To enhance care options for patients going through cancer treatment, ThedaCare has installed the new CyberKnife® S7™ System. The CyberKnife® S7™ System is a fully robotic device that delivers radiation throughout the body to treat various cancers and may be an alternative to surgery for patients who have inoperable or surgically complex tumors.
“The ThedaCare Cancer Care Program consists of coordinated care teams that are highly experienced in all areas of treatment,” said Donna Boehm, Director of ThedaCare Cancer Care. “We continue to complement their expertise with state-of-the-art equipment, like the CyberKnife System, to offer the best care possible for patients in Northeast and Central Wisconsin.”
The new CyberKnife System replaces a previous version that was used at the Regional Cancer Center. The updated system offers a highly precise, non-surgical, non-invasive treatment for tumors and lesions, including various types of brain, spine, lung, adrenal, prostate and liver tumors. It is also used to treat non-cancerous brain tumors and functional disease: trigeminal neuralgia.
Treatment is administered during an outpatient procedure in typically one to five sessions. The system specializes in delivering stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), treatment processes that require an extremely high degree of precision and accuracy. The goal of radiation treatment is to destroy cancer cells while minimizing the side effects on healthy tissue.
“Our teams are committed to cancer care, with the patient at the center of all care,” said Boehm. “To demonstrate that commitment, we strive to offer treatment options that are not available through other programs. In fact, we are just one of three health systems in the state of Wisconsin offering the CyberKnife System to our patients.”
Among the considerations that a physician will factor into a treatment recommendation is the patient’s cancer type and stage, particular cancer aggressiveness, health, age, lifestyle and goals for recovery.
“The robot moves and bends around the patient, significantly expanding the possible positions to target radiation to the tumor while minimizing risk of damage to surrounding healthy tissue,” said Shaneli Fernando, MD, a Radiation/Oncologist at the Regional Cancer Center. “We can adapt treatment delivery in real time, allowing patients to breathe normally and remain comfortable during treatments.”
ThedaCare delivers highly skilled, compassionate cancer care with state-of-the-art technology at the Regional Cancer Center in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, New London, Oshkosh, Shawano and Waupaca.
