Brachytherapy for Breast Cancer: Interstitial Implant Brachytherapy, the latest and effective treatment regimen to fight breast cancer, is now being offered to patients at the SUM Ultimate Medicare (SUMUM) in Bhubaneswar. Interstitial Brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation involving intra-operative placement of small radioactive sources to treat the tumour.
Breast cancer, the most common cancer found in women is usually treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Radiotherapy has been adopted as a safe, proven, readily used, less expensive and easily available cancer treatment for more than 100 years, Dr. Chira Ranjan Khadanga, Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology in the hospital, said.
Post surgery radiation therapy is taken up after four to six weeks of surgery. But the availability of Interstitial Brachytherapy has made it possible to provide radiation therapy to the patient within five to 10 days which reduces the treatment time, expenditure and is less painful for the patient, he said.
Dr. Khadanga said this form of radiation therapy was conducted successfully for the first time in Odisha at SUMUM when it was used to treat a 60-year-old woman suffering from breast cancer. Diagnosed at the first stage, the tumour was removed surgically and the patient was subjected to brachytherapy immediately with implantation of a flexible catheter at the vacant area known as the tumour bed. The patient was given the therapy twice a day for five days, he said.
The patient has fully recovered and was discharged. The entire treatment process, surgery and brachytherapy were completed within 10 days. Latest equipment, skilled technicians, treatment related knowledge, experience and expertise are required for this type of high end treatment process.
SUMUM has Bravo’s multi-channel brachytherapy machine, Brachy vision TPS, skilled doctors, experienced technicians and nurses which has been helping in the treatment and recovery of patients.
The functionality and usefulness of brachytherapy is that it takes care of the aesthetic emotion of women as it only removes the affected area of the breast after which radiation is given. To treat and cure cancer, brachytherapy is at par with other treatment procedures. Breast cancer can be detected at the early stage through screening technologies including Mammogram, MRI breast and PET CT, he said.
“At SUMUM, we are committed to providing cutting-edge cancer care. The introduction of Bracytherapy reinforces our mission to deliver innovative, patient-centric treatment that improves outcome and enhances quality of life,” Dr. Swetapadma Dash, Chief Executive Officer of SUMUM, said.
“Brachytherapy’s precision and targeted approach make it an invaluable asset in breast cancer treatment. Our multidisciplinary team works tirelessly to ensure seamless integration of this technology into our comprehensive cancer care services,” Brig. (Dr.) Biraj Mohan Mishra, the hospital’s Chief of Medical Services, said.
