Apollo Hospitals launches 'inherited cancer clinic'

Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore, has announced the launch of its 'Inherited Cancer Clinic'. The hospital claims that this is the first such initiative in Karnataka where it will create awareness among people on inherited cancer. The project is set to cost Apollo Rs 25-30 crore.

There is a need to create awareness on the screening programme for high-risk individuals. Through early diagnosis preventive strategies can be adopted so as to create possibilities of cure. The team will be led by Dr P P Bapsy, former director of Kidwai Institute of Oncology.

"Inherited cancer occurs in a person born with a mutation in hisôher genes. This mutation is handed down through generations and the entire family may get affected," said Dr Bapsy.

The clinic will cover three major areas "" counselling for family members regarding genetic tests, its implications and usefulness; planning of intensive surveillance of family members to detect cancer at an early stage of the disease and counselling of preventive therapeutic ways to high-risk individuals.

Dr Viqar Syed, director, Apollo Hospitals, said, "The main types of inherited cancer are some syndromes of breast cancer which also create additional risk of ovarian cancers. The other common hereditary cancer syndrome is called non-polyposis colorectal (of the colon) cancer which also has high risk for ovarian cancers. Hereditary cancer occurs in early age and so screening programmes have to be started earlier."

"A cancer which is not associated with genetic abnormality is called the sporadic cancer. It is believed that 90 per cent of cancers are sporadic cancers," he added.