Department of Radiotherapy
The newly added radiotherapy department to B.K.L.Walawalkar Hospital provides a complete cancer care under same roof with the state of art technology, providing a great relief to cancer patients of Konkan area.
Radiotherapy has been used as a cancer treatment for more than 100yrs with its earliest roots traced from the discovery of X-rays in 1895.The concept of therapeutic radiation was invented by a German Physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen when he discovered that X-rays are very powerful and effective tool with which to treat cancer. Recent reports suggest that more than 60% of all cancer cases can be treated by radiation.
Advantages of Radiotherapy over other treatment modalities -
1) With the help of surgery complete removal of tumor is not possible,ie microscopic infiltrations will be there. So chances of recurrence are more. It can be sterilized with radiation.
2) For organs which are very close to critical organs, eg.spinal cord radiotherapy is the treatment of choice.
3) Radiotherapy is an invasive procedure. In some cases radiotherapy and surgery will give same results. In such cases radiotherapy is the treatment of choice.
4) Better cosmetic results eg:- ca breast.
5) Functional ability can be retained.
Radiotherapy department of B.K.L.Walawalkar Hospital have following facilities.
1) Teletherapy
2) Brachytherapy
3) C.T Simulator
Teletherapy
Make and Model:-Bhabhatron-II
Radioisotope used: - CO-60
Type of radiations: - Gamma
Energy : - 1.25 MeV
Here the source is placed at a particular distance from the surface of the patient or from the centre of the tumor.(ie.isocentre).
Doubly encapsulated source of CO-60 (dimensions: 2cm dia, 3cm long) is placed inside the treatment of the unit, which is made up of tons of lead or depleted Uranium. During the treatment the source will come into the ‘ON’ position with the help of shutter mechanism, and after the treatment it will returns to the safe position.
It can be used for ALL TYPES OF CANCERS.
High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDRBT)
Make and Model:-Nucletron Microselectron HDR remote afterloader
Radioisotope used:- Ir-192
Type of radiations: - Beta
It is a procedure of placing radioactive material near or inside the diseased tissue as means to administer high doses of radiation. The primary advantage of internal radiation placed within the tumor is its ability to deliver a high radiation dose to the tumour, while limiting the radiation that the normal tissue receives.
Here a single tiny source of size 1mm×3mm is laser welded to the end of a thin flexible stainless steel cable. This source is housed in a device called remote after loader. The computer guided after loader directs the source through a ‘transfer tube’ into the treatment catheter/applicator that has been placed in the patient by radiation Oncologist.
Types of Brachytherapy implants
Based on the location .tumor extend and other factors, Radiation Oncologist will decide which type of implant the patient requires.
These are of three types.
1) Intracavitary
Here the applicator is inserted in to a body cavity to reach the tomour.Local anesthesia/conscious sedation is all that required.
Mainly used for GYNACOLOGICAL TUMOURS.
2) Intraluminal
Here the catheters are inserted in to a ‘tube’ such as bronchus,
esophagus, or bile duct. Patient is treated as an out patient basis.
Mainly used for LUNGS AND ESOPHAGIAL CANCERS.
3) Interstitial Implant
These are more complex procedure. The implants are done at the O.T with the patient under general anesthesia. Interstitial catheters are inserted through the body tissue to encompass the tumor.
Mainly used for BREAST, PROSTATE AND GYNACOLOGICAL TUMOURS
C.T Simulator
Make and Model:-Siemens SOMATOM Spirit power
An X-ray machine called ‘Simulator’ is used to plan radiotherapy treatment. It is called a simulator because it is like (simulates) a radiotherapy machine, but does not give the treatment. Simulation is a planning procedure used to determine the type of fields, energy of the beam, and angles of radiation beam.
With the help of C.T.simulator Konkan people will have proper treatment planning which they would get at TMH or other centers.