New techniques offering efficient, minimally invasive approaches to cancer patients are being discussed at a three-day oncology summit in Mumbai.
Advances in radiation therapy and radio surgery for the treatment of cancer are also being highlighted at the summit.
According to Professor Ramesh S. Bilimagga, President, Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI), "Around 2.5 million people are affected by cancer, every year 8-10 lakh more are added and 5-6 lakh people die from the disease. In 2030, this figure will treble. The scenarios is bad worldwide too with the low and middle income countries reporting the worst rates."
"Therefore, treatment has to be made more accessible and both government and private institutions have to recognize this. Not just government, but luckily, with more entrepreneurs getting into this field the mindset is changing rapidly. Insurance has also pushed up and we are using private equipment and making government chip in."
John R Adler, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University and Vice President and Chief of New Clinical Applications, Varian Medical Systems, said "Advances in radiation oncology are changing the way cancer is treated around the world. Modern medical devices have ushered in a period of personalized medicine, enabling doctors to target tumors non-invasively, with high precision."
India has an estimated one million new cases of cancer diagnosed in the country each year.
"Embracing the latest advancements in radiotherapy and radiosurgery for treatment of cancer is just what we need in India. These new devices enable clinicians to deliver radiation accurately and quickly, making this not just more efficient but also a cost-effective treatment. Many more patients can be treated with a single machine than was previously possible." added Professor Bilimagga.