Today we’ve gathered information from around the Web on CyberKnife treatments for prostate cancer.   If you aren’t familiar with CyberKnife, here is some general information:

CyberKnife is used for the highly-targeted delivery of radiation impulses directly to the site of tumors within the body.  The pulses, as many as 200 per treatment, are delivered from many angles through the use of a robotic arm similar to those associated with assembly lines in the automotive industry.  The treatments last for 1-2 hours per day for approximately five days.

In comparison to traditional radiation therapy for prostate cancer, or other cancers, which lasts approximately eight weeks,  CyberKnife treatment offers a much more convenient option, and reduces lodging costs for those who must travel long distances to obtain the therapy.  The side effects of CyberKnife therapy are reported by some to be much milder than traditional radiation treatments.  Some patients report fatigue, urgency in urination, and irritation of the urethra after CyberKnife treatments.

Check with your insurance company if you are considering CyberKnife treatments to assure coverage.  In addition, Medicare patients should inquire about coverage, as CyberKnife therapy is not covered in some regions–and restrictions may apply even in regions where it is covered.

If you or a loved one is battling prostate cancer, be sure to check out our other Urosciences posts on sex after radical prostatectomy and urine leakage during sex, also known as climacturia.