The Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, will start treating paediatric cancer patients with proton therapy by the end of this year.
Proton therapy is a type of radiation treatment that uses protons, positively charged particles, to target cancer cells. This method is more precise than the commonly used x-ray (photon) radiation, reducing damage to vital organs and healthy tissues.
ACTREC's proton therapy programme, the first of its kind in India's public sector, has already treated three adult cancer patients, primarily with bone tumours, within three months of its inception.
According to reports, the hospital also plans to expand its facility by adding two more clinical rooms next month. Currently, just one room is operational, where three patients have completed treatment and ten are undergoing it.
All three patients who underwent proton therapy had bone tumors. These patients were chosen because they required larger radiation doses and were easier to manage. The treatment was well-tolerated by the patients, with a reduced likelihood of complications in surrounding areas.
The programme now covers patients with cancers of the head and neck, abdomen, and pelvis. The team is also considering which paediatric cancer cases to treat. Likely candidates would be children with malignant tumours in their head and neck region (behind the nose), involving the optic nerves, brain stem, and spinal cord.
TMH offers free proton treatment to 60 per cent of cancer patients who are economically disadvantaged. The remaining 40 per cent receive it at a subsidised fee.
The facility received international recognition when Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announced during his visit on October 26 that ACTREC would serve as one of the anchor sites for the 'Ray of Hope' program. This programme aims to help low- and middle-income countries expand their radiation medicine capabilities and develop a workforce for cancer care.
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