CyberKnife® treatment
A precise radiotherapy treatment
CyberKnife® is a non-invasive alternative to surgery, offering new hope to patients with inoperable or complex tumours
About
CyberKnife® delivers multiple beams of high-dose radiation to tumours with incredible accuracy.
Unlike traditional surgery, treatment is given as an outpatient procedure with little or no recovery time, meaning you can get back to your usual routine faster.
Need to know
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What happens icon plus
Despite its name, CyberKnife® isn't a knife at all. It's a precise radiosurgical system that's entirely non-invasive. Treatment doesn't hurt, so it requires no anaesthetic. During a CyberKnife® session, you'll lie comfortably still on the treatment table, which automatically moves you into the correct position. CyberKnife® uses a robotic arm attached to a radiotherapy machine to deliver treatment. This arm moves around you to direct hundreds of pencil-thin beams of radiation from a range of different angles to target your tumour. Each treatment session usually lasts between 30 and 90 minutes. A full course of treatment is one to five sessions. -
How to prepare icon plus
Your consultant will explain the treatment and answer any questions you have. A few days beforehand, you may have fiducial markers inserted near your tumour to help the CyberKnife® pinpoint its position. These metal markers look like tiny gold seeds and are put in place with a small needle, usually guided by ultrasound. Your consultant will let you know what to expect. You'll also have a series of CT, MRI or PET scans to determine the size, shape and location of your tumour. This information is programmed into the CyberKnife® system. Like all procedures, there may be some risks or side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you. -
Afterwards icon plus
Because the treatment is non-invasive, you should be ready to go home right after your session. Some people feel a bit tired or have mild nausea after treatment, but most people have no side effects at all. Because the radiation is so precisely delivered, damage to healthy tissue is limited and you won't be radioactive after your treatment. After a full course of treatment, follow-up scans, generally including a combination of CT, MRI and PET scanning, are carried out. This is to assess how the tumour has responded to treatment and to determine if further treatment is needed.
Don't wait, pay for yourself
You don’t need health insurance to have fast access to our top consultants, extensive range of treatments, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures at our world-class facilities.
Our consultants
We're proud to work with leading experts across a range of medical fields, whose skills are matched by their integrity and compassion.

Our facilities
From complex surgery to straightforward procedures, we provide exceptional care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
Request an appointment
Our booking teams can help you make an appointment with one of our experienced consultants.
020 7079 4344
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.