The Austin-based cancer treatment center highlights brain tumor expertise and outreach efforts with neuro-specialists during Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

1. May 23, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sarah Tiambeng, Zehnder Communications, (504) 962-3731, saraht@z-comm.com
Austin CyberKnife Expands Collaboration with Neurosurgeons
Citywide to Provide Multispecialty Care for Brain Tumor Patients
The Austin-based cancer treatment center highlights brain tumor expertise and outreach efforts with
neuro-specialists during Brain Tumor Awareness Month
AUSTIN, Texas – Austin CyberKnife’s team of physicians has treated 450 patients with brain tumors
since the launch of the CyberKnife® program at University Medical Center Brackenridge. The number
of brain tumor patients treated with CyberKnife is expected to increase as the center works to raise
awareness of CyberKnife as a treatment option through greater collaboration with local neurosurgical
groups.
Austin CyberKnife’s network of collaborative partnerships now includes all neurosurgical groups
throughout Austin as part of the center’s ongoing effort to provide multispecialty care to patients
affected by brain tumors, as well as broadening awareness for treatment options during Brain Tumor
Awareness Month and beyond.
In 2011, Austin CyberKnife expanded the clinical applications of its CyberKnife technology to treat
tumors in other areas of the body, such as the lungs and prostate, but brain tumors continue to
represent the largest number of treatments, accounting for about 65 percent of all patients.
“Given the large number of brain tumor patients our physician team has treated over the years, we’ve
developed specialized expertise in CyberKnife treatment for this disease,” said Austin CyberKnife
medical director Dr. Doug Rivera. “Through our networking efforts with neurosurgeons in the area, we
hope to further enhance our approach to treating brain tumors by including a diverse group of
physicians with backgrounds in neurosurgery and radiation oncology.”
Austin CyberKnife treats brain tumors with an advanced procedure called stereotactic radiosurgery
(SRS) using CyberKnife. During treatment, high-dose radiation beams are delivered to the tumor with
sub-millimeter accuracy.
Patients with primary brain tumors, brain metastases or who require or seek a nonsurgical option can
be candidates for CyberKnife treatment. Brain tumors can be treated with surgery or conventional
radiation therapy, both of which may pose treatment challenges due to the sensitive tissue around
tumors in the head. CyberKnife decreases the risk of harming healthy brain tissue surrounding a
tumor by tracking the tumor in real time during treatment and adjusting for patient movement.
CyberKnife typically treats brain tumors in a single outpatient session, but treatment could take up to
five sessions depending on the individual diagnosis. In contrast, conventional radiation therapy for
brain tumors may require consecutive treatments five days per week for up to six weeks.

2. In addition to treating brain tumors, Austin CyberKnife treats malignant and benign tumors in the
prostate, spine, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney and eye.
Austin CyberKnife at University Medical Center Brackenridge offers the only CyberKnife program in
the greater Austin area. For more information, call (512) 324-8060.
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