After having an MRI for fibroids in 2024, Charlotte Nunez found out she had a benign tumor in her lower back. She learned that it was a type of nerve tumor called a schwannoma that can happen almost anywhere in the body. While these tumors are rarely cancerous, they can cause pain or nerve damage if they grow. Charlotte’s doctor referred her to a neurosurgeon at Boston Medical Center for follow-up. “Even though the schwannoma was not causing any symptoms, it was close to my spine, and they were afraid that if it grew, it might cause pain,” she explains. The neurosurgeon told Charlotte he didn’t want to operate on the schwannoma because of the tumor’s depth in the skin and its location near her spine. “He told me it was risky to do surgery, but he referred me to radiation oncology at BMC to see if they could shrink the tumor.” ## Monitoring the Tumor Charlotte met with Dr. Minh-Tam Truong, chief of radiation oncology at BMC. Since the tumor was stable and not causing symptoms, Dr. Truong initially recommended careful monitoring with periodic MRI scans. For more than a year, the tumor remained unchanged. When imaging in late 2025 showed growth, Dr. Truong discussed treatment options and introduced Charlotte to the CyberKnife S7 system for radiosurgery. At BMC, the CyberKnife offers a highly specialized, noninvasive way to treat tumors that may be difficult to reach with surgery. Using advanced robotics and continuous image guidance, the system delivers precisely targeted radiation while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissue. BMC is one of the few hospitals in the state to offer this cutting-edge treatment. “Dr. Truong was great, and very thorough,” says Charlotte. “She explained how the treatment works and told me the risks were minimal because the radiation is isolated into one spot, right at the tumor.” ## CyberKnife Treatment Shrinks the Tumor Before treatment began, Charlotte underwent detailed CT and MRI imaging to map the tumor and design a personalized treatment plan. Then she began CyberKnife therapy in December of 2025— completing five sessions over one week. “The CyberKnife machine was pretty impressive. It takes up a whole room,” says Charlotte. She was also impressed with the ease and convenience of her treatment. “I’d drive into BMC in the morning and they’d give me a valet pass to park my car. Then, I’d go in to get the treatment and head off to work. It was totally painless and I didn’t have any side effects.” She also appreciated the care and coordination from the radiation oncology team. “And the tech I saw every day, Sean, was awesome to work with. He had years of experience working with the CyberKnife.”  ## A Successful Outcome At a recent follow-up visit, Charlotte got the good news she was hoping for—her latest MRI showed the treatment had worked to shrink the schwannoma. She will continue to follow-up with Dr. Truong every six months as part of her ongoing care. “I was so pleased, and the whole process could not have been easier,” she says. “I didn’t even have to take off any days from work.” Charlotte’s experience highlights BMC’s longstanding commitment to delivering advanced, highly specialized care for both cancerous and benign tumors. With nearly two decades of CyberKnife expertise dating back to 2007, the department of Radiation Oncology at BMC continues to offer patients highly precise, non-invasive treatment options for complex tumors of the brain, spine, lung, and other areas of the body. By combining leading-edge technology with a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach, BMC delivers personalized care focused on exceptional outcomes and quality of life. [View all BMC stories](/stories) ### Cancer Center [Explore Department](/departments/cancer-center) ### Related Stories [#### After Months of Pain, the Right Diagnosis Gives Sandra Hope Rheumatology ](/stories/the-right-diagnosis-gives-sandra-hope) [#### 30 Years Later, Joe Tierney Credits BMC for the Life He Built Trauma and Acute Care Surgery ](/stories/30-years-later-joe-tierney-credits-bmc-life-he-built) [#### A Family’s Sacrifice and the Right Care Give Dylan Back His Childhood Surgery (Pediatrics) ](/stories/familys-sacrifice-and-right-care-give-dylan-back-his-childhood) [#### A Mobile Approach to Prostate Cancer Screening and Follow-Up Care Urology ](/stories/mobile-approach-prostate-cancer-screening-and-follow-care) - [Load More](?page=1 "Load more items") .container--content > * { max-width: 900px; margin-left: 0; }