer care before you seek treatment with Colorado CyberKnife VSI in the scenic Rocky Mountains just 20 minutes from the Denver International Airport. Contact us to start planning your treatment by calling (888) 592-8185 or visiting our website.
Find out if prostate cancer screening is right for you by visiting CDC.gov.
Take a look at the evolution of radiation oncology in this Huffington Post article.
Check out WebMD.com to see the tests used for prostate cancer diagnosis.
Accuray.com details the MultiPlan Treatment Planning System of the CyberKnife.
Visit the CyberKnife website to get answers to your questions about radiosurgery.
Last updated 3 months ago
Your risk for different types of cancer depends on a long list of factors, which may be controllable or unavoidable. One of the most complex unavoidable risk factors to be aware of is heredity, which plays a role for many different types of cancer. Below is some more detailed information about genetics and cancer to help you understand how your family health history can affect your risk of developing cancer.
Cancer Risk
Patterns tend to arise in families as multiple family members may be diagnosed with the same type of cancer. This may relate to inherited gene mutations, shared external risk factors such as poor nutrition, or genetic predisposition to acquired gene mutations. Inherited gene mutations are the most direct hereditary cause of cancer, but these are fairly rare. In most cancer cases, heredity is only one factor that contributes to the development of the disease.
Cell Structure and Cancerous Growth
As molecular biology becomes more advanced, cancer researchers are understanding more about cell structure and the changes that occur when a cell becomes cancerous. This knowledge has led to better care with treatments like radiosurgery, and it continues to contribute to the prevention and treatment of all types of cancer.
Genetic Testing
Because more is now understood about the genetic factors that do have a significant role in cancer risk, genetic testing is an accurate screening tool for certain kinds of cancer. Still, this type of testing is not always appropriate, so you should have a discussion with your physician before considering genetic testing.
If you are seeking more information about a recent cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, or new technology in cancer care, consult Colorado CyberKnife VSI in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Check us out online or call us at (888) 592-8185 to learn how we can be a part of your cancer care.
Last updated 3 months ago
Like most types of cancer, prostate cancer is discussed in terms of its stage. The stage of a cancer indicates how advanced it is. There are two parts of prostate cancer staging: the location of the cancer and the Gleason score. Gleason scores are determined after the cancerous prostate tissue is examined under a microscope. The lower the score, the lower the risk of metastasizing; however, low Gleason scores don’t necessarily indicate a less advanced cancer. Because your prostate cancer stage is used to devise a cancer treatment plan, it is important to arm yourself with knowledge about the five stages of prostate cancer.
Stage I
In stage I prostate cancer, the cancer is found only in the prostate. It is usually found during a needle biopsy and is not visible through imaging or a digital rectal exam. The Gleason score is less than six.
Stage II
Stage II prostate cancer has two parts: IIA and IIB. Both are confined to the prostate. Stage IIA is found only in one lobe of the prostate, usually during a needle biopsy. The Gleason score is seven or lower. Stage IIB involves cancer found on two opposite sides of the prostate. The cancer is not visible on imaging devices and has a Gleason score of up to 10.
Stage III
In Stage III, the cancer has spread outside of the prostate in the seminal vesicles. Gleason scores for this this kind of cancer can range anywhere on the scale depending on how aggressive the tumor has become.
Stage IV
By stage IV, prostate cancer has metastasized to other regions of the body. It may be found in the bladder, rectum, pelvic well, lymph nodes, and bones. The Gleason score can range from two to 10.
Located in the Rocky Mountains and just 20 minutes from Denver International Airport, Colorado CyberKnife VSI can plan a cancer treatment according to the stage and location of your cancer. Our comfortable and precise radiation treatments offer great accuracy than ever before, so there is less risk of damage to your surrounding prostate tissue. Schedule a consultation for your cancer care at (888) 592-8185.
Last updated 3 months ago
The technology incorporated in the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System has been designed to allow each patient completely customized treatment that is fine-tuned to create the fastest, most accurate treatment possible with radiosurgery. Every detail of planning CyberKnife procedures is incorporated into the sophisticated MultiPlan System, which offers these unique advantages for each patient’s treatment:
Treatment Time Reduction
Once the course of treatment has been initially projected, the surgeon or radiation oncologist can lower the number of treatment beams and nodes within the plan limits. This means that the lowest possible amount of radiation is used for each patient, reducing treatment time, risk, and side effects from radiation exposure.
AutoSegmentation
The CyberKnife is highly successful in the treatment of prostate cancer, which presents a delicate challenge because of the contouring structures in the male pelvis. AutoSegmentation significantly improves the accuracy of treatment by defining these structures through CT or MRI imaging. The total time required to complete this process is dramatically less than that of manual user input.
QuickPlan
Every member of the staff at your CyberKnife clinic can dedicate more time to personalized, high-attention care thanks to the QuickPlan feature of the MultiPlan System. This feature automates more of the planning process based on the Sequential Optimization Algorithm, meaning that more time can be spent with patients as they undergo treatment.
Advanced Visualization
When imaging is exclusively in 2D, there are many uncertainties that could reduce the accuracy of treatment. To eliminate this concern, the MultiPlan System includes high-resolution 3D image rendering for optimal dosing accuracy during treatment.
To learn more about the CyberKnife and see how it can be incorporated into your cancer treatment, visit Colorado CyberKnife VSI in the scenic Rocky Mountains. Contact us on our website or call us at (888) 592-8185 to start planning your initial consultation with us.
Last updated 3 months ago
When you’re facing prostate cancer, chances are that you have a lot of questions about your diagnosis and treatment. Arming yourself with information about your disease will help you feel more empowered to beat it. With new cancer care options like the CyberKnife VSI system, prostate cancer is more treatable than ever before. Here are the answers to some commonly-asked questions about this disease:
How Common Is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer faced by men in the United States. Approximately one in six men will get this disease, with more than 60 percent of the cases occurring in men over the age of 65. Prostate cancer rarely strikes men younger than 40.
What Are the Causes of Prostate Cancer?
No one is sure what causes prostate cancer, but there are several risk factors for the disease. Age is the most significant risk. A diet high in animal fat can also increase your chances of getting prostate cancer. Race is another important factor. African-American men get prostate cancer most often, while Asian-American men are the least-effected group. Scientists suspect that obesity, smoking, and overexposure to the sun may also increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
How Is Prostate Cancer Treated?
There are a number of different treatment options for prostate cancer, including surgery and hormone therapy. One treatment that has been successful with prostate cancer is the CyberKnife radiation system. CyberKnife is different from other radiation therapies because it uses a robotic arm that can target the tumor from hundreds of angles. The CyberKnife also adjusts its radiation beam constantly during treatment to account for tiny changes in the tumor’s position. This means that treatment reaches the tumor instead of damaging the surrounding tissue.
If you’re facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, find out how Colorado CyberKnife VSI can help you. We are a renowned facility offering expertly-delivered CyberKnife cancer treatments in the Denver metro area. Call (888) 592-8185 today to schedule your consultation
