Cancer Patients Using Cyberknife Treatment To Fight Cancer
A relatively new technology in cancer treatment, the CyberKnife targets tumour with 150 beams of radiation. Beams can be fired from any direction without impacting any of the surrounding healthy tissue or nearby structures. The treatment is deemed as safe, fast, precise, pain free and effective.
Many cancer patients across the globe including North America, Europe and parts of Asia have experienced success with the treatment and report feeling and functioning better than ever before. Among these there have been patients suffering from brain tumour, prostate cancer, stage 4 melanoma as well as from breast cancer. Many have reported treating their condition non-invasively and returning to their daily routines without any complications or difficult symptoms.
Despite its success rate, the treatment option is not readily available to Australian patients. Many of these patients have to incur staggering expenses for overseas travel to seek treatment elsewhere.
What Is The Cost Of Cyberknife Treatment Overseas?
To seek CyberKnife treatment outside the country, expenses can easily amount to well over $100,000 for patients. Currently Australia uses the Linear Accelerator to treat such cases but the CyberKnife is believed to be 100 time more effective and possesses the potential to treat patients seven times faster, shortening their treatment duration significantly.
Treatment takes a single day and does not cause any side effects, and there is no need to use drugs or any kind of surgical procedure. The CyberKnife operates by zooming in on a tumour and has the potential to even follow the body movements of the patient.
Medical professionals believe the CyberKnife to be able to help those patients who do not tolerate anaesthetics well or experience complications undergoing long term treatments. Some are of the opinion that the CyberKnife can act as a complimentary therapy for individuals who may otherwise be unable to access standard treatment procedures whether they are external beam treatments, brachytherapy or something else.
The most well-known story related to CyberKnife in Australia is perhaps of Leah Chapman, a wife and mother of two, who lost her life to cancer in 2006.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, Ms Chapman chose to travel to the USA to receive treatment as the chemotherapy she was receiving at home did not seem to be very effective. After her treatment in 2005 she returned home a happier and healthier person, but passed away suddenly five months later.
Despite her recovery from the cancer, the extensive damaged incurred to her liver from chemotherapy complications claimed her life.
Personal expenses incurred for her treatment cost the family around $150,000.
New Hope For Cancer Patients Living In Australia
Ms Chapman’s husband, Ashley Mackinnon has been campaigning since to bring CyberKnife technology to Australia. In August of 2012 she got confirmation from the West Australian Government that the West Australian cancer centre would introduce Australia’s first CyberKnife facility in 2013/14.
Using the latest model of the machine, CyberKnife is expected to treat up to 450 cancer patients every year in Australia. For West Australians the service will be available at no out of pocket expense, but doctors warn that the treatment may not be suitable for all patients.
References:
1. Cyberknife: http://www.7perth.com.au/view/today-tonight-articles-archives/cyberknife/
2. Family struggles with medical debt: www.northernstar.com.au/news/family-struggles-with-medical-debt-in-sickness-and/473185/
3. Chapman Mackinnon Cyberknife Charity: http://www.planbig.com.au/the-leah-chapman-cyberknife-cancer-centre
4. WA gets cyberknife to aid cancer fight: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-25/wa-gets-cyberknife-to-aid-cancer-fight/448350