The Hindu : Kerala News : Cancer centre upgrades facilities

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Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala

Cancer centre upgrades facilities

Special Correspondent

High-speed spiral CT machine introduced

With the new CT machines radiation time will be reduced
Rs.2-crore brachy therapy facility being set up

THALASSERY: The Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) at Kodiyeri here is all set to have a full-fledged cancer treatment facilities with the setting up of state-of-the-art systems, including high speed spiral CT machine and equipment for brachy therapy. The new facilities will be inaugurated on April 19.

The new systems being set up at the MCC is expected to make it a major cancer care centre in the region as it has been originally conceived. The centre, located on a 26-acre land at Kodiyeri here, will now have a radiotherapy simulator required for precision radiation by the high speed spiral CT machine, which is also set to be operational at the MCC.

According to MCC officials, though there are around 100 CT units functioning in the State, the state-of-the-art unit such as the one being set up at the MCC is rare, they said adding that only the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and the Amritha Institute of Medical Science, Kochi, have the facility now. This new technology CT machine will take a few moments for radiation where the old generation systems take nearly one hour, they add.

The latest technologies and computer software being installed at the MCC would ensure that cancer patients will be administered no more radiation than is required for the treatment.

The radiation machine costs Rs.2 crore. Special software and laser facilities would also be available at the MCC as part of the new radiotherapy equipment.

The radiation therapy simulator installed at the MCC, costing Rs.1.5 crore, will be a great relief for patients undergoing radiation therapy at the centre.

Brachy therapy facility for treatment of cancer in initial stages is also being set up the centre. This computer-based system costs Rs.2 crore.

The MCC authorities said that Rs.40 lakh has been spent for arrangement of facilities to install the new treatment units.

A 20-room dormitory has also been constructed at the MCC using Rs.10 lakh from the local MP’s constituency development fund.

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