The Ottawa Hospital's cancer program evolves to address patients' needs

from www.emcottawasouth.ca:

>>One technological marvel Mr. Doiron credits as for this change is the centre's recently acquired CyberKnife. The CyberKnife is described as the world's first and only robotic radio surgery system. Its advanced image-guided software and the manoeuvrability of its three-metre robotic arm allows the CyberKnife to deliver hundreds of beams of high dose radiation directly to a tumour with "surgical precision" from all angles. It is a pain-free, non-invasive treatment for tumours anywhere in the body, proving especially effective in treating brain, lung, prostate, spinal, liver, pancreatic and kidney cancers. Traditional treatments provide high doses of radiation to an area much larger than the actual tumour, which can result in damage to healthy tissue and cause a broad range of side effects depending on the tumour location. The CyberKnife delivers ultra-high doses of radiation with pinpoint accuracy, and even adjusts to the patient's breathing. The end result spares healthy tissue and reduces side effects.

"We are the third centre in all of Canada to apply this technology," Mr. Doiron said. "Patients can now leave without a cut, scratch or even a bruise, and leave in no time at all, where in the past, treatment for a similar form of cancer would have resulted in the patient staying in the hospital for a week."