Cyberknife Center of Miami - The Beam Of Life

11/06/2025

The warnings that colore**al cancer is rising in younger patients is blaring.
Early-onset colore**al cancer “is becoming the leading cause of cancer deaths among young adults in the United States,” according to Dr. Yin Cao, associate professor of Medicine and Surgery at the Washington University Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis in an article from the National Cancer Institute.

In fact, Dr. Cao is spearheading a first-of-its-kind research program called PROSPECT to examine what’s causing the early onset of colore**al cancer.

Nearly 10% of newly diagnosed colore**al cancer patients around the world are under the age of 50, according to one study from 2021. And in an article in the Lancet, researchers report that in younger patients, colore**al cancer has increased in 27 out of 50 countries and territories.

“The findings underscore the need for intensified efforts to identify factors driving these trends and increase awareness to help facilitate early detection,” the authors of the study state.

One cause could be a gut bacterial toxin called colibactin, according to a study published in the journal, Nature, earlier this year where researchers examined 981 colore**al cancer genomes from patients in 11 countries with early-and-late-onset colore**al cancer and varying colore**al cancer risk levels.

Colibactin, according to the research, leaves specific patterns of DNA mutations, which are 3.3 times more common in early-onset cases, especially in those diagnosed under the age of 40 compared to those older than 70 who are diagnosed with the disease.

Colon Cancer Screening

According to the National Cancer Institute, 18,000 Americans under 50 were diagnosed with colore**al cancer in 2020.

While experts don’t know why colore**al cancer rates continue rising among younger Americans, they know it’s especially true for Alaska Natives, American Indians and Caucasians. African Americans are also still at a higher risk of developing colore**al cancer at a young age.

That’s why screening is recommended starting at age 45, according to the American Cancer Society. And screenings should start sooner if there’s a family history or if you develop irregularities going to the bathroom or bowel problems.

Keep in mind, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you might have to start screening before the age of 45 if:

You’ve had colore**al cancer before.
A close relative had colon cancer.
You have an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.
You have genetic conditions that increase your risk such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colore**al cancer (Lynch syndrome).
Colon Cancer Treatment Options

If screening leads to a diagnosis, you have treatment options including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation – or a combination of different treatments.

The American Cancer Society says radiation tends to be used more for re**al cancer than colon cancer. But it can be effective with certain types of colon cancers.

Radiation along with chemotherapy can shrink a tumor before surgery.
It can kill any lingering cancer cells after surgery or during surgery.
Radiation may be used along with chemotherapy in patients who aren’t surgical candidates.
It can relieve symptoms of advanced cancer, like blockages.
It can treat metastasized cancer.

Cancer Treatment Center Miami

CyberKnife Miami opened more than 25 years ago and was the first CyberKnife center to open in the Southeast. Since that time, we have successfully treated hundreds of patients with all types of cancer, including metastatic colon cancer.

If you are interested in learning more about CyberKnife for cancer, call us at 305-279-2900.
Cyberknife Center of Miami - The Beam Of Life

Learn why colon cancer cases are increasing among younger people and the importance of early detection to save lives

11/04/2025

The American Cancer Society reports 80 percent of cancer patients will require some sort of surgery during their cancer journey. That may seem like a lot, but keep in mind, those procedures fall into many different buckets, which is the reason for the high percentage.

The surgeries could be preventative, reconstructive, related to staging the disease, minimally invasive or curative.

The National Institutes of Health reports about 50 percent of all cancer patients receive some sort of radiation during their treatment – whether that’s to target the cancer or to control pain.

And globally, more than 57 percent of cancer treatments include chemotherapy.

These statistics show that most of the time, cancer treatment is multifaceted, and there is no simple one-step solution for treatment. They also show that there are different approaches to treatment involving different medical interventions.

The experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami — a state-of-the-art non-surgical cancer treatment center in South Florida – want you to understand your options, and we want you to know there are surgery-free options for cancer treatment as well.

CyberKnife for Surgery-Free Cancer Treatment

One of these options is CyberKnife, a form of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which can be used for brain, lung, prostate, spine, head and neck, liver, kidney and pancreatic cancer.

CyberKnife’s missile guidance technology enables the SBRT to track a tumor’s movement in real time. The technology delivers radiation directly to the tumor, while leaving healthy surrounding tissue unharmed.
This way it can deliver the highest dose of radiation possible.
With CyberKnife, patients often need a much shorter course of treatment than with traditional radiation because of SBRT is targeted radiation.

CyberKnife has been used for more than two decades and studied in hundreds of clinical trials. It has helped hundreds of thousands of patients – even patients who were told they couldn’t have more radiation, or their tumors were inoperable. It’s non-invasive, and for most patients, there is little downtime.

Surgery-Free Candidates for CyberKnife

The best way to determine if surgery-free CyberKnife is right for you is to come in for a consultation. Here is a general guideline to see if we can help.

Brain cancer: CyberKnife can minimize risks of potential long-term side effects because of its accuracy. Patients who have been treated with whole-brain radiotherapy can be treated again with CyberKnife.

Lung Cancer: Patients benefit because the CyberKnife system moves with you, keeping the radiation targeted on the tumor while you breath.
“The system provides a proven, non-surgical option for treating early stage, inoperable non-small cell lung cancer, tumors in challenging anatomical locations such as central lung tumors surrounded by sensitive structures and lung tumors near the chest wall, and inoperable peripheral lung tumors,” Accuray, the maker of CyberKnife, says.

Liver Cancer: CyberKnife may help patients whose tumor cannot be completely removed with surgery or those who cannot undergo surgery. Plus, it can be used as patients wait for a transplant.

Pancreatic Cancer: CyberKnife is a good option for patients with locally advanced cancer or those that may be inoperable. It can also be used in tandem with other treatments like surgery and chemotherapy.

Prostate Cancer: CyberKnife offers a 98% success rate for prostate cancer with fewer side effects than traditional treatments.

Spinal Cancer: CyberKnife’s precision matters when it comes to treating tumors close to the spine.
CyberKnife Treatment: Miami, FL

The experts at Cyberknife Miami see the surgery-free CyberKnife advantage every day.

We opened our doors 20 plus years ago. We were the first CyberKnife center to open in the Southeast. And we’re here to help you.

Our doctors and staff are experts in the field of CyberKnife and cancer treatment. Our compassion and personalized treatment can be the difference you need when it comes to treating your cancer.

If you would like to find out more about treatment with CyberKnife call us at 305-279-2900.
Cyberknife Center of Miami - The Beam Of Life

Any time you can avoid surgery and all it's risks, including infection, recovery and downtime, you should give it great consideration

11/04/2025

CyberKnife Ushered in a New Era of Surgery-Free Cancer Treatment

11/02/2025

While stage 4 liver cancer is not curable, it is not always immediately fatal, and life expectancy can vary significantly. The outlook depends on many factors, and statistics do not reflect individual prognoses.

Average Survival Time
With treatment: The median survival time for stage 4 liver cancer with treatment is approximately nine months, though some studies suggest a range of 4 to 11 months.

But patients can live even longer with stage 4 liver cancer, with the right treatment, including CyberKnife radiation therapy. More on that later in the blog.

Without treatment: The median survival time without active treatment is less than four months.

5-year Survival Rate
For liver cancer that has spread to distant areas of the body, the 5-year survival rate is about 3%. This means that about 3 out of 100 people with stage 4 liver cancer will live for at least five years after diagnosis.

For cancer that has spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is higher, at about 12%.

Factors That Influence Prognosis
Your individual prognosis is determined by a doctor considering many factors, including:

Extent and location of spread: Where the cancer has metastasized affects the outlook.

Overall health: Your general health, including any other medical conditions, is an important factor.

Liver function: The health of your liver tissue not affected by cancer can impact survival.

Response to treatment: How your cancer responds to therapies like targeted therapy and immunotherapy can alter the prognosis.

Age: Younger patients tend to have a better prognosis than older ones.

Advances in treatment: Survival statistics are based on data that is at least several years old. Newer treatments have the potential to improve outcomes.

The Importance of Treatment
For many with stage 4 liver cancer, treatment is focused on managing symptoms and improving quality of life rather than on a cure. Despite the challenging statistics, effective treatments can help extend life beyond the average prognosis.

New Treatment Options
While surgery is typically not an option for metastatic liver cancer, several advanced treatments aim to extend and improve a patient’s quality of life.

Targeted Therapy: Drugs like sorafenib (Nexavar) and lenvatinib (Lenvima) block specific pathways that help cancer cells grow.

Immunotherapy: Drugs like atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and nivolumab (Opdivo) help the body’s own immune system fight the cancer. Recent clinical trials show promise by combining immunotherapy with other therapies.

Interventional Radiology: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE): Delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor and blocks its blood supply.

Radioembolization (Y-90): Injects tiny radioactive beads into the liver’s blood vessels.

Histotripsy: An FDA-approved technology that uses focused ultrasound energy to destroy liver tumors non-invasively.

Targeted Radiation Therapy: CyberKnife offers patients a non-invasive option for both primary and metastatic liver cancer treatment with great success.

It is used to treat lesions in people who are not candidates for surgery, those who choose not to have surgery, or those who have failed chemotherapy treatment.

Treating liver cancer with traditional radiation therapy is not an option due to the sensitivity of liver tissue to radiation. CyberKnife’s tracking technology eliminates that risk.

The system can continuously pinpoint and follow a tumor’s exact location as the patient breathes normally while on the treatment table, enabling 100 to 200 radiation beams to attack only the tumor from all different angles, leaving healthy tissue unharmed.

It kills the tumor cells and over time the tumor disappears. CyberKnife Radiotherapy delivers high doses of radiation in three to five treatments with excellent control rates.

If there is a recurrence, we can often treat it again, even if it is close to the previously treated area.

The CyberKnife treatment is completely pain free. Patients dress comfortably in their own clothes and can bring music to listen to during the treatment. Nothing will be required of the patient during the treatment, except to relax. In fact, patients often sleep through the treatment.

There are generally only minimal side effects from CyberKnife treatments, which may include mild nausea and fatigue.

You will be required to have follow-up scans in four to eight weeks. (CT, MRI, or PET scan) Your doctor will determine when those are necessary. The tumor will take some time before it is not active or undetectable.

Response to treatment varies from patient to patient. However, clinical experience has shown that most patients respond very well to CyberKnife treatments.

If you’ve been diagnosed with liver cancer you owe it to yourself to contact CyberKnife Miami to see if you might be a candidate for CyberKnife. Call (800) 204-0455 today.
Cyberknife Center of Miami - The Beam Of Life

Liver cancer treatment can extend life longer than ever before thanks to breakthroughs in cancer treatment

10/31/2025

10 Year Follow Up Proves CyberKnife Equals Same Results as Surgery for Lung Cancer While Maintaining Quality of Life: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, such as CyberKnife has a similar outcome as surgery for early lung cancer. So why would you put yourself through invasive lung surgery, when you can get your tumor treated non-invasively with targeted radiation therapy?

It’s the difference between undergoing general anesthesia, having an incision in your chest during surgery, the risk of infection, a hospital stay, and a long recovery from surgery, compared to CyberKnife, which is targeted radiation therapy.
There are no incisions, blood, anesthesia, hospital stay or recovery time.
You simply go to a CyberKnife center, lay down on the CyberKnife table in your regular clothes, listen to music, take a nap, while the tumor is being zapped with CyberKnife’s robotic arm.
The technology delivers pinpoint targeted radiation to the tumor site, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue and organs unharmed.
Then you get up off the CyberKnife table, go to lunch, work or whatever else you want to do. Within the next few weeks to a few months, the tumor shrivles up and dies.

The latest research from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center confirms it.

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presented the new data at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2025 Annual Meeting demonstrating that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and surgery achieved similar survival outcomes at 10-year follow-up for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, with radiation offering quality-of-life benefits.

These findings were presented Sept. 29, 2025 by Joe Chang, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Radiation Oncology, and Troy Kleber, M.D., resident.

At a median follow-up of 8.3 years, overall survival rates were 69% for the SBRT cohort and 66% for the surgery cohort, a difference that was not statistically significant. Lung cancer-specific survival and recurrence-free survival rates also were similar. Although the data show a higher acute complication rate caused by surgery, the quality-of-life survey for patients at 10 years was similar. Chang and Kleber shared additional insights below.

What are the key findings presented?

“The most important finding is that SBRT and surgery had similar 10-year outcomes, reinforcing the initial five-year data that we have previously presented from this trial. This is very encouraging because we sometimes see similar outcomes at three years or even five years of follow-up that diverge over time. In this case, our initial findings continue to hold up after 10 years. There also are some notable advantages in quality of life for SBRT patients, including significantly fewer acute treatment-related complications,” Chang said.

What are the advantages of SBRT over surgery for patients?

“SBRT is a specific type of radiation therapy that precisely targets tumors with very high doses of radiation. It is also known as stereotactic ablative body radiation (SABR).
The first major advantage is simply that many patients aren’t eligible for surgery for a variety of potential reasons.
One factor is age, as many older patients are at much greater risk for complications with surgery, so a non-invasive option is immediately an advantage for those patients.
Another advantage is an easier recovery process, so patients who are treated with SBRT generally have less financial strain than those who undergo surgery,” Kleber said.

Does this indicate that SBRT should be the option for all early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients?

“No, but it does emphasize the importance of a multi-disciplinary care team to consider all options for their patients. For example, for patients whose tumors are more complex, larger, or located in certain areas, surgery remains the best treatment option. This study confirms that SBRT is an effective alternative that should be considered,” Chang said.

What methods were used in the study?

This trial compared 80 patients who were treated with SBRT to 80 who underwent surgery. The enrolled patients had tumors smaller than three centimeters, no lymph node involvement and no distant metastases. The surgical group received video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node removal.

At the CyberKnife Center of Miami we have treated hundreds of lung cancer patients successfully. It’s one of the treatments we do most often, and because our CyberKnife team has been using this technology the longest, we have one of the most experienced teams worldwide, and that can make a big difference in your treatment outcome.

Go to our website now to learn more, and call our lung cancer experts for more information at 305-279-2900.
Cyberknife Center of Miami - The Beam Of Life

CyberKnife is as effective for lung cancer as surgery, and most important, patients maintain quality of life

10/29/2025

Outcomes Following CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery for Pituitary Adenomas: A Large Single Center Study ~ Abstract: The role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in pituitary adenomas (PAs) is evolving especially considering its safety. Existing literature is hampered by limited sample sizes and short-term follow-ups, impeding its pre-eminence in the clinical and radiological outcomes. We propose a comprehensive, single-centred study to evaluate the outcomes following CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery (CK SRS) for PAs in a larger patient population, incorporating meticulous clinical and radiological follow-up.

Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort study of 278 cases of PAs that underwent CK SRS from 2013 to 2021. Based on their endocrinology profile, they were classified as functional adenomas (FA) and non-functional adenomas (NFA).
We assessed pre and post-CK SRS clinical, visual, hormonal and radiological parameters and the associated toxicity. Where applicable, data were compared using the Independent t-test, chi-square test, Fisher Exact and Mann-Whitney U test. A p-value

CyberKnife's treatment accuracy is unrivaled. Its ability to treat tumors with pinpoint accuracy is unmatched by other radiation therapy systems

10/28/2025

CyberKnife is an effective and safe option for treating pituitary tumors, especially those that are small (up to 2 cm) or in complex locations.
This non-invasive treatment uses a robotic arm to deliver high-dose radiation with extreme precision to the tumor, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
It can be used for both benign and malignant tumors and is a good alternative for patients who are not candidates for surgery, have recurrent tumors, or as an adjunct to surgery.

How It Works
Precision targeting: The robotic arm delivers multiple beams of high-dose radiation from many different angles to pinpoint the tumor.

Minimally invasive: It is a non-surgical procedure that avoids an incision.
Image-guided: Sophisticated image guidance systems track the tumor and compensate for any movement during treatment, ensuring the radiation is precisely delivered.

Painless and Outpatient: The procedure is typically painless and can be completed in a single day, with patients often able to resume normal activities immediately afterward.

Benefits:
High tumor control: Studies show high rates of tumor control, with progression-free survival rates as high as 97.47% at 3 years.

Preserves Function: It is effective at preserving visual function and can improve hormonal function in some cases.

Low Toxicity: It has a low rate of post-treatment complications, though some risk of new-onset hypopituitarism exists.

Treatment for Complex Cases: It is useful for hard-to-reach tumors, recurrent tumors, or for patients who are not suitable for traditional surgery.

Potential Risks and Considerations:
New-onset hypopituitarism: There is a cumulative risk of developing new-onset hypopituitarism, which is a decrease in pituitary function.

Visual Acuity Worsening: In some cases, visual acuity has been observed to worsen due to cystic changes in the tumor after treatment.

Need for Long-term Follow-up: Extended follow-up is necessary to fully evaluate long-term toxicity and efficacy.

Treatment Course:
Sessions: Depending on the tumor, treatment may be a single session or multiple sessions over consecutive days, often five sessions for a total dose of 25Gy.

Duration: Individual sessions are typically short, often lasting around 30 minutes.
Call the Cyberknife Center of Miami - The Beam Of Life to find out if we can help you or a loved one 305-279-2900.

10/27/2025

CyberKnife Therapy: Prostate Cancer Treatment That is Too Good to Be True?
When it comes to prostate cancer treatments, while there is no sure-fire cure or one-size-fits-all treatment, the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, the premiere radiation center for cancer treatment in South Florida, want you to know CyberKnife is as good as it is true.

The Truth on Why CyberKnife is so Good
First of all, CyberKnife, a form of external beam radiation called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), has a 98% success rate for prostate cancer.

And it’s backed by years of research.
“The CyberKnife System is supported by two decades of published clinical follow-up, providing real-world evidence that the CyberKnife delivers excellent cancer control with reduced risk of side effects for cancer types throughout the body,” according to Accuray, the maker of CyberKnife

CyberKnife uses image-guided robotic technology to deliver targeted radiation directly to the prostate cancer or tumor without harming healthy tissue.

That precision really matters with prostate cancer because radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are so precise that healthy tissue is left unharmed. That precision lowers the risk of side effects like impotence and incontinence.

Treatments can be done in five radiation therapy sessions over 10 days compared to 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.

It’s noninvasive so there are no risks of infection or long periods of downtime like there is with surgery.

And patients can be treated repeatedly with CyberKnife. That means if the cancer recurs, which happens up to 30% of the time, no matter which treatment you choose, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, patients can be treated again.

When caught early – as 84% of prostate cancer cases are — CyberKnife alone can treat the cancer, especially if it’s low or even medium grade and localized to the prostate cancer. For these early prostate cancers, cure rates with radiation are about the same as men treated with radical prostatectomy, which is surgery to remove the prostate gland, according to the American Cancer Society.

CyberKnife can also be used in conjunction with other therapies as well or in cases where prostate cancer returns.

If It’s so Good, Why Isn’t CyberKnife Available Everywhere?

CyberKnife may not be a household name because the system is expensive and requires experienced professionals to operate it. So, not every hospital or cancer center has the infrastructure, funding or the expertise.

But it’s a growing market and fast, as more people hear about it and demand it.

Two years ago, Accuray, announced that it had shipped out 30 systems in the U.S. and other countries – setting a new record for quarterly shipments and the market is continuing to grow. Currently there are 350 CyberKnife centers world wide, and you will see CyberKnife being used more frequently in the coming years.

“CyberKnife is the most sophisticated and refined way to treat most tumors,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami on CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel.

Dr. Pomper is one of the most experienced CyberKnife physicians in the country. And experience counts when it comes to your treatment outcome. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and CyberKnife is right for you, consult with a center, like CyberKnife Miami, that has years of experience treating prostate cancer.

CyberKnife Treatment for Prostate Cancer in South Florida

CyberKnife Miami opened our doors 23 years ago. We were the first CyberKnife center to open in the Southeast. And we’re here to help you.

“If your doctor tells you, it’s not for you, go to a CyberKnife center and get a second opinion. Maybe it’s not the best treatment for you, but most of the time it is. CyberKnife is the most effective, safest and quickest way to treat prostate cancer so you can put it behind you and get on with your life,” Dr. Pomper advises.

If you are interested in learning more about CyberKnife Miami call us now at 305-279-2900.
Cyberknife Center of Miami - The Beam Of Life

Explore the benefits of CyberKnife therapy for prostate cancer and whether it’s as effective as it sounds.

10/26/2025

CyberKnife treatment is completely pain free. There’s no cutting, incision, blood, anesthesia, catheters and little if any recovery time.
CyberKnife Miami uses an advanced image-guided robotic radiation therapy system to target and destroy cancerous and non-cancerous lesions with pinpoint accuracy.
CyberKnife greatly reduces the risk of side effects and most often requires only 1-to-5 treatments.
Patients who have been told that “there is nothing else that can be done”, that “surgery is too dangerous”, or don't want chemotherapy, may be perfect candidates for CyberKnife cancer treatment.
CyberKnife delivers radiation only and directly to the tumor site, where you need it, it is an easy procedure with minimal side-effects.
Using targeted radiation allows for better outcomes, with up to a 95% success rate.
Why Choose the CyberKnife Center of Miami?
Because We Are The Most Experienced CyberKnife Cancer Treatment Center in Miami.
Experience is equally important when it comes to your treatment plan, to increase your chances of a successful outcome.
At CyberKnife Miami We Can Handle The Most Difficult Cases
Established in December 2003, the CyberKnife Center of Miami is the first CyberKnife center to open in the Southeastern US and the 11th in the country. There are now 350 CyberKnife centers worldwide.
Our world-class physicians are specially trained in stereotactic radiosurgery and are among the most experienced and qualified worldwide.
Call our team at 305-279-2900 to find out if CyberKnife treatment for cancer can help you.
Cyberknife Center of Miami - The Beam Of Life