The First Interstitial Brachytherapy Successfully Performed at Dibrugarh Cancer Centre

"I can see hope at last and a positive treatment that will cure my cancer. My family will be relieved of the burden of my cancer and as the hospital is in my hometown itself, we could save a lot as there was no travel and hotel expenses"

Interstitial Brachytherapy Template was successfully performed at Dibrugarh Cancer Centre (DCC) – a unit of Assam Cancer Care Foundation - by Dr Phulkumari Talukdar, Radiation Oncologist and team. This has been the first such procedure in upper Assam.

When Nirmala Devi (name changed) - 57-year-old cancer patient, residing in Paltan Bazar area of Dibrugarh – heard about the advanced and affordable cancer treatment offered at the ACCF Dibrugarh cancer centre (DCC) close to her home, she and her family saw a ray of hope. Nirmala was earlier diagnosed with Cancer Cervix (post hysterectomy) with vault recurrence. Upon being examined by Dr Phulkumari at ACCF- DCC, she was advised External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with Brachytherapy. In the first week of January 2023, Nirmala underwent the procedure and has been responding well.

Cancer specialist Dr Phulkumari said "mostly cancer cervix and cancer vaginas can be cured by radiotherapy and chemotherapy combined, if detected early. Radiotherapy can be combined with external beam and brachytherapy. Though Intracavitary Brachytherapy is common form of Brachytherapy, in many occasions it is not feasible. On the other hand, high dose rate Interstitial Brachytherapy template is a very specialized form of application. It requires specialized skill and technical knowledge. The patients are required to be in hospital only for three days and it is a pain free procedure " The procedure on Nirmala was performed with Varian Gamma Med machine Iridium 192 isotope, using 16 channels to a very targeted area of the disease. In big cities the procedure would cost at least a lakh whereas, Nirmala got it under the cashless government health scheme Ayushman Bharat. So far more than 9000 cancer patients have been given cancer treatment in ACCF hospitals under the state-run health insurance scheme i.e. Pradhan Mantri Jana Arogya Yojana and the Atal Amrit Abhiyan.

Gynaecologic cancer (cancer in the woman's reproductive organs) are of five types - cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. A sixth type of gynaecologic cancer is the very rare fallopian tube cancer. Gynaecological cancers are amongst the most common cancers in women. Due to lack of awareness and proper screening facilities - most women report at advanced stages, adversely affecting the diagnosis and clinical outcomes. Gynaecologic cancer symptoms in case of cervix are vaginal bleeding between periods; menstrual bleeding that is longer or heavier than usual; pain and bleeding during intercourse; pelvic pain; a change in vaginal discharge or it may have a strong or unusual colour or smell; vaginal bleeding after menopause.

Pap tests, maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, genetic testing, and HPV vaccine are some of the ways of prevention and early detection. The treatment for gynaecologic cancer depends on the cancer type and how far it has spread.

At ACCF cancer treatment centres, cost of treatment is available at lower rates; cashless treatment is available under state government and central government schemes – Atal Amrit Abhiyan (AAA) and PMJAY; and ESIC.

The trust and satisfaction laid upon us by our patients is our motivation to deliver best cancer treatment and establish ourselves as centre of excellence says Dr Phulkumari, HOD Radiation Oncology at Dibrugarh Cancer Centre.

For Cancer related query call toll free number 18003454325