Radiation Oncology

Our Mission

The department of Radiation Oncology is committed to provide quality treatment to cancer patients with a constant endeavor to improve clinical outcome. Highly trained and qualified radiation oncologist, skilled in the latest state of the art technologies like IMRT/IGRT, work with the aim to improve cure rates while reducing toxicities and providing quality service affordable to the common man.

Radiation therapy : What is it and how does it work?

Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses radiation (X rays) to kill cancer cells or keep them away from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy, including intensity modulated radiotherapy, may be used in conjunction with surgery or chemotherapy to treat cancer.
There are two types – External Radiation & Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy)

Radiation side effects : (depends upon which body part/s are treated)

• Tiredness
• Sore skin in an area where radiation is being given
• Hair fall in the area where radiation is being given
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Bone marrow suppression
• You can have ulcer in oral cavity and throat. While on radiation this usually occurs third week onward
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Excessive salivation occurs followed by thick sticky saliva in later part of the treatment
• Hoarseness of voice can occur in later part of the treatment
• Diarrhea
• Burning micturation or increased frequency of micturation
• Pain while deification

Why Choose Us?

1. Pioneers in cancer care

We are the pioneers in cancer treatment in this area providing specialized oncology services since the past 15 years. More than 10000 patients have been successfully treated in this department since its inception.

2. Expertise

Our clinicians have graduated & trained in the apex institutions of the country. Since we focus exclusively on cancer, our doctors are competent to treat both the common & the rare malignancies.

3. Team Work

We have a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Thus every patient is jointly discussed in a Tumor Board by our expert team of surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, pathologist & radiologist working together to ensure the best possible treatment for the patient.

4. State of the art technology

The institute has procured one of the most modern Linear Accelerator from Varian, USA. This enables us to offer treatment which is at par with the best cancer hospitals in the world.

5. Research and Education

Integrating Clinical Research and education has helped us to improve clinical outcome & efficiency. The department is recognized for Post Graduate Training by the Diplomate National Board, New Delhi.

Dual Energy Rapid Arc Volumetric IGRT Linear Accelerator with Cone Beam CT

IMRT/IGRT is a major advancement that has revolutionized radiation oncology practice in recent years. It enables us to deliver with a very high precision, high energy radiation to the tumor at the same time sparing the normal tissues. In simpler terms improving the cure rates while reducing the side effect. The state of the art new Varian Linear Accelerator with its highly sophisticated Eclipse planning system is capable of 3D Conformal Radiotherapy (3D CRT), Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT). For External beam radiotherapy the department also has Theratron 780 C which is the workhorse of the department and is capable of handling most conventional treatment .

There are several unique features which are only available on this machine. Thus only in our set up in Maharashtra, North Karnataka & Goa. A few of these are mentioned below.

Volumetric IGRT with Cone Beam CT allows us to visualize the tumor during the treatment process, thus enhancing precision.

Rapid Arc technology shortens the treatment time of delivery thus improving clinical efficiency and patient comfort. (IGRT Treatment can be done in 5-10 minutes).

We have a fusion scan software, which can fuse MRI and PET images with the CT scan. Without this innovation conformal treatment (IMRT / IGRT) for brain tumors is practically impossible.

We also have a dedicated flat table CT scan with carbon top which is a must for planning IGRT or IMRT treatment. Using the routine CT scanner without this modification will lead to imperfect treatment and grave errors.

Brachytherapy Facilities – Nucletron HDR Remote Afterloading Machine

Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy where the radioactive source is placed directly into the tumor to kill cancer cells.

Cancer of cervix cannot be cured without brachytherapy. Cervical cancer in women is extremely common in our area with one out of every two women who present in our hospital suffering from it. We have used this modality to good effect since the past 15 years which has yielded improved cure rates and quality of life for women with gynecological cancers.

We have also developed considerable experience to use this technique for esophageal, breast, anal canal and head and neck malignancies.

Patent

INDIGENOUSLY MADE SIMULATION HEAD FOR PORTABLE X-RAY MACHINE- 1st SARC & 11th National Conference of Radio-Therapy Technologist of India at Delhi in 2007, Mr. Nagnath Hatte (Radiation Technologist )was awarded the best paper presentation. Patent applied for the same.

Achievements

INDIGENOUSLY MADE GANTRY ANGLE SET-UP PLATE AND DETACHABLE ARM (SSD TOOL) FOR SIMULATION OF TANGENITAL FIELDS IN CARCINOMA BREAST.
12th National Conference of Radio-Therapy Technologist of India at Trivendram in 2008, Mr. Nagnath Hatte awarded the best paper presentation.

INDIGENOUSLY MADE NEW COMPENSATOR TRAY FOR OFF-SPINAL CORD IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS
13th National Conference of Radio-Therapy Technologist of India at Chandigarh Mr. Nagnath Hatte awarded TMH Fellowship.

Scientific Publications

AIDS-associated Cancers : An Emerging Challenge – Journal of Association of Physicians of India 2010.

Reirradiation with high dose rate remote after loading brachytherapy implant in patients with locally recurrent on resident cervical carcinoma – Journal of Cancer Research & Therapeutics, 2009.

The efficacy of post operative radiation therapy in patients with carcinoma of buccal mucosa with positive margins – Indian Journal of Cancer, 2005. (Cited in ICMR National Guidelines.)

Metastatic spinal and compression: radiotherapy outcome and dose fractionation – Radiotherapy and Oncology, 2003.

Radiotherapy Services

• Volumetric image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Three Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)
• 2D simple/ 2D complex (Conventional ) Radiation Therapy
• Electron therapy
• HDR Remote After loading Brachytherapy
• Dedicated CT scanner for Radiation Treatment Planning
• Fusion scan facilities
• Indigenous Simulator (Patent Applied)
• Treatment planning system for external beam radiotherapy (ECLIPSE) and brachytherapy (PLATO)
• Mould Room Facilities