St. Joseph’s/Candler to be first in region with the CyberKnife

This new technology gives the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion the most complete cancer treatment in the area.

June 22, 2010

St. Joseph’s/Candler will soon be the only cancer program in the region and the Low Country where patients can be treated with the advanced CyberKnife.

The robotic CyberKnife treats difficult tumors with precision radiation and can automatically adjust to the patient’s movements. This minimizes surrounding tissue damage.

“With the addition of the CyberKnife, the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion is a complete cancer treatment destination,” said Paul P. Hinchey, President & CEO of SJ/C. “But more importantly, patients in our area do not have to leave their community to receive this cutting-edge treatment.”

Adding the CyberKnife supports the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion’s goal of continually improving the quality of care. That is one of the major objectives of SJ/C’s designation as a National Community Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. The National Community Cancer Center Program brings together select hospitals from around the country to develop the best cancer care in community hospitals so that it can be replicated nationwide.

The Georgia Department of Community Health approved SJ/C Certificate of Need application for the CyberKnife June 18, 2010.

The only other hospital in Georgia with a CyberKnife is Wellstar Health System in Atlanta.

SJ/C will invest $6.2 million to purchase the CyberKnife and build a 2,300-square-foot addition to the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion. The CyberKnife if scheduled to be in operation by Spring 2011.

It will be coupled with a recently approved positron emission tomography – computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging device.

The PET-CT will provide a road-map of the patient for the CyberKnife to operate and navigate safely around the treatment area.

Patients typically receive a 30- to 90-minute treatment where between 100 and 200 beams of radiation are delivered from different directions. Simultaneously the CyberKnife takes X-ray images and compares them to the PET-CT scan to continually track and correct for movements of the patient, such as breathing.

“What this really means is this technology can place radiation therapy beams in a very small area three-dimensionally without damaging normal tissue,” said Dr. Howard Zaren, medical director of the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion.

“This is huge for our patients. They no longer have to travel to Atlanta or Florida to get this kind of cutting-edge treatment and we know from experience recovery is better when they are around family.”

Contact
Scott M. Larson
Public Relations Manager
912-429-1410

Links

Official CyberKnife site by manufacturer Accuray
Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion