What is CyberKnife M6
CyberKnife is a stereotactic radiosurgery system. Despite the word "knife" in the name, there are no incisions: the tumor is treated with many thin beams of radiation converging on a single point. Each beam alone is safe for the tissue it passes through, but at the point of convergence a dose is created that destroys tumor cells.
The model M6 is one of the system's latest versions. The emitter is mounted on a robotic manipulator with six degrees of freedom that delivers radiation from dozens of different angles. A built-in tracking system follows the tumor's position in real time — including its movement during breathing — and adjusts the beam. This is what delivers the stated positioning accuracy of around 0.1 mm.
How CyberKnife differs from surgery and conventional radiation therapy
The key difference is that it is not surgery. There is no incision, no anesthesia and no surgical recovery. The procedure is outpatient: the patient lies still while the machine works around them.
CyberKnife differs from classic radiation therapy in its degree of focus and the number of sessions. A traditional course of radiation often stretches over several weeks of daily visits. Thanks to precise targeting, radiosurgery can deliver a high dose in 1–5 sessions, while sparing the healthy tissue around the tumor more effectively.
It's important to understand: CyberKnife is not a universal replacement for surgery or chemotherapy. It is one tool, and whether it fits a given case is decided by the medical board — not by the patient or an intermediary.
Which tumors it is used for
The method is used for tumors whose location and size allow precise targeting, and in situations where conventional surgery is impossible or carries high risk. The most common indications:
- Lungs — including inoperable tumors and patients for whom surgery is contraindicated
- Liver — primary tumors and metastatic lesions
- Pancreas — a zone that is difficult for surgery
- Prostate
- Brain and spine — including areas next to critical structures
- Kidney and selected metastatic lesions in other locations
Whether CyberKnife fits your particular case can only be determined after reviewing your medical documents — scans, reports and histology. That is exactly the task of the FFCH multidisciplinary board (MDT).
How treatment works — step by step
1. Remote review of documents
You send your medical documents. Precise planning requires not paper summaries but the original scans in DICOM format. The FFCH International Department reviews the case and, within 1–2 business days, gives a preliminary opinion on whether the method is suitable.
2. Planning
From CT and MRI, a three-dimensional model of the tumor and surrounding tissue is built. Physicists and doctors calculate the beam paths so that the maximum dose reaches the tumor and critical organs receive the minimum.
3. Treatment sessions
Each session lasts about 30 to 90 minutes. The patient simply lies still — there is no pain during the procedure. Between sessions, normal life can continue. Usually 1 to 5 sessions are needed.
4. Follow-up
After the course, follow-up is scheduled — scans at set intervals to assess the tumor's response. The patient receives a full set of documents in English to give to their doctor at home.
Why CyberKnife at FFCH
Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital is a hospital of China's highest state category, Grade III Class A. This means it meets the strictest national standards for equipment, staff and quality. Here CyberKnife M6 works alongside other technologies — Da Vinci Xi robotic surgery and cell therapy — under a single board of professors.
For an international patient this means not only access to the equipment but full support: medical interpreters, help with the medical visa, and a complete set of documents to continue treatment at home.