PROTON BEAM THERAPY,A REVOLUTION IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY,BRINGS A NEW RAY OF HOPE TO CANCER PATIENTS-FIRST TIME IN INDIA.

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC),South Asia's first & only Proton Therapy Centre ,has successfully treated a 12 year old boy, Venkata Srisaravana Vemula from Bengaluru with Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) for pinealoblastoma- a rare type of cancer that occurs in the pineal gland of the brain. The pineal gland is located in the centre of the brain and it produces a harmone called melatonin,which plays a role in the natural sleep -wake cycle of the human body.

The International Association of Cancer Registries (IARC)  states that there are around 28,000 cases of brain cancer reported in India every year and alarmingly 24,000 people die due to brain tumours  annually. So far, APCC has treated over 300 cases of brain tumours,22 of which are from Bengaluru.

Dr.Srinivas Chilukuri,Consultant, Radiation Oncology,Apollo Proton Cancer Centre,Chennai,said," the boy's tumour was in the pineal gland, a risky location in the centre of the brain,and proton therapy helps deliver highly focused protons,spot by spot and layer by layer, to disrupt the tumour and target radiation to the size and shape of the tumour without harming the surrounding healthy tissues."The protons destroy tumour and hit at the target and can be stopped exactly where they want to stop. There is only one proton Therapy centre is in the country at Chennai.  UK, a small country compared to India has 4 centres.

Mr.Dinesh Madhavan, President,Group Oncology and International,Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd,Said," we remain committed to advancing the field of cancer treatment and investing in cutting-edge-technology such as proton therapy in the treatment of cancer, to ensure that our patients receive the best possible outcomes".

Another patient Navadiya Jemin Manshkhbhai, was also treated  at APCC was present in the press meet.

Proton therapy is being encouragingly adopted for the treatment  of various cancers such as brain & Spine tumours,skull base tumours,oral cancers,gastro intestinal cancers bone and soft tissue tumours,breast cancers,thoracic cancers,(lung cancer),genitourinry cancers(prostate cancer)and predominantly
in paediatric cancers except for leukaemia.