CityView Magazine

S P ECI A L PROMOTIONA L S ECTION advertorial "The fact that we can treat patients who would otherwise be given a death sentence is amazing," Dr. DeFoe said. "We can offer them hope by controlling their diseases and hopefully improving their quality of life." Dr. DeFoe is a Radiation Oncologist and CyberKnife Specialist. She was brought in to launch the health system's CyberKnife program, which included a $12 million dollar renovation to the Cancer Center to house the system's state-of-the-art machinery. The facility is now called the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Treatment and CyberKnife Center. It's an appropriate renaming since Cape Fear Valley Health has one of just five Cy- berKnifes in the state and one of about 130 in the U.S. It's also the only one between the Triangle and South Carolina, so pa- tients in Southeastern North Carolina will no longer have to travel great distances for CyberKnife treatment. Spaulding traveled 90 minutes from her Columbus County home to Fayetteville for her treatment, after being referred by her Lumberton physician. She could have eas- ily traveled twice as far prior to Cape Fear Valley Health getting the device. The CyberKnife's treatment process em- ploys a team approach, involving several specialists, including physicists. When a patient is determined to be a CyberKnife candidate, radiographic images are taken to determine the tumor size, shape and exact location. The data is then sent to the CyberKnife team where the physicists cre- ate an individualized treatment plan. The patient then comes in for his or her CyberKnife session. Sessions last 30 to 90 minutes. Typically, no more than three ses- sions are needed, depending on the tumor size and location. In comparison, tradi- tional radiation therapy requires 30 to 45 treatments. Other stereotactic systems may require the patient to wear rigid body or halo braces to completely isolate the targeted body part. The CyberKnife tracks tumors in real-time instead, using cameras to detect minute changes in the patient's body. The system's powerful software compensates for the movement without having to stop treatment. Add up all of its benefits, and the decision to use the CyberKnife is all-too easy for most cancer patients – even weary ones, like Spaulding. "After I learned I had brain cancer, I said: 'Oh no, not another battle,'" she said. "But the Good Lord gives us the strength to get through it, as along as you have faith." CV "The fact that we can treat patients who would otherwise be given a death sentence is amazing... We can offer them hope by controlling their diseases and hopefully improving their quality of life." – S. Gillianne DeFoe, M.D. CityViewNC.com | 5 CyberKnife Benefits NO PAIN – No incision, anesthesia or blood loss required because of nonsurgical approach. MINIMAL HEALTHY TISSUE DAMAGE – Angular precision lessens chance healthy tissue is affected by radiation. NO BREATH HOLDING – The CyberKnife locks on to the tumor while powerful software compensates for movements by the patient's body in real-time. OUTPATIENT TREATMENT – No overnight hospitalization required, allowing patients to go home same day. FEWER COMPLICATIONS – No open surgery required, so less chance of complications. QUICK RECOVERY – Few side effects allow for immediate return to normal actitivies TREATS INOPERABLE TUMORS – CyberKnife can target tumors previously considered unreachable or inoperable because of its accuracy and minimal side effects.

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