Scott’s Story

What he thought was an ordinary drive home from a baseball game turned out to be a defining moment in Scott’s life. He got the call: at age 61 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Scott, a retired orthopedic surgeon, began extensive research on prostate cancer and the various treatments. He spoke with a number of prostate cancer patients about their treatments and the problems they encountered. Around the same time, one of Scott’s friends attended a prostate cancer seminar and brought him back information about the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System.

“When I read the brochure, I was excited to talk more to my urologist about whether I was a candidate for the CyberKnife,” Scott recalled. At his next appointment they discussed the entire list of potential treatments, including watchful waiting, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, surgery and several methods of radiation therapy, including the CyberKnife System.

“I was looking for a treatment that offered me the best chance for a complete cure,” Scott said. “But it was extremely important to me to avoid the complications – impotence, incontinence and bowel problems – that commonly result from prostate cancer treatment.”

Scott and his doctor decided that the CyberKnife treatment was best option to meet all of those criteria.

Scott had a CT scan and MRI so that a radiation oncologist could locate the tumor and develop a treatment plan.  Treatment with the CyberKnife System lasted for five consecutive days.

“Each session lasted about an hour, and throughout the treatment I was able to relax and listen to my own music in a pleasant room,” Scott said.

The results of CyberKnife treatment exceeded Scott’s expectations. “Not only did it cure my disease, there were no complications and minimal side effects,” he said.

“If the patient is the right candidate,” Scott added, “the decision to go with the CyberKnife is a no-brainer.”