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Welcome to the CyberKnife Center at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
The experts at the MedStar Health Cancer Network are successfully treating tumors using CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery, one of the most advanced technologies available to eliminate malignant and benign tumors anywhere in the body. Located in Baltimore, MD, our specialists are among the most experienced CyberKnife experts in the world offering health, hope, and improved quality of life to many people.Why Choose Us for CyberKnife Treatment?
MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center is a leader at treating cancerous and non-cancerous tumors with CyberKnife®. Our high patient volumes make our specialists among the most experienced CyberKnife experts in the world. MedStar Franklin Square’s CyberKnife Program offers health, hope, and improved quality of life to many people.
Unlike other radiosurgery systems, our CyberKnife is equipped with a robotic arm that allows the best access to difficult-to-reach tumors. This is combined with state-of-the-art image-guidance technology that tracks and corrects for even the slightest movement, such as a patient’s breathing, during treatment. This reduces radiation spillover to other areas.
Successful CyberKnife treatment also depends on a team of trained specialists with extensive experience in using the technology to heal patients. MedStar Franklin Square offers the world's leading CyberKnife technology as well as the experts to help you get well in a warm, welcoming environment.
For more information about CyberKnife and the referral process, please contact our CyberKnife coordinator, Yvette Dudok, at 877-CYBER01 (877-292-3701).
Program Highlights
- One of the first CyberKnife programs offered in the U.S. and the only center in the region to offer this treatment to prostate cancer patients.
- A team approach that involves surgical, medical and radiation oncology experts, urologists and a physicist specializing in CyberKnife
- Dedicated support staff and care coordinators who help you navigate your journey to recovery
- Renowned cancer specialists pioneering new and innovative ways to treat tumors with CyberKnife
- Access to groundbreaking clinical trials that aren’t available anywhere else
- Fast-track program for a second opinion within 48 hours (video visits now available)
- National endorsement of accreditation with commendation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC)
As part of MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute, we bring unmatched medical expertise, the latest therapies, and research to the region- providing the best possible care to home and the ones you love.
Types of cancer and services
Types of cancer
Services
Visiting Us
Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday:
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Ample free onsite parking is available. MDOT MTA Bus 56 stops directly in front of our address.
Frequently asked questions
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How does CyberKnife work?
The non-surgical CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System destroys tumors using highly precise, targeted radiation, with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Unlike conventional prostate radiation therapy which can take up to 40 sessions, CyberKnife, also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), is complete after only five treatments.
CyberKnife uses a combination of robotics, image guidance systems, and computers to deliver highly concentrated doses of radiation to the prostate while protecting surrounding healthy tissue. CyberKnife is the only stereotactic robotic radiosurgery system on the market that adjusts for patient or tumor movement during treatment (intrafraction motion), making it especially suitable for the prostate and convenient for you.
- CyberKnife treatment begins with the implantation in the prostate of four tiny gold fiducials that act as markers or targets for the system’s missile-like rays.
- Afterward, a team of experienced physicians uses MRIs, CT scans, and three-dimensional technology to pinpoint the location of your cancer and adjacent critical structures to create a treatment plan.
- A week or two later, you will return for five days of therapy over one to two weeks, with each treatment lasting about 30 minutes.
- You are usually able to resume your normal activities almost immediately.
- Follow-up consists of regularly scheduled PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests and monitoring.
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Is CyberKnife surgery?
No. Despite its name, CyberKnife radiosurgery is not a surgical procedure. It is a non-invasive approach to delivering radiation therapy that does not require incisions, anesthesia, or hospitalization.
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Am I a candidate for CyberKnife treatment?
Most people are candidates for CyberKnife, but it is an especially good option if you:
- Have an early-stage, localized tumor confined to the prostate
- Have a lesion or tumor that is untreatable by surgery or other radiation modalities
- Have previously undergone radiation treatments
- Are elderly or otherwise in compromised health
- Have inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis
- Are on blood thinners
Your prostate cancer team will evaluate your specific cancer and overall health before recommending the treatment option that will work best for you. If CyberKnife is not right for you, you’ll benefit from access to a full range of other radiation therapies and cancer treatments available at MedStar Georgetown, including innovative clinical trials.
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How long does a CyberKnife treatment session last?
When treating prostate cancer, each treatment lasts about an hour. Patients are usually able to resume their normal activities almost immediately after each session. Follow-up care consists of regularly scheduled PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests and monitoring.
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Does CyberKnife treatment result in positive outcomes?
Recent research has proven that higher doses of radiation decrease the chance of prostate cancer recurring. CyberKnife’s laser-like accuracy can deliver those highly concentrated doses while avoiding nearby healthy tissue, including such critical structures as the bladder and rectum leading to fewer side effects.
Other studies—including national, multi-institutional protocols, many conducted at MedStar Health—indicate that CyberKnife is as effective as other radiation therapies for treating low-and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. Another study shows that CyberKnife produces quality-of-life outcomes equivalent to or better than IMRT or seed therapy. As an added benefit, CyberKnife treatment is completed within only five visits.
Videos
Insurance
MedStar Health participates with most major health insurance plans. Please contact your insurance company to make sure your plan is covered.
Accreditations
As part of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute network, our center continuously meets the rigorous standards that are required to earn recognition from some of the nation’s most highly regarded accrediting bodies. This includes:
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American College of Radiology (ACR)
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Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
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Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
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Accredited by the American Society of Radiation Oncology