MILESTONE IN CANCER CARE IN NE
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: What can be termed as a significant development in cancer care in the North East during COVID-19 pandemic, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) has successfully started Stereotactic Radio Surgery (SRS).
SRS is a method for delivering radiation to brain tumours in place of surgery. It is used to treat tumours that start in the brain as well as brain metastases (cancer that has spread to the brain from other parts of the body).
BBCI Director Dr Amal Chandra Kataki told The Sentinel on Sunday that a 56-year-old female patient of primary lung cancer with a single brain metastases measuring 2.2x2 cm in right parietal lobe of the brain was treated with the whole brain radiotherapy followed by very high dose of radiotherapy in a single fraction which is known as SRS. He said the highly sophisticated treatment was successfully given to the female patient on Friday (July 17).
Dr AK Kalita, Professor & Head of Department of Radiation Oncology at BBCI, said the advantages of the SRS is that it is a non-invasive procedure, reduces hazards of open-surgery and requires shorter treatment time.
Dr M. Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director (Research) at BBCI said the Linear Accelerator based frameless radiosurgery treatment is more convenient for patients. He said it is also associated with high rate of tumour control.
SRS has become an increasingly common approach for patients who have smaller brain tumours. "SRS will be hugely beneficial for those patients whose disease is not surgically accessible or is too advanced for neurosurgery, as well as those who cannot tolerate anesthesia," an oncologist said.
An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. The field of oncology has three major areas: medical, surgical, and radiation. A medical oncologist treats cancer using chemotherapy or other medications, such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
Dr Kataki said successful conduct of SRS at BBCI is a very positive development as cancer patients are the worst hit due to COVID-19 outbreak and resultant lockdown.
"Many cancer patients and those having symptoms of the disease are not coming forward for check up and treatment. This will result late detection of many cancer cases in the coming days. Cancer is a disease which needs early treatment, without which the patient slips into more painful and less treatable stages," Dr Kataki said.
Also Watch: OIL Gives One-Time Compensation of Rs 20 Lakh Each to 11 Fire Affected Families of Baghjan