FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kathleen Ahern
Jupiter Medical Center
561-263-2896 /
kathleen.ahern@jupitermed.com
JUPITER, FLA. (June 25, 2015) – The Ella Milbank Foshay Cancer Center
at Jupiter Medical Center is now treating cancer patients with the new
CyberKnife® M6™ System, making it the first and only center
in Florida to offer this revolutionary technology. The CyberKnife M6 System
allows Jupiter Medical Center physicians to offer patients an alternative
to conventional surgery and weeks of radiation to remove both cancerous
and non-cancerous tumors from the body. Stereotactic radiosurgery destroys
tumors with extremely precise, very intense doses of radiation while minimizing
damage to healthy tissue, offering accuracy akin to the sharpness of a
surgeon’s scalpel. However, there’s no incision, anesthesia
or hospital stay required, and tumors can be eliminated in as little as
one to five treatments.
“We take pride in offering the most advanced treatment options available,”
said John Couris, President and CEO of Jupiter Medical Center. “With
this new technology, we are establishing the Foshay Cancer Center as a
leader in oncology not just locally, but nationally.”
“I’ve been treating patients with various types of stereotactic
radiosurgery for more than 15 years and have used other models of the
CyberKnife system on my patients,” said Anthony Addesa, MD, Medical
Director of Radiation Oncology at the Foshay Cancer Center. “This
new M6 System can treat tumors anywhere in the body, from the lungs to
the brain to the prostate, and is the best radiation oncology solution
for targeting, tracking and adjusting in real-time to moving targets with
extreme precision and accuracy.”
There are significant benefits of CyberKnife treatments including:
- No need for anesthesia
- No hospital stay required
- No recovery time needed
- The M6 model speeds treatment, cutting treatment session time by half or more
- The M6 offers unparalleled accuracy so healthy tissue and organs are spared
The truly remarkable thing about the CyberKnife is the way it reduces stress
for the patient. It is not a traditional surgery; therefore, there is
no pain. Even during their week of treatment, the majority of patients
go about their regular routines. This alternative approach is particularly
important for patients who have complex or inoperable tumors. Working
with the system allows doctors to customize the treatment to each patient,
and provides an option for those who have been discouraged from pursuing
more conventional radiation and surgery.
The challenge in treating cancer is that tumors move as the patient moves,
even with each breath. A unique and important feature of the CyberKnife
System is its tracking technology that enables continuous coordination
with a patient’s tumor movement during treatment. Because of the
CyberKnife System’s sub-millimeter accuracy and ability to adjust
in real-time, a patient can be confident their tumor is being treated
while the surrounding healthy tissue and organs are spared. Another distinguishing
feature of CyberKnife is its robotic arm, modeled after technology used
in car manufacturing. Instead of welding parts on an automobile assembly
line, this arm travels around the patient to deliver hundreds of beams
of radiation to a tumor from many different angles, with absolute precision.
The high level of accuracy means that patients will only undergo one to
five treatments, a significant reduction when compared to other radiation
treatments.
“Having experience with many types of radiosurgery systems, I’m
extremely excited at the speed of treatment and the convenience this new
M6 technology allows me to offer patients,” said Dr. Addesa. “With
the M6, the duration of each individual treatment session is also dramatically
shortened—typically lasting twenty minutes to an hour per treatment.”
About Jupiter Medical Center
A not-for-profit 327-bed regional medical center consisting of 207 private
acute-care hospital beds and 120 long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation
and Hospice beds, Jupiter Medical Center is reimagining how to restore
the community’s health and wellness. Award-winning physicians, world-class
partnerships and innovative techniques and technology enable Jupiter Medical
Center to provide a broad range of services with specialty concentrations
in cardiology, oncology, imaging, orthopedics & spine, digestive health,
emergency services, lung & thoracic, women’s health, weight
management and men’s health.
Founded in 1979, Jupiter Medical Center has approximately 1,500 team members,
575 physicians and 640 volunteers. Jupiter Medical Center continues to
perform in the top 10 percent of hospitals for patient quality and satisfaction.
For more information on Jupiter Medical Center, please call (561) 263-2234 or visit
Jupitermed.com.