CyberKnife Prostate Cancer Treatment: Planning
Prostate Cancer: My Diagnosis & Treatment Journey (Episode Six)
A Chernobyl Connection
In April 1986, I was in Chicago when the Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded. News anchors speculated—almost excitedly—about whether radioactive particles would reach us, despite Chicago being nearly 5,000 miles away. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention.
Years later, The Economist published an in-depth report on the disaster, and I was riveted. My fascination grew with HBO’s award-winning Chernobyl miniseries, a gripping retelling of the catastrophe.
Now, as I faced the reality of prostate cancer radiation therapy, I found myself drawn back to Chernobyl. I rewatched the series and started reading Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster. In a strange, almost paradoxical way, understanding radiation’s destructive power—and the fact that some people survived even lethal doses—gave me courage. If people endured Chernobyl’s horrors, I could handle what lay ahead.
Planning for Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment
I had already decided that having my prostate removed was never going to happen. So, I knew I needed to plan for radiation treatment.
My Urologist’s Recommendation
My urologist explained that my entire prostate needed treatment, with additional “focal” radiation targeting the tumor with an extra dosing. This approach made sense, so I moved forward with his recommendation.
He referred me to a cancer center specializing in CyberKnife, a form of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The idea of just five treatments and being done sounded almost too good to be true.
CyberKnife delivers high doses of radiation with pinpoint precision, like a laser-guided missile, destroying cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. That level of accuracy was exactly what I wanted.
A Pathologist’s Advice
A Ph.D. pathologist friend who had researched prostate cancer reassured me:
“It’s normal for people to want to rush into treatment after a cancer diagnosis.”
I thought, Right, I want this gone—out of my body—the sooner, the better!
Potential Risks of Radiation Therapy
No radiation treatment comes without risks. The prostate is surrounded by sensitive structures that control bladder, bowel, and sexual function.
Potential Side Effects Include:
✅ Urinary issues (increased frequency, urgency, or incontinence)
✅ Bowel changes (diarrhea, rectal bleeding, or discomfort)
✅ Erectile dysfunction (due to nerve or blood vessel damage)
✅ Fatigue (a common radiation side effect)
✅ Risk of secondary cancers (from radiation exposure beyond the prostate)
CyberKnife is considered a highly effective treatment for prostate cancer, and with its pinpoint accuracy, the risk to surrounding tissues is lower compared to other radiation therapies. That was a huge positive in my mind.
Preparing for CyberKnife Radiation
One thing you quickly learn when facing a serious illness is that treatment doesn’t start right away—there are a lot of tests and prep work involved. Since I was still on the CyberKnife track, a radiation treatment plan had to be developed to determine the exact dosage and targeting locations.
Pre-Treatment Preparation:
1️⃣ Fiducial Marker Placement – Another visit to my urologist’s office. A quick Valium injection, onto the table, and within minutes, I was done. Compared to the biopsy, this was nothing. I was starting to feel like a “pro” at this.
2️⃣ Imaging & Planning – MRI, CT scan, and consultation to finalize my radiation plan.
During my consultation, a new concern surfaced—there was limited long-term data on CyberKnife for high-grade prostate cancer. That introduced more uncertainty. I needed to do more research, as perhaps this wasn’t as great an option as I had believed.
Why CyberKnife Is an Impressive Option
CyberKnife is an incredible advancement in cancer treatment. Compared to traditional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), which requires 28+ sessions, CyberKnife only takes five treatments (although each session is longer—around 45 minutes instead of 15 minutes).
CyberKnife’s Precision Technology Includes:
✅ Beam adjustment down to the thickness of a credit card
✅ Real-time tracking to adapt to tumor movement
✅ Radiation from over 1,000 angles, reducing exposure to healthy tissues
✅ Dynamic adjustments in size and trajectory to match the tumor’s contours
However, in my case, this precision wasn’t necessarily as important as I first thought. Since I was treating my entire prostate, rather than just the tumor, pinpoint accuracy wasn’t the main priority. Beyond eradicating the main tumor, my concern had shifted to ensuring that no rogue cancer cells had already started spreading.
My Next Steps
Ideally, treatment would be so effective that I’d never have to think about it again. But I needed to be certain I was making the best choice.
Now, I wasn’t so sure CyberKnife was the right choice for me. Meanwhile, I started searching for a medical oncologist to help guide my next steps.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Prostate Cancer Treatment
If you’re facing prostate cancer radiation, take the time to:
💡 Understand your options – All treatments have pros and cons.
💡 Weigh the risks – Precision vs. long-term data vs. side effects.
💡 Get multiple opinions – Consult urologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and even radiation technicians.
Have You Been Through Radiation Therapy?
If you or a loved one has undergone prostate cancer treatment, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below. What worked for you?
Your insights might help someone else on their journey. 💙
