This episode of CyberKnife: Beyond Cancer, features Howard Ballantyne, a cancer survivor who was treated with CyberKnife radiotherapy. He shares his personal journey of being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2005 and undergoing various treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. In 2009 he discovered a new tumour and was unable to have surgery. In an incredible turn of fate, Howard discovered CyberKnife treatment and traveled to France for treatment, which successfully treated his cancer.

Since then, he has remained cancer-free for over 15 years and became involved with the Stan Bowley Trust charity that supports CyberKnife treatment. Howard shares his cancer experience, the CyberKnife treatment process and his role with the charity in fundraising and promoting awareness of this important treatment option.

Key Takeaways

CyberKnife provided an effective treatment option for Howard when other options like surgery weren't possible due to the location of his tumour. The treatment successfully killed the cancer cells.

Compared to other radiotherapy and treatments like chemotherapy, CyberKnife had minimal side effects for Howard which demonstrates how CyberKnife can be a potentially life-saving treatment when no other options are available or effective for a patient.

Howard’s involvement with the Stan Bowley Trust charity highlights the important role the Charity plays in supporting and raising awareness of CyberKnife.

Best Moments

"…It's been a lifesaver. I don't honestly think I'd be talking to you now, if it hadn't been for CyberKnife. You know, that's made such a massive difference to my life…”

“It killed the cancer cells. I still have checkups even now, but obviously, it was January 2009. But we're 15 years on from that. So in that sense, it seems to have been pretty effective.”

“I can remember laughing to myself, I went for the treatment one day, and going back into the centre of Lille and going in a restaurant and having a lovely lunch with a couple of glasses of wine. And I'm thinking I've just had this treatment and I'm here. Normally when people have treatment they are laid up in a hospital bed for days on end. So I felt that it was quite a very generous regime. Very kind to the patient.”

The Stan Bowley Trust

The aim of the Stan Bowley Trust is to raise money for CyberKnife, increase awareness of CyberKnife treatments and provide information for patients and their families.

If you'd like to find out more about CyberKnife radiotherapy treatment, the Stan Bowley trust and the work we do then visit our website, thestanbowleytrust.org

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