What is Stereotactic Radiosurgery?
Despite its name, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is actually a nonsurgical, noninvasive way to deliver radiation beams to a tumor. SRS uses imaging and multiple external radiation beams to target cancer cells in the brain or spine. We direct each beam of radiation at the tumor from different angles. When the beams intersect, they create high-intensity radiation. This radiation destroys cancer cells but not surrounding healthy tissue.
We can use the same technology (often called Gamma Knife radiosurgery or CyberKnife) for cancers in other parts of the body, too. When not focused on the brain or spine, we call the treatment stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). SBRT most commonly treats lung cancer, liver cancer and other soft-tissue tumors.
Talk to your cancer team to see if SRS or SBRT may be a helpful treatment option for you.
Benefits of Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Our leading-edge stereotactic radiosurgery technology offers many benefits. Though they can vary by person, benefits may include:
- Fewer therapy sessions: SRS requires only one to five treatment sessions, compared to standard radiotherapy, which may require up to 40 treatments.
- More precise treatment: Real-time tumor tracking enables us to target a wide range of tumors that are typically harder to reach with traditional surgery.
- Lower risk of complication: With no incisions required, you don’t have to worry about wound care or the possibility of an infection.
- Fewer side effects: Super targeted tumor treatment means surrounding areas are left alone.
- Faster recovery: You can go home immediately after treatment and likely return to normal activities by the next day.
We are one of the few hospital-based clinics in the U.S. to offer prostate cancer radiosurgery, which reduces treatment from 44 sessions to just four.
Planning for Your Appointment
Before you receive SRS, we have you attend a preparation visit. At this visit, your care team takes detailed, 2D and 3D images to determine the exact shape, size and location of your tumor. We use this information to figure out how much radiation to use, the angles to deliver it and how many treatment sessions you need.
Because SRS is such a precise procedure, imaging and being in the correct position are crucial to the process. The position you are in during scanning is the position you need to be in during treatment. So, your team may mark up your skin or use devices, such as body molds or head masks, to keep you in an exact position.
What to Expect During Stereotactic Radiosurgery Treatment
When you arrive for treatment at our Radiation Treatment Center, you go to a private treatment room. There, your radiation therapist helps you get into the right position for treatment. You’ll be on the “couch,” which is a platform that works with the radiation machine.
While you’re in position, the head of the machine, called a linear accelerator (LINAC), moves around you. It delivers doses of radiation in the exact location and shape required to treat your tumor. Your radiation therapist won’t be in the room during this part of treatment, but they can see you on a video monitor and can talk to you through a two-way intercom.
Each SRS session can take from a couple of minutes, up to an hour. Most treatment plans require one to five treatment sessions that you can usually complete within a week.
After treatment, you can go home immediately. Most people can return to normal activities the next day.
Cancer Patient Stories
Sometimes, it helps to learn from others who’ve had cancer. Read and watch stories from cancer patients who share their experiences with diagnosis, treatment and recovery.