Nonsurgical Prostate Cancer Treatment Available for Veterans at Reno Cyberknife

Physicians aim to inform Veterans about access to treatment options outside of VA Health Facilities through VA Choice Program

In recognition of Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, Reno CyberKnife announced its participation in the VA Choice Program, which offers U.S. military veterans access to evidence-based prostate cancer treatment options outside of Veterans Health Administration facilities. Each year, more than 10,000 veterans are diagnosed with prostate cancer and those exposed to Agent Orange have a 50 percent higher risk of developing the disease.[1] Innovative technologies, such as the CyberKnife^® System, are ideal for the treatment of prostate cancer and access to them is critical for ensuring the best possible care for those who have served our country.

The VA Choice Program, part of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA), was created to provide veterans broader access to proven therapies beyond those available through the VA. As part of this, the Program enables veterans enrolled in VA health to receive care within their community or allows them to see a cancer specialist with the most advanced technology, instead of waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility.  Reno CyberKnife is a VA Choice Program participating CyberKnife center, meaning veterans in and around Reno seeking treatment for prostate cancer now have access to, and coverage for, this noninvasive treatment that is typically completed in just four or five days, in their own backyard.

“Our team is committed to arming patients with the best possible information about their disease and access to the most well-researched and attractive treatment options available,” said Jonathan Tay, M.D., Co-Medical Director, Reno CyberKnife. “As part of this mission, we are proud to join forces with VA Choice, enabling us to offer treatment with the CyberKnife System to veterans diagnosed with prostate, lung and other cancers that impact the veteran community. Patients who undergo CyberKnife treatment receive precise radiation in a short course of treatment, and experience fewer side effects, allowing them to get beyond cancer and back to their lives faster. This month, and always, we honor those who have served our country and all those affected by this disease.”

CyberKnife Prostate SBRT

• The CyberKnife System is a clinically-proven technology that delivers stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), a treatment process necessitating an extremely high degree of precision.
• SBRT is a much shorter course of treatment for prostate cancer patients than conventional radiation and is non-invasive (no surgery involved).
• What makes SBRT with the CyberKnife technology different from other systems is its ability to continually track and automatically correct the beam for movement of the prostate in real-time throughout the entire treatment session. This is important because the prostate gland moves unpredictably throughout the course of treatment due to normal patient bodily functions.
• The two largest prospective multi-institutional studies conducted to date included only patients treated with the CyberKnife® System. These two studies provide robust clinical data supporting the safety and efficacy of the system for patients with low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer[2]^,[3].

“When I was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, my mind went first to my kids and second to how I was going to beat this disease,” said Lattie Evans, Staff Sergeant, United States Army (Retired). “I thought back to my active duty army days and remembered what got me through all the trauma and conflicts. I was determined I wasn’t ready to go anywhere yet, I was going to stay and fight.”

To find out more about the CyberKnife System and the VA Choice Program, please visit http://www.accuray.com/cyberknifeforprostate/ or call Reno CyberKnife at (775) 348-9900 today to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians to discuss the treatment options that may be right for you.

 

[1] http://www.usmedicine.com/agencies/department-of-veterans-affairs/new-study-prostate-cancer-diagnosed-five-years-earlier-in-vietnam-era-veterans-exposed-to-agent-orange/3/. Accessed 10/4/17.[2] Meier R, et al. Five-Year Outcome from a Multicenter Trial of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Low- and Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2016; 96(2): S33-S34[3] Fuller DB, et. al. 5-year outcomes from a prospective multi-institutional trial of heterogeneous dosing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.  J Clin Oncol. 2017; 35(6S)