GMC to have advanced Brachytherapy cancer treatment apparatus

PS Bali

Jammu, June 8

Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu is looking forward to have more Brachytherapy cancer treatment apparatus in the hospital to fight against the increasing number of patients from Jammu and its adjoining areas. With the cost of over two crore, the treatment facility is specially designed for the treatment of cancer diseases.

"Brachytherapy is an advanced cancer treatment. Radioactive seeds or sources are placed in or near the tumor itself, giving a high radiation dose to the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure in the surrounding healthy tissues," said the Head of the Department at the Regional Cancer Centre in GMC Jammu, Dr. Ashutosh Gupta. He said that GMC registers around 1,400-1,500 cancer patients every year. "But this year the number is expected to increase." Gupta added that in 2004, the number of new cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir was reported to be at 1,164 and, which touched 1,400 in 2009. "Around 650 cancer patients are registered in the GMC Jammu so far, and as per the growth and rise in toll each year the number is expected to increase," he said. GMC is the only health care of the state to have this facility and with the help of this treatment GMC has treated more than 300 patients so far.

Dr Gupta said lung, throat, stomach and cervical cancer were the most common in terms of occurrence. "20 percent of total cases of cancer are of Lung cancer, chased by ladies cervical and throat cancer by 15-20 percent. In Jammu, we analyzed that the lung cancer is at number one, followed by throat cancer, then stomach in male population, and then again in female population we found cancer of cervix," added Gupta.

Whereas pollution and smoking were responsible for cancer in males, less breast feeding among female was the cause of breast cancer, said the doctor. "Out of lakh population around 150 persons are afflicted by cancer," Dr Gupta added. According to the GMC senior officials the demand of the Brachytherapy is increasing.

"Besides, the patients from adjoining areas of Jammu, number of patients from Kashmir are also being referred to GMC for this treatment," said Dr. Gupta.