Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) has achieved another important milestone in the cancer treatment sector with the successful launch of Brachytherapy Facility. This facility is an important step towards providing state-of-the-art, accurate and quality treatment to cancer patients. The first brachytherapy case was successfully conducted in the hospital, marking the beginning of this facility.
This therapy can be very beneficial. However, in some patients, there may be minor side effects like mild pain, swelling, irritation or fatigue in the treated area after the treatment and these subside with time.
What is brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy is a radiation therapy technique in which the radiation source is placed very close to the tumor. With this, radiation can be given more accurately to the tissue affected by cancer. This causes less damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. For this reason, in many cases it is considered better than radiation therapy done from outside. This treatment can prove to be especially effective in the treatment of cervical, endometrial and other selected cancers. Apart from this, it is also considered effective in the treatment of breast and skin cancer.
There are two types of brachytherapy
Low-dose rate (LDR) and high-dose rate (HDR). In the low-dose rate process, the radioactive source is kept in the body for a long time. Whereas in HDR, more intense radiation is given for a few minutes and then the source is removed. The time, number of sessions and method of treatment depend on the type, stage and health condition of the patient’s cancer.
Cancer patients will get timely treatment
Dr Savita Arora, Link Officer to Director of the hospital, said, “The successful execution of brachytherapy cases is an inspiring achievement for our hospital. The launch of this service will provide safe and timely treatment to cancer patients. They will receive comprehensive cancer care at one place.”
Dr. Pragya Shukla, Head (HOD), Department of Clinical Oncology, said, “Brachytherapy is an essential part of modern radiation oncology. With this facility again available at DSCI, many patients will now be able to get highly accurate, scientific evidence-based treatment here and they will not need to be referred to other centers for treatment.”
Patients will not have to be transferred from the hospital
Dr. Pragya Shukla, Head, Department of Clinical Oncology, said, “Brachytherapy is an integral part of modern radiation oncology. With this facility again available at DSCI, many patients will now be able to get highly accurate, scientific evidence-based treatment here and they will not need to be referred to other centers for treatment.” This service will be operated by a dedicated team of experienced radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiation technologists, anesthesiologists, nursing staff and other experts.
The objective of DSCI is to provide safe, accessible and quality cancer treatment to every patient. In the same direction, Dental OPD on 23rd June and second OT on 18th June have also been started so that most of the facilities can be provided to the patients inside the institute itself.
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