James Winder, the 50th patient treated by Cooper’s CyberKnife Center, celebrates his birthday with his wife Ginny.

For NASCAR fan James Winder, precision, speed, teamwork and accuracy not only are the attributes of his favorite sport, but also his personal philosophy of cancer care.  So, when faced with the challenge of treating his cancer, he decided on Cooper University Hospital’s CyberKnife Center. This cutting-edge radiosurgery system is designed to pinpoint and attack tumors with high doses of radiation from virtually any direction or angle. It uses sub-millimeter accuracy while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.

Mr. Winder, 65, of Marmora, New Jersey, is married and has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. He was diagnosed with cancer of the colon, lung and kidney in February 2007, and had seen several specialists throughout the Delaware Valley for treatment.  But because of the complexity of his cancer, not all physicians were up to the task of assuming his care. One physician even told him there was nothing more that could be done and advised him to “put his affairs in order.” Not willing to simply give up, Mr. Winder continued his search.

“I saw several surgeons, but I really wanted to find a treatment option that was not surgery, but just as effective,” explained Mr. Winder.

After a recommendation from another cancer patient, some personal research and a conversation with his physician, Mr. Winder decided that the Cooper CyberKnife Center filled all of his requirements.  Mr. Winder recently became the 50th patient treated at the Cooper CyberKnife Center in Mount Laurel, N.J.

The Cooper CyberKnife Center opened in July 2008. It has rapidly become accepted by area cancer patients and physicians as a safe and effective treatment tool for many different types of cancers.  CyberKnife has successfully treated tumors in the lungs, liver, kidney, pancreas, spine and prostate.  No other South Jersey or Philadelphia hospital offers their patients this advanced cancer treatment technology.

Radiosurgery does not remove tumors, but uses the high-dose, focused radiation to destroy tumor cells and stop cancer cells from growing. CyberKnife offers new hope to patients who have tumors that are considered surgically complex or inoperable.  CyberKnife is also used for those who may have been previously exposed to the maximum allowable dosage of radiation but would benefit from further treatment, or, for patients like Mr. Winder who are looking for an alternative to surgery.

“I would recommend the CyberKnife to anyone with cancer who qualifies for the treatment,” says Mr. Winder. “With the CyberKnife, I didn’t have to worry about a recovery time and had no side effects from the procedure.”

According to Tamara A. LaCouture, M.D., Medical Director of the Cooper CyberKnife Center and Cooper University Hospital’s Acting Chief of Radiation Oncology, “We have had very promising results with CyberKnife, particularly with several patients who have been treated for lung cancer. We have had patients with complete resolution of their tumors after CyberKnife treatment.”

Mr. Winder is pleased with the results of his treatment and confident that the CyberKnife was the right choice for him.  Dr. LaCouture is optimistic about his response to the treatment. “It is our hope that the aggressive CyberKnife treatment will keep his current tumors controlled,” she said.

For more information on Cooper’s CyberKnife Center, visit www.cooperhealth.org/radiosurgery.