Hi mmbaluyut (sorry, I don't know your name),
Have you discussed with your doctor why they recommend cyber knife over gamma knife or proton beam radiation? All can be very effective at stopping tumor growth. There are pros and cons of each. There are usually very specific medical reasons for recommending one over the other. Sometimes it is simply a matter that the facility only has one of the machines. Before I self-referred myself to Mayo in Rochester, MN, I went for a consult with two neurosurgeons in Atlanta, which is where I live. One of them was the surgeon who had surgically resected my original meningioma. He recommended surgery on one of the recurrences in order to biopsy it and cyber knife on the other because it was in an area very risky area for surgery. He was very experienced with cyber knife and the facility he used for stereotactic surgery only had cyber knife. The second neurosurgeon I consulted with in Atlanta recommended gamma knife on both recurrences. He was very experienced with gamma knife. I did not feel comfortable making the decision myself as to which doctor's recommendation was the best treatment for me. I researched Mayo Clinic online. When I read that the Mayo location in Rochester had both gamma knife and proton beam machines, and that they were rated #1 in treatment for brain tumors, I called the neurosurgery dept. and I explained that my MRI showed recurrences. They arranged over the phone for me to have an appointment the very next week. I thought I would just be meeting with a neurosurgeon, but they had arranged for me to meet with the Director of Neuro Oncology. a Neurosurgeon and two Radiation Oncologists - all in the same day. After I met with each of them, they had a meeting to discuss my case. Then I had another meeting with the Neurosurgeon and he explained why they all agreed gamma knife was the best treatment for me. One big advantage gamma knife has over proton beam is that it is done in one session, whereas proton beam radiation is done 5 days a week for 28 days. Proton beam is used for larger brain tumors than my recurrences were and is preferable for certain locations of the brain. I was told that in their opinion, gamma knife radiation is preferable to cyber knife for brain tumors. I am not in anyway contradicting your doctor because I am not a doctor and I don't know any of the specifics about your tumors. Perhaps though, you would like to consider contacting the Neurosurgery Dept at Mayo or asking your doctor to do so for a second opinion. You or your doctor can send your MRI's and your doctor's notes for review at Mayo. Doctors understand, or should understand, when a patient wants a second opinion. I'm not trying to put any doubts in your mind about cyber knife. Each patient's case is unique. I was fortunate that my recurrences were fairly slow growing so I had time to meet with multiple doctors and my insurance covered each of the doctors, including Mayo Clinic. I wish you the best.
Jill