India's first public proton beam therapy unit in Assam: How does it help?
Assam is establishing India's first public proton beam therapy centre to democratise advanced cancer care, particularly for children, offering precise treatment with fewer side effects than traditional radiotherapy.
Assam is establishing India's first public proton beam therapy centre to democratise advanced cancer care, particularly for children, offering precise treatment with fewer side effects than traditional radiotherapy.
Assam is establishing India's first public proton beam therapy centre to democratise advanced cancer care, particularly for children, offering precise treatment with fewer side effects than traditional radiotherapy.
A few days ago, an agreement was signed to set up India's first public proton beam therapy centre in Assam. Once set up, it is expected to make a significant difference for patients, particularly children, receiving cancer care. The 600-cr centre will make available to the common man a technology which was, so far, available only in India's certain private hospitals, that too at a cost of around ₹50 lakh. There are only 40 proton beam therapy centres in the entire world, while only two centres in India have this technology so far, -- Tata Cancer Hospital in Mumbai and Apollo Hospital in Chennai. What is proton beam therapy and how does it help?
Proton beam therapy
Proton beam therapy, according to Cancer Research UK, is a treatment that lasts between 3 and 7 weeks for certain types of cancer. This includes cancers that develop in the spine and skull in adults. In children, it's used to treat spinal cord cancer, brain cancer, and cancers in the neck and head. Those on therapy take it at least five days a week, for around 60 minutes.
Does it have any side effects?
It's a treatment that can make the patient feel tired, both during the session and for a while afterwards. Some people also lose hair, and their skin can be red and sore. That said, experts say the risks of these side effects are lower than those of other external radiotherapies.
The centre in Assam
Assam's proton beam centre will be equipped with the ProteusONE system, an advanced proton therapy technology known for its compact design and precise treatment delivery capabilities. Doctors, medical physicists, technicians and other essential personnel will receive specialised training in the therapy before its launch. Selected personnel will also undergo training at international centres where similar systems are already operational.
Assam government has also approached Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, to facilitate the early onboarding and practical training of medical personnel. Patients from neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar, could also benefit from access to advanced treatment in Guwahati without having to travel to distant metropolitan cities or other countries.
(With PTI inputs)