CyberKnife

TECHNOLOGY IS A MIRACLE FROM GOD!

The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is a non invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body. In my brother, Mike's case, the brain.

CyberKnife uses image guided software to track and continually adjust treatment for any patient or tumor movement. Mike still had to wear a face mask that was to hold his head more still but in the past you had to have halos screwed into your skull to prevent movement. This technology is unmatched by any other radiosurgery, or radiation therapy. The CyberKnife can essentially, "paint" the tumor with radiation, allowing it to precisely deliver treatment to the tumor alone, sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

Mike had his first experience with the CyberKnife on the 4th of May, in Great Falls. He had to go up, the week before to see if he was a candidate. Luckily, he was. Three of the tumors had come back and grown 300% in 3 weeks. When he got up there on treatment day they found a fourth. Mike sent us this note via e-mail yesterday.

The following picture is Mike's mask they made for him. He said they heat this piece of plastic and shove it down over his face. He said that this time (Great Falls) they, thoughtfully, cut out eye holes for him. They didn't do that for him on the Billings Mt., radiation treatment.

Looks CREEPY to me. They do this to hold his head still during treatment. They actually screw it to the table. YIKES! Can you say, "Claustrophobic"?