Posted 11:53 pm Sunday, September 30, 2012
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Health Briefs
CyberKnife OK’d to treat prostate cancer at ETMC
The East Texas Medical Center Cancer Institute is now offering CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System to treat men with prostate cancer and the procedure cuts down the number of treatments.
“Four CyberKnife treatments have been shown to be as effective as 40 treatments of intensity modulated radiation therapy, long considered the gold standard of radiation therapy,” said Todd Sigmon, vice president of the ETMC Cancer Institute. “CyberKnife is recognized as an accepted treatment option by Medicare and other major insurance carriers, giving many men a choice in how they wish to be treated.”
CyberKnife is a type of radiation therapy referred to as stereotactic radiosurgery because of its ability to destroy tumors with knifelike precision, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The procedures are noninvasive and patients typically experience little discomfort during planning and treatment.
“CyberKnife offers advantages to patients who have to travel for treatment, since this course can be completed in as little as a week versus up to eight weeks for IMRT,” Sigmon said.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in six men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. The disease is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. This year, 241,000 men in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, while more than 28,000 men will die from the disease.
Prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men older than 50 and for men 40 or older who are African-American or have a family history of the disease.
For more information about the ETMC Cancer Institute and CyberKnife, call 903-595-5550 or visit www.etmc.org.
“Four CyberKnife treatments have been shown to be as effective as 40 treatments of intensity modulated radiation therapy, long considered the gold standard of radiation therapy,” said Todd Sigmon, vice president of the ETMC Cancer Institute. “CyberKnife is recognized as an accepted treatment option by Medicare and other major insurance carriers, giving many men a choice in how they wish to be treated.”
CyberKnife is a type of radiation therapy referred to as stereotactic radiosurgery because of its ability to destroy tumors with knifelike precision, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The procedures are noninvasive and patients typically experience little discomfort during planning and treatment.
“CyberKnife offers advantages to patients who have to travel for treatment, since this course can be completed in as little as a week versus up to eight weeks for IMRT,” Sigmon said.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in six men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. The disease is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. This year, 241,000 men in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, while more than 28,000 men will die from the disease.
Prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men older than 50 and for men 40 or older who are African-American or have a family history of the disease.
For more information about the ETMC Cancer Institute and CyberKnife, call 903-595-5550 or visit www.etmc.org.
Parent Services Dodge Ball Tournament set Saturday
The annual Dodge Ball Tournament benefiting Parent Services Center returns to Tyler from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church gym, 4202 S. Broadway Ave.
First-, second- and third-place prizes include fitness club memberships, season passes to The University of Texas at Tyler sporting events, fine dining gift certificates and movie passes. In addition, there will be prizes for best costumes and best team spirit.
Individuals can register teams of six or eight for $150. Sponsorships and raffle tickets are available. Raffle tickets cost $1, $5 and $10 each. Raffle items include a free three-day weekend use of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Troy Aikman autographed football jersey, four premium tickets plus parking at a Texas Rangers game, a VIP tour of Cowboy stadium for four, a kid’s bike and a guided fishing trip.
Food will be available as well as a clown and bounce house for children. There will also be an appearance by former NFL football player David Mims.
All proceeds will support the ongoing programs of Parent Services Center, including the Autism Network. Participants can sign up teams at 903-595-2235 or www.parentservicescenter.org.
First-, second- and third-place prizes include fitness club memberships, season passes to The University of Texas at Tyler sporting events, fine dining gift certificates and movie passes. In addition, there will be prizes for best costumes and best team spirit.
Individuals can register teams of six or eight for $150. Sponsorships and raffle tickets are available. Raffle tickets cost $1, $5 and $10 each. Raffle items include a free three-day weekend use of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Troy Aikman autographed football jersey, four premium tickets plus parking at a Texas Rangers game, a VIP tour of Cowboy stadium for four, a kid’s bike and a guided fishing trip.
Food will be available as well as a clown and bounce house for children. There will also be an appearance by former NFL football player David Mims.
All proceeds will support the ongoing programs of Parent Services Center, including the Autism Network. Participants can sign up teams at 903-595-2235 or www.parentservicescenter.org.
Free aortic aneurysm screenings set Saturday
A free health screening to detect abdominal aortic aneurysm will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Holiday Retirement at Rosewood Estates, 506 Rice Road.
The screenings will be conducted by AAAneurysm Outreach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of abdominal aortic aneurysms and driving at-risk individuals to get screened.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, typically has no symptoms. There are more than 1 million people living with it and don’t know it. It’s the third leading cause of sudden death in men more than 60 but an ultrasound screening can detect it before it’s too late.
If an aneurysm bursts, only 10 to 25 percent of victims survive. When detected early, 95 percent of AAAs can be managed and successfully treated.
Screening for AAA is quick and noninvasive. The risk for AAA increases for individuals that are older than 60, are male, have a history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a family history of the disease.
Early registration is required for the screening. At risk individuals can register by calling 1-866-371-3592). For more information, visit www.AneurysmOutreach.org.
The screenings will be conducted by AAAneurysm Outreach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of abdominal aortic aneurysms and driving at-risk individuals to get screened.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, typically has no symptoms. There are more than 1 million people living with it and don’t know it. It’s the third leading cause of sudden death in men more than 60 but an ultrasound screening can detect it before it’s too late.
If an aneurysm bursts, only 10 to 25 percent of victims survive. When detected early, 95 percent of AAAs can be managed and successfully treated.
Screening for AAA is quick and noninvasive. The risk for AAA increases for individuals that are older than 60, are male, have a history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a family history of the disease.
Early registration is required for the screening. At risk individuals can register by calling 1-866-371-3592). For more information, visit www.AneurysmOutreach.org.
