News & Events

Oklahoma CyberKnife Treats Increased Number of Prostate Cancer Patients

A greater number of men in Oklahoma are now able to receive cancer care from Oklahoma CyberKnife due to expanded Medicare coverage for prostate cancer patients.

Oklahoma CyberKnife began offering CyberKnife® treatment to prostate cancer patients with commercial insurance when it opened in 2008 as a service of Hillcrest Medical Center. Last year, the center expanded access to CyberKnife treatment following a policy change by the regional Medicare contractor. The policy update extended coverage of CyberKnife treatment to Medicare patients with prostate cancer, provided they’re enrolled in a clinical registry.

In addition to treating an increased number of patients since the Medicare policy change, Oklahoma CyberKnife, with the advantage of only five treatments, has drawn approximately 50 percent of its patients from greater than twenty miles away, including patients from Kansas and Missouri. In only the first four months of 2013, Oklahoma CyberKnife has treated nearly the total number of prostate cancer patients treated last year.

“The need for Medicare patients to have fair access to available treatment options like CyberKnife is particularly important because patients may require an alternative to surgery or other types of radiation therapy with lengthy treatment courses,” said Dr. Diane Heaton, medical director of Oklahoma CyberKnife. “CyberKnife offers a nonsurgical option that has minimal side effects.”

Oklahoma CyberKnife treats prostate cancer patients with a procedure called robotic stereotactic body radiation therapy. The robotic CyberKnife technology delivers precise, high-dose radiation to tumors in five or fewer sessions.

CyberKnife has an added benefit when treating prostate cancer. Unlike conventional radiation therapy systems, CyberKnife tracks the tumor in real time and adjusts for natural patient movement, like breathing or bladder filling, during treatment. This means radiation is delivered directly to the tumor and exposure to healthy surrounding tissue is minimized.

“Results from clinical trials show stereotactic body radiation therapy delivered by CyberKnife is an effective method for treating prostate cancer,” said Dr. Heaton. “The convenience and ease of treatment is also an attractive element for men seeking treatment.”

A study presented at the recent Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology showed men with organ-confined prostate cancer can be treated successfully with stereotactic body radiation therapy. The multi-center study evaluated low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk patients for up to four years following treatment. At the five-year mark, the relapse-free survival rate was 95 percent for low-risk patients, 90 percent for intermediate-risk patients and 80 percent for high-risk patients.

In addition to prostate cancer, Oklahoma CyberKnife treats malignant and benign tumors in the brain, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidney and orbit of the eye. Stereotactic body radiation therapy with CyberKnife may not be an appropriate treatment for all prostate cancer patients. Men are encouraged to consult with their doctor to determine the best treatment for their individual diagnosis.

Oklahoma CyberKnife is a service of Hillcrest Medical Center and is located off the hospital’s main campus at 6802 South Olympia Ave. in Tulsa. For more information, call (918) 949-6676.

Research Notes: High-dose Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Effective, Quick for Localized Prostate Cancer

In a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Radiation Oncology, researchers found that men with organ-confined prostate cancer can be treated successfully with stereotactic body radiation therapy. The five-year, multi-center study evaluated low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk patients for up to four years following treatment. At the five-year mark, the relapse-free survival rate was 95 percent for low-risk patients, 90 percent for intermediate-risk patients and 80 percent for high-risk patients

Men with organ-confined prostate cancer can be treated with focused stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as outpatients in as little as five days, saving them time and money.

Centers who participated include CyberKnife Center of Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston; CyberKnife Centers of San Diego; San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy; Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA; Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, and UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles.

To read more about the study, click here. In 2012, Oklahoma CyberKnife began offering treatment to prostate cancer patients on Medicare when regional contractor TrailBlazer Health Enterprises expanded prostate cancer coverage to include CyberKnife^® treatment, provided patients are enrolled in a clinical study. Oklahoma CyberKnife joined a national multi-institutional registry for prostate cancer, allowing Medicare patients who join the registry to receive CyberKnife treatment. The center and other participating institutions will analyze collected data to improve prostate cancer treatment protocols.

Additional prostate cancer news from around the web:

• A recent study published by the Cancer Institute of New Jersey found that the definition of low-risk prostate cancer should not be the same for African American and Caucasian men. Read more.
• The Wall Street Journal reports the results of a survey showing that the majority of people who receive cancer diagnoses choose to continue working after diagnosis and during treatment. Read more.
• The New York Times reports that a new prostate cancer test could help supplement PSA testing to reduce false alarms and help determine more definitive diagnoses. Read more.

Prostate Cancer by the Numbers: American Cancer Society Facts and Figures

Have you seen the latest prostate cancer facts and figures released by the American Cancer Society? We’ve included some noteworthy stats below.

To learn more, visit the prostate cancer section of the American Cancer Society website.

This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important health issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife^® treatment.

Prostate Cancer Series: What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a disease specific to men and develops in the prostate – a walnut-shaped organ in a man’s lower abdomen that controls the flow of urine and semen through the reproductive system.

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer is typically a slow-growing tumor, often causing no symptoms until it reaches a more advanced stage. Once the disease begins to grow more rapidly or spreads outside the prostate, it can become a much larger health issue. This aggressive type of prostate cancer can occur at any age, though more commonly in men over 50.

Prostate cancer is suspected if men have an elevated level of a substance in the bloodstream known as prostate specific antigen or PSA. To diagnose prostate cancer, an outpatient biopsy procedure is performed. If cancer is found, biopsy findings are used to determine the patient’s risk level, such as low-risk, intermediate-risk or high-risk. The risk level assigned to a patient typically guides a doctor’s recommendations on what type of treatment, if any, should be pursued.

If facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, it is important to consider all treatment options and have a conversation with your doctor to determine the best care plan for your individual needs. Learn more about prostate cancer and how CyberKnife^® treats the disease by viewing our Prostate Cancer: CyberKnife Treatment Overview below or visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation for an Introduction to Prostate Cancer Guide.

In our next post, we will highlight important prostate cancer data from the American Cancer Society’s 2013 statistics.

This post is part of a series dedicated to addressing one of the most important health issues facing men today. Check our blog for additional information about prostate cancer and the unique benefits of CyberKnife^® treatment.

Oklahoma CyberKnife Treats 1,000th Patient

Oklahoma CyberKnife announces treatment of its 1000th patient this week as the center continues to treat patients throughout the Midwest using advanced cancer treatment technology.

Since opening in 2008 as a service of Hillcrest Medical Center, Oklahoma CyberKnife has drawn patients from across the state and region including Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. Approximately 35 percent of patients treated at Oklahoma CyberKnife have traveled from communities outside of the hospital’s primary service area.

“Reaching this milestone in patient care is a proud moment for our center,” said Dr. Diane Heaton, medical director of Oklahoma CyberKnife. “It is a testament to the experience and expertise our team can offer to anyone in our area seeking an effective nonsurgical cancer treatment option.”

Oklahoma CyberKnife treats patients using CyberKnife®, a robotic technology that provides stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy. During these procedures, precisely targeted, high-dose radiation beams are delivered to tumors throughout the body without sedation or incision while radiation exposure to healthy tissue around a tumor is minimized. CyberKnife treatment is painless and is completed in five or fewer procedures.

Lung tumors and brain tumors represent the majority of cases treated at Oklahoma CyberKnife, encompassing more than 65 percent of treatments. The center also treats a large volume of patients with trigeminal neuralgia, a debilitating nerve disorder.

In 2012, Oklahoma CyberKnife began offering treatment to prostate cancer patients on Medicare when regional contractor TrailBlazer Health Enterprises expanded prostate cancer coverage to include CyberKnife treatment, provided patients are enrolled in a clinical study. Oklahoma CyberKnife joined a national multi-institutional registry for prostate cancer, allowing Medicare patients who join the registry to receive CyberKnife treatment. The center and other participating institutions will analyze collected data to improve prostate cancer treatment protocols.

“This was an important step to ensure prostate cancer patients in Oklahoma have access to advanced treatment options like CyberKnife,” Dr. Heaton said. “Patients have the benefit of returning to their normal routines following treatment and experience few to no side effects.”

Spotlight On: Lung Cancer Treatment

The American Cancer Society estimates lung cancer will be detected in nearly 220,000 people this year. The disease, ranked as the most common cancer diagnosis worldwide, kills more people annually than breast, colon and pancreatic cancers combined.

While surgery or external-beam radiation therapy is considered a standard treatment for lung cancer, patients who are in poor general health or suffer from chronic pulmonary disease, like emphysema, may need to consider other options.

Our center offers a noninvasive form of treatment for lung cancer called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). This advanced procedure is provided using CyberKnife^® technology. While the name may conjure images of knives and scalpels, CyberKnife treatment involves no incisions, no sedation and no overnight hospital stay. Lung tumors are treated with very precise, high-dose radiation beams while radiation exposure to healthy tissue surrounding a tumor is minimized.

Learn more about CyberKnife treatment here or request more information.

Spotlight On: The CyberKnife Treatment Process

In the fight against cancer, CyberKnife® provides an important alternative for patients seeking a nonsurgical option with shorter treatment times, fewer side effects and a more rapid recovery.

Our center uses a team approach to patient care in which physicians and other team members collaborate to develop a customized CyberKnife treatment plan to best suit each patient’s needs.

The infographic below provides an overview of the CyberKnife treatment process:

*The procedures required as part of your individualized treatment plan, and the order in which they will occur, will be explained during your consultation visit.

We encourage our patients to offer input and ask questions throughout the treatment process to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience.

Learn more about the key advantages of CyberKnife treatment or request more information.

Spotlight on: Brain Tumors

According to the American Cancer Society, brain tumors account for one in every 100 cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. CyberKnife^® stereotactic radiosurgery is an advanced treatment option for brain tumors, providing an important nonsurgical alternative for patients. Below is a brief overview of brain tumors, incidence rates and treatment options.

Oklahoma CyberKnife to Offer Cancer Treatment Education at local Movember Event

In honor of the global “Movember” movement, Oklahoma CyberKnife will join local businesses Elephant In The Room Lounge and the Style Lab on Thursday, Dec. 6 for an event to celebrate Tulsa-area men who have grown beards and mustaches to raise awareness for cancers affecting men on Thursday, Dec. 6.
 
Attendees can enjoy shaves offered by Lounge staff, music, a denim trunk show and men’s health tips and cancer treatment education from Oklahoma CyberKnife. There will also be an opportunity to win prizes.
 
For more information on the event, click here.

Lung Cancer Awareness Important for Prevention, Early Detection

As the second-most common cancer in both men and women, lung cancer is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates more than 160,000 people will lose their battle with lung cancer this year, accounting for more victims than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined.

In recognition of National Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, Oklahoma CyberKnife encourages local residents to take preventive steps to protect themselves and their loved ones from common and lesser-known causes of lung cancer. MORE →