I was treated with the Cyberknife; finished radiation 4 weeks ago
at Stanford on a Phase II Trial. I received 5 radiation treatments
in one week; the bioequivalent of 37 days 74 Gy EBRT; actual was
36 Gy. Side effects are some of the same ones as from EBRT
[rectal urgency, frequent BM, irritated hemorrhoids].
Final results of the Trial won't be known for 2 yr but
preliminary results of first patients looks promising.
I'm patient #5; ten patients have now been treated. More info at:
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http://urology.stanford.edu/articles/apr012004_cancercenter.html
" The use of the Cyberknife (robotically delivered radiation
therapy over the course of one week rather than eight weeks) in
localized prostate cancer was initiated in December of 2003.
Ten patients have undergone treatment and early results look
promising."
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http://www.cksociety.org/PatientInfo/MedicalConditions/prostate_cancer.asp
"In December 2003 Stanford University Medical Center was the first
institution in the world to use the CyberKnife to treat prostate
cancer. Stanford is currently offering a phase II trial with the
CyberKnife that is unique in two important ways. First, the
CyberKnife allows for a significantly reduced margin of radiation
surrounding the prostate. This results in a significant reduction
in dose to the rectum and therefore should reduce the potential
side effects. Second, the clinical trial utilizes a hypofractionated
course of irradiation (as discussed above) that increases tumor kill,
reduces the acute side effects, and limits the late side effects to
a level comparable to that observed with conventional external beam
radiotherapy."