Missouri-based cancer treatment center reports first-quarter treatment numbers for lung cancer.

1. March 19, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sarah Tiambeng, Zehnder Communications, (504) 962-3731, saraht@z-comm.com
St. Louis CyberKnife Completes First Quarter of Operations, Offers Lung Cancer
Patients Alternative Treatment Option
Missouri-based cancer treatment center reports first-quarter treatment numbers for lung cancer
ST. LOUIS – Since opening in the fall of 2012, St. Louis CyberKnife has offered an advanced cancer
treatment option to help patients facing a disease responsible for more deaths annually than breast,
colon and pancreatic cancers combined—lung cancer.
In its first quarter of operations, lung cancer accounted for 26 percent of the center’s cases, with
about half of those patients travelling from communities outside the service area of hospital partner
SSM Cancer Care to receive treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 5,000 Missourians will face a lung cancer
diagnosis this year. Fortunately, advancements in cancer treatment have led to not only increased
survival rates, but also expanded treatment options for patients. St. Louis CyberKnife, based in the
St. Louis suburb of Fenton, offers an alternative to treatments like surgery or traditional radiation
therapy.
Though removing all or part of a patient’s affected lung through surgery is the most common
treatment for lung cancer, some patients are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery. Patients in poor
general health or with a concern for potential side effects that could impact quality of life typically turn
to radiation therapy.
St. Louis CyberKnife treats lung tumors with an advanced procedure called stereotactic body
radiation therapy (SBRT) using CyberKnife®
technology. During treatment, precisely targeted, high-
dose radiation beams are delivered to the tumor from a variety of angles without any incisions or
sedation.
“Clinical data has shown CyberKnife can offer effective treatment of lung tumors while carrying a low
risk of side effects,” said St. Louis CyberKnife radiation oncologist Dr. David Morris. “This is
particularly important for patients who require a nonsurgical treatment alternative due to an
inoperable tumor or pre-existing condition.”
For the treatment of lung tumors, CyberKnife has the unique ability to track the tumor during
treatment, allowing the machine to adjust for normal patient movements like breathing. This results in
minimal radiation exposure to healthy tissue, and patients experience few to no side effects due to
the accuracy of treatment. Additionally, CyberKnife treatment for lung tumors is completed in five or
fewer sessions compared to the 40 treatments typically required with conventional radiation therapy.
In addition to treating lung cancer, St. Louis CyberKnife treats malignant and benign tumors in the
brain, spine, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney and eye. Brain and lung tumors comprise the majority of
treatments at the center.

2. St. Louis CyberKnife is a service of SSM Cancer Care at SSM St. Clare Health Center and is located
at 1011 Bowles Ave. in Fenton, Mo. For more information, call 636-496-4660.