On life's journey, facing the challenges of illness, there are always some warm and steadfast forces that guide us through the storms to see the sunlight again. This 68-year-old gentleman, having undergone three CyberKnife treatments in his fight against cancer, has lived an additional 7 years through his resilience, writing a story of courage and rebirth against cancer.

In 2016, a small tumor quietly grew in the gentleman's right lung, enlarging to 3 cm, becoming a presence that could not be ignored. Poor lung function made surgical resection impossible. A biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma, with no genetic mutations. Even so, the closed door to surgery did not extinguish the light of hope.

Guided by Professors Wang Enmin and Wang Xin, CyberKnife shone like a beam piercing through the haze, illuminating the path for the gentleman's treatment. The professors' words, like a spring breeze and gentle rain, not only conveyed a professional treatment plan but also infused the gentleman with immense confidence and strength.

Professor Wang firmly stated: CyberKnife treatment for peripheral lung lesions can achieve curative effects, equivalent to surgical resection. However, metastases might appear in other parts of the body in the future. Fortunately, CyberKnife can also provide curative treatment for metastatic tumors throughout the body. Therefore, Professor Wang advised the gentleman to undergo a PET-CT scan every 2 years to detect and treat any new tumors promptly.

Professor Wang Enmin, former Director of the CyberKnife Center at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, patiently answering patient queries at the Foshan Chancheng Hospital Tumor Center.

First CyberKnife Treatment: Zero Adverse Reactions

The first CyberKnife treatment was highly successful. The gentleman achieved the remarkable result of zero adverse reactions, demonstrating the precision and gentleness of modern medical technology, CyberKnife. After the treatment, the gentleman was very satisfied with the outcome, and his quality of life remained completely unaffected.

The tumor lesion and dose distribution from the gentleman's first CyberKnife treatment.

Second Occurrence: Lymph Node Metastasis, CyberKnife + Immunotherapy

However, the disease did not relent, attempting once again to test their resolve. Two years and ten months after the first CyberKnife treatment, the gentleman developed a cough, caused by a metastasis to the right mediastinal lymph nodes. He sought out Professor Wang again.

After reviewing the situation, Professor Wang proposed a plan combining CyberKnife with immunotherapy for the mediastinal lymph node metastasis – CyberKnife treatment can stimulate an anti-tumor immune response, and when combined with immunotherapy, they work synergistically.

This time, the gentleman faced it with even greater composure. He firmly believed that with Professor Wang Enmin's expertise and the combined CyberKnife and immunotherapy regimen, the tumor could surely be overcome. He unhesitatingly chose CyberKnife treatment again. Following the CyberKnife sessions, he underwent 6 cycles of immunotherapy.

The second treatment: the synergistic combination of CyberKnife and immunotherapy worked like twin swords, precise and powerful. The mediastinal lymph node metastasis gradually dissipated, and the gentleman witnessed the miracle of life once more.

Third Occurrence: Left Lung Tumor, CyberKnife Strikes Again

Time flowed into 2024. Although a new challenge emerged in the left lung, the gentleman faced it without fear, knowing that with the precise 'warrior,' CyberKnife, guarding him, he would continue to fight the disease to the end.

The PET-CT result in August 2024 presented both a challenge and hope. The previously treated tumors in the right lung and mediastinum were completely inactive, lying silent; but a new tumor had appeared in the left lung. This time, the precise CyberKnife radiotherapy approach was again employed.

The damage to the right lung tissue and right mediastinum is minimal, and the patient is asymptomatic, fully demonstrating the advantages of CyberKnife's precise treatment for lung cancer.

The gentleman was not surprised by this turn of events, even handling it with a sense of familiarity. After treatment, the now 72-year-old gentleman felt well with no discomfort. The smooth progression of the third CyberKnife treatment was yet another validation of the technology and the best interpretation of life's infinite possibilities.

CyberKnife radiotherapy requires no incision; the patient lies still during treatment.

Professor Wang's Commentary

Elderly patients with peripheral lung cancer can choose between surgical resection, CyberKnife therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and other treatments.

CyberKnife is a non-invasive treatment. For patients with systemic diseases or poor lung function, CyberKnife holds an absolute therapeutic advantage. It features real-time tracking technology, minimizes the volume of healthy lung tissue irradiated, and causes less damage to the lungs.

Simultaneously, the high-dose irradiation from CyberKnife alters the tumor microenvironment, stimulates the body's immune mechanisms, and enhances immune function. The combination of CyberKnife and immunotherapy creates a powerful synergistic effect with a '1+1=4' outcome.

Furthermore, if metastatic tumors appear in other parts of the body, they can still be treated with CyberKnife alone or combined with immunotherapy or low-dose chemotherapy. Based on our treatment experience, patients with advanced lung cancer (including those with brain metastases) treated with CyberKnife combined with chemotherapy or immunotherapy can achieve survival periods of around 5 years. For elderly patients with peripheral lung cancer, the goal of CyberKnife treatment is to enable survival for 10 years.

This gentleman has already survived for 7 years and 8 months after CyberKnife treatment. We hope he conquers lung cancer and enjoys long-term survival.