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My understanding is that with the hypo-fractionated delivery, patients receive a total dose of 35 or 36.26 Gy’s. Since normal radiation treatments deliver more like 79-80 Gy’s, does this mean that if Cyberknife treatment fails – one still could receive an additional 35 (or so) Gy’s of radiation for salvage treatment?
My understanding is that the gold fiducials stay with you forever. In the event that salvage treatment was someday required, would they be of any help?
In my Cyberknife studies I found a paper that claims additional rectum protection by using a balloon (like proton treatment uses) with the Cyberknife, does anyone know if any Cyberknife Centers are using the balloon?
Can I suggest you mail Jon Nowlin who is considering Cyberknife. He is VERY thorough in everything he does and investigates and I am sure he'll be happy to help you.
Actually I have been in touch with Jon for a few months and he has been very responsive and helpful! (Thanks again, Jon!) – Jon helped peak my interest in Cyberknife.
And thanks for your link to that study, very interesting; some sort of spacer seems to make so much sense (assuming that the inert gel doesn’t cause any problems – and apparently it doesn’t). Encouraging that the medical community continues to work at refining radiation treatments to decrease negative side effects.
