The CyberKnife program at Elmhurst Memorial Health Care celebrates four-year anniversary.

1.
January 10, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sarah Tiambeng, Zehnder Communications, (504) 962-3731, saraht@z-comm.com
CyberKnife Center of Chicago Announces Milestone in Lung
Cancer Treatment
Lung Cancer is now the second most frequently treated disease at the cancer treatment center
ELMHURST, Ill. – Since opening in 2009 in partnership with Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare,
CyberKnife Center of Chicago has treated nearly 200 lung cancer patients from the Chicago-area and
nationwide. It is now the second most frequently treated disease at the center and encompasses one-
third of treatments.
According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 220,000 people will face a lung cancer diagnosis
this year. As the most common cancer diagnosis in the world, the disease kills more people annually
than breast, colon and pancreatic cancers combined.
Fortunately, advancements in cancer treatment have led not only to increased survival rates, but also
expanded treatment options for patients. CyberKnife Center of Chicago, based in the Chicago suburb
of Elmhurst, offers an alternative to treatments like surgery or traditional radiation therapy.
“For patients with surgically complex or
medically inoperable tumors,
alternatives to traditional lung cancer
treatment are important and can give
patients additional options to
consider,” said Dr. Andy Su, medical
director of CyberKnife Center of
Chicago.
Surgery is the standard treatment for
lung cancer and involves removing all
or part of the patient’s affected lung.
However, patients in poor general
health or suffering from chronic
pulmonary disease like emphysema
may not be able to undergo surgery.
For patients who aren’t surgical
candidates, external-beam radiation
therapy is typically recommended, although this treatment may be lengthy and difficult for some to
endure.
CyberKnife Center of Chicago offers a newer, noninvasive form of treatment for lung cancer called
stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). This advanced procedure is provided using CyberKnife®

2. technology. While the name may conjure images of knives and scalpels, CyberKnife treatment
involves no incisions, no sedation and no overnight hospital stay. Lung tumors are treated with very
precise, high-dose radiation beams while radiation exposure to healthy tissue surrounding a tumor is
minimized.
A key advantage of CyberKnife is the machine’s unique ability to track tumors in real time while
compensating for normal patient movements, such as breathing. Treatments are complete within five
or fewer sessions versus about 40 treatments typically required with conventional radiation therapy.
Patients typically experience few, if any, side effects and return to normal routines following
treatment.
“Clinical data has shown CyberKnife can offer effective treatment of lung tumors while carrying a low
risk of side effects,” says Dr. Su. “Studies to determine long-term effectiveness are ongoing, but early
results are promising.”
To find out if you or a loved one may be a candidate for CyberKnife treatment, request more
information. CyberKnife Center of Chicago is a service of Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare and is
located at 200 Berteau Ave. in Elmhurst, Ill. For more information, call (331) 221-2050.
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