KU Hospital Undertakes the First CyberKnife Treatment

Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) announced the successful commissioning of its state-of-the-art CyberKnife radiotherapy services. This milestone achievement was marked with the successful treatment of the first patient using the cutting-edge CyberKnife System, the country’s first and only fully robotic radiotherapy device for cancer treatment.

Prof Olive Mugenda, Chairperson of KUTRRH, expressed her delight at this significant development.

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She said, “The commissioning of the CyberKnife system is a major milestone for oncology management in Kenya. As part of our strategic plan, we aimed to move into high-precision treatment, and with the government’s support, we have now realized this goal.”

KUTRRH’s vision is to create a Center of Excellence in oncology by providing comprehensive diagnosis and treatment options for cancer patients, reducing the need for outbound medical tourism.

Prof Mugenda added, “KUTRRH finally managed to acquire the CyberKnife machine, which is a bold but best decision for Kenya in efforts to decrease outbound medical tourism and increase inbound medical tourism.”

The CyberKnife radiotherapy treatment represents a significant advancement in radiation therapy. It offers precise and effective treatment options for a wide range of medical conditions, particularly cancer, while minimizing side effects and enhancing the overall patient experience.

The journey to commission this groundbreaking technology began last year and involved a meticulous five-month process to ensure the machine’s accuracy and readiness for precise treatment delivery.

President William Ruto commissioned the CyberKnife at KUTRR Hospital in April, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services for non-communicable diseases in Kenya.

This achievement makes Kenya the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to acquire the CyberKnife, opening doors for local patients to access highly precise stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) treatments that the system provides.

Medical experts from Accuray, the equipment manufacturer, played a crucial role in this journey. Abdil Jabbari, an application specialist and medical physicist from Accuray USA, and Ruth Wambui, a radiation therapist and the KUTRRH CyberKnife Centre Manager, were among the experts involved in Wednesday’s CyberKnife treatment.

CyberKnife treatment stands out for its precision, using advanced imaging and robotics to deliver highly targeted radiation therapy.

It can track tumor movement in real-time, adjusting radiation beams accordingly, making it particularly vital for treating tumors near critical structures or delicate areas of the body.

Importantly, CyberKnife treatment is non-invasive, requiring no incisions or anesthesia. This results in quicker recovery times and fewer complications for patients.

Moreover, the precise targeting of radiation minimizes damage to healthy tissues, reducing collateral damage and improving patients’ overall quality of life during and after treatment.

Compared to traditional radiation therapy, which often necessitates 20 to 30 sessions, CyberKnife treatment typically requires only three to six outpatient sessions.

It is recommended for various conditions, including cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors, spine tumors, and liver cancer. It is also effective in treating non-cancerous conditions like Trigeminal Neuralgia and specific non-cancerous pancreatic lesions. Functional disorders, such as epilepsy, can also be treated using CyberKnife by targeting specific brain areas responsible for seizures.

To ensure accessibility, KUTRR Hospital is engaging with insurance companies to cover the treatment cost, which ranges from Sh300,000 to Sh350,000.

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In conclusion, the commissioning of the CyberKnife at KUTRRH represents a giant stride for Kenya’s healthcare landscape, offering hope and advanced treatment options to patients in the country and the region.

With this remarkable technology, the hospital is set to become a beacon of excellence in oncology and a destination for cutting-edge medical care.