CMCH: Affordable comprehensive cancer care services

Ludhiana, December 15, 2012: Two years’ of dedication of Linear Accelerator in Department of Radiotherapy at Christian Medical College and Hospital Ludhiana today towards the renewal of its efforts in providing Comprehensive Cancer Treatment facilities viz; Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Medical and Hemat Oncology including Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant (ABMT) and Stem Cell Therapy and Palliative Care for patients suffering from various types of Cancers.

CMC was the first institution in 1938 to provide Radiation Therapy services in the region including Brachytherapy, 1st one to have Cobalt-60 Teletherapy services in 1958 alongwith Brachytherapy and dedicated Medical Oncology in 1972 which was later updated with the availability of Bone Marrow Transplant services since 2008.

With the provision of Linear Accelerator, CMC joins those few centers in the region providing Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and 3- D Conformal Radiation therapy (3-D CRT) facilities but at affordable costs. With the recent availability of 128 slice CT scan, MRI and Electronic PortaI Imaging Device (EPID), it is possible to provide Image Assisted Radiation Therapy. During past 2 years, Department had been able to treat  patients as well as  perform various Theses studies with CRT and IMRT, CMC being  the Centre providing Post Graduate degree in Radiotherapy, said Dr. M. K. Mahajan, the Professor and Head.

Its Hemat and Clinical Oncology unit has also treated 41 patients with ABMT which included patients with acute leukemia, Chronic Myeloid leukemia and Multiple Myeloma in addition to various non malignant conditions like Thalassemia, Myelofibrosis and Aplastic anemia stated Dr Joseph John, Head, Medical and Hemat-Oncology.

The Department of Surgery has started Hepatopancreatobilliary unit where surgery of pancreas and liver is being taken up for various primary and metastatic cancers also called Oligometastasis, stated Dr Navneet Chaudhry, Prof and Head, Surgery Department.  

Thus, CMCH dedicates to its mission of providing community oriented, socially relevant, professionally competent, multi-disciplinary and affordable services for various types of Cancers as stated by Dr A G Thomas, Director, CMCH, Ludhiana.