CyberKnife® for Prostate Cancer
CyberKnife® for Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men. If you or someone you care about has recently received a diagnosis, you’re likely weighing up treatment options and trying to make sense of a lot of information.
One option your care team may discuss with you is CyberKnife, an advanced form of radiotherapy that may be suitable for some people with prostate cancer.
What is CyberKnife?
Despite its name, CyberKnife doesn’t involve any cutting or surgery. It’s a non-invasive robotic radiotherapy system that delivers precisely targeted beams of radiation to a tumour from hundreds of different angles. With reduced side effects and fewer treatment sessions, CyberKnife targets hard-to-reach tumours in the prostate, brain, spine, lung, kidney, pancreas and liver. In some cases, Cyberknife is preferred to surgery because of the risk of surgical or anaesthetic complications.
The system tracks the tumour continuously as it moves naturally inside the body. The prostate shifts slightly as the bladder fills and empties and as air passes through the rectum. CyberKnife adjusts to these movements throughout each session, keeping the treatment beam on target.
This allows a high dose of radiation to be delivered directly to the tumour while minimising exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue, including the bladder and rectum.
How CyberKnife is used for prostate cancer
CyberKnife works by delivering highly targeted radiation to cancer cells, eradicating them so they can no longer grow or spread. This is similar to how other forms of radiotherapy work. The main difference is that CyberKnife can deliver treatment more precisely, and in fewer sessions. Both CyberKnife and robotic prostatectomy are treatment options for localised prostate cancer that aim to cure the cancer.
Traditional radiotherapy for prostate cancer is usually delivered in smaller doses over several weeks, often with daily treatment sessions. CyberKnife, as a form of stereotactic radiotherapy, can achieve the same therapeutic effect in three to five sessions. Because the prostate sits close to the bladder and rectum, precision is especially important during treatment.
Before treatment begins, small gold markers called fiducial markers may be placed into or near the prostate to help the system locate the tumour accurately. These are usually placed during a short, day procedure using ultrasound or CT imaging.
Who is suitable for CyberKnife treatment?
CyberKnife is most commonly recommended for men whose prostate cancer is contained within the prostate gland. In some cases, it may also be used when cancer has spread to other sites in the body, targeting those areas while protecting nearby healthy tissue.
Whether CyberKnife is right for you depends on things like the type of prostate cancer you have, your overall health and any previous treatment you’ve had. Your radiation oncologist will assess whether CyberKnife is appropriate for you as part of a thorough consultation.
Potential benefits of CyberKnife for prostate cancer
Every treatment decision is personal. Some of the potential benefits of CyberKnife may include:
- Non-invasive, with no incisions or general anaesthetic
- Fewer sessions (typically 1-5) compared to up to 20 or more for traditional radiotherapy
- Continuous tumour tracking, so the beam stays on target even as the body moves
- Reduces radiation exposure to the bladder and rectum
- Reduced disruption to daily life, with fewer sessions and faster return to normal activities
- Pain-free, with no sensation during treatment
How does CyberKnife compare to conventional radiotherapy?
Both approaches use radiation to treat prostate cancer. Traditional radiotherapy delivers smaller doses across many sessions, often daily over five to eight weeks. It’s a well-established treatment that gives healthy tissue time to recover between sessions.
CyberKnife delivers higher doses in a smaller number of precisely targeted sessions. Its tracking technology helps keep the radiation beam focused on the tumour, even as the body moves naturally.
Your radiation oncologist can talk you through which option may be the best fit for you.
Pros and cons of CyberKnife for prostate cancer
Potential advantages
- Fewer treatment sessions
- Designed to reduce radiation dose to the bladder and rectum
- Non-surgical treatment option
- An option for men who aren’t suitable for surgery
- May reduce the risk of some side effects associated with traditional radiotherapy
Considerations
- Not suitable for all patients
- A short procedure to place fiducial markers may be required to prepare for treatment
- Some urinary and bowel function side effects are possible
- Available at a limited number of centres in Australia including Melbourne and Perth. Interstate referrals are welcome
Preparing for CyberKnife treatment
A radiation oncologist will review your diagnosis, scans and medical history to assess whether CyberKnife is appropriate for you. It’s also a chance to ask questions and understand what treatment may look like for you.
If CyberKnife is recommended, you will have CT and MRI scans to inform your treatment plan. In most cases, small gold fiducial markers are inserted into or near the prostate as a day procedure, to help the system track the tumour’s exact location during treatment.
Your team will use these scans to create a treatment plan designed around your needs. This process typically takes one to two weeks after your planning scans.
You will receive specific instructions to follow before your planning scans and each treatment session. Following these instructions helps keep the treatment area in a consistent position, which supports accurate treatment delivery.
What to expect during treatment
Each session takes approximately one hour.
During treatment, you will lie on a couch in the same position used during your planning scan. The CyberKnife system moves around you, delivering treatment from many different angles. You won’t feel anything and the equipment doesn’t touch you.
Your treatment team can see and hear you throughout the entire session. Some patients like to listen to music or an audiobook during the session to help them relax.
After each session you can go home the same day. Treatment is typically delivered on alternate days over one to two weeks.
Possible side effects of CyberKnife for prostate cancer treatment
Most patients tolerate treatment well, with some experiencing no side effects at all while others notice mild symptoms that improve over time.
Common short term side effects
- Increased urination
- A burning sensation while urinating
- Needing to get up during the night to urinate
- Mild fatigue
These side effects are usually temporary and improve over time. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medication to manage these symptoms.
Longer term considerations
As with any radiotherapy for prostate cancer, there is a small risk of longer-term changes to urinary, bowel or sexual function. Your radiation oncologist will discuss these with you before treatment begins.
When to contact your care team
If symptoms are a concern for you during treatment or in the weeks that follow, contact your care team. Don’t wait for your next scheduled appointment if something doesn’t feel right.
After treatment recovery and follow up
Many patients are able to continue with parts of their usual routine during treatment and recovery, with no surgical recovery period required.
Any side effects may continue for a few weeks after treatment ends and could temporarily worsen before improving, however most resolve within about a month.
Your radiation oncologist will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress, typically including PSA blood tests to track your response to treatment over time.
Find out if CyberKnife is right for you
At 5D Clinics, our care team are here to help you understand your options and make a decision that feels right for you.
If you’d like to know more about CyberKnife for prostate cancer, or find out whether it may be suitable for your situation, get in touch.
FAQs about CyberKnife for prostate cancer
The cost of CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer varies depending on your treatment plan. Medicare rebates are available in most circumstances. Our team can talk you through costs and what might apply to your individual situation.
Long-term outcomes after CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer depend on many factors, including the stage and grade of your cancer, your overall health, and how your body responds to treatment. These can occur months or years after treatment is finished.
Stereotactic radiotherapy is a well-established and clinically supported approach, and doctors continue to learn more about long-term outcomes over time. Your radiation oncologist is the best person to speak with about what you can expect, based on your specific situation.