Lung, colorectal and stomach cancer are among the five most common cancers in the world for both men and women. While lung and stomach cancer are the most common cancers worldwide in men, breast and cervical cancer are in women.
Cancer begins as a mutation in the DNA of a cell as a consequence of exposure of individuals to carcinogenic agents. This mutation results in failure of mechanisms that regulate normal cell growth, proliferation and cell death. The outcome of this is a tumour. Ultimately, the progress of the resulting tumour from mild to severe abnormality, with invasion of neighbouring tissues or distant dissemination which is also known as Metastases results in “Cancer”.
The first and most important step in cancer treatment is diagnosing the condition. Suspicion of cancer is based in the clinical assessment which then leads to performance of appropriate further tests. A firm diagnosis is always made after a histopathological examination of the abnormal tissue. The other sequence of tests include routine and specialized diagnostic investigations like endoscopies, cytology, hormonal tests, biomarker studies and imaging (X-ray to PET CT).
Detection of Cancer :
Normal people should get themselves screened to detect cancer in its early stage and to reduce mortality. Various screening tests are available which are simple and easy like Mammography, cervical smears, endoscopies, examination of faeces for occult blood, serum prostate specific antigen and sigmoidoscopies are some of the routinely done tests.
Immunohistochemistry, Biochemistry and tumour markers:
Immunohistochemistry is part of pathological investigations using antibodies, various intracellular and cellular surface proteins to determine tissue origin of a very undifferentiated tumour, identifying subtypes of common cancers and establishing the presence of oestrogen receptors in breast cancer.
Some of the tumours secrete proteins into blood circulations, which are detected by routine tests of biochemistry. Few of which are unique to a tumour (Eg. CEA, CA 125, Alfafetoproteins), LDH, HCG). Using tumour markers, one can assess the response to treatment and check for recurrence.
Cancer Treatment:
Best of cancer treatment is early detection, cure and improvement of the quality of life.
Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or some combination of these. Although surgery is the oldest form of treatment, recently non-surgical role is gaining importance.
Surgery for Cancer:
The role of surgery is to remove localized tumour completely or reduce the size of large tumour to increase the effectiveness of follow-up treatment by radiation or chemotherapy. Surgery has a dual role, it can be done as a diagnostic (staging) procedure as well as a curative treatment, and these two may take place simultaneously.
In addition to curative surgery, surgery may also be performed as a preventive measure (to remove precancerous conditions) and/or a palliative measure (to reduce pain and other symptoms). If curative surgical procedures cause any disfigurement or deformity, reconstructive surgery may be done to repair the damage.
Chemotherapy:
Most chemotherapy drugs are given in the form of tablets, daycare medications as in a vaccine or sometimes given through the blood vessels through intravenous injections in the hospital.
Chemotherapy maybe given as once a day, once a week, or even once a month, based on the type of cancer and the chemotherapy regimen that is ideal for the condition. It is given as long as the regular follow up investigations confirm best treatment results.
Chemotherapy uses cytotoxic treatments which is based on the propensity of cells to die when their DNA is damaged by therapeutic means; hormonal approaches where reducing the circulating hormones reduces the proliferation of some tissues; and other immunological therapies which alters the natural history of malignancy by using a profound stimulus to the immune system like the Monoclonal antibodies.
Radiotherapy:
The use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing is radiotherapy. It is a local treatment which affects cancer cells only in the treated area by a machine externally or from an implant placed directly into or near the tumor.
We are Committed to cancer research and treatment .
Facilities Provided in our hospital are :
Chemotherapy of solid tumours
Chemotherapy of haematological malignancies
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy of solid tumour and haematological malignancies.
Diagnostic tests
Day care chemotherapy
Chemoport insertion
Bone marrow & stem cell transplantation
