Kerala: Malabar Cancer Centre successfully conducts ocular brachytherapy for eye cancer for first time
Kerala Health Minister Veena George informed that ocular plaque brachytherapy treatment for eye cancer was successfully conducted at Malabar Cancer Centre. This is the fourth government hospital in India to conduct the treatment for eye cancer.
Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister Veena George informed that ocular plaque brachytherapy treatment for eye cancer was successfully conducted at Malabar Cancer Centre in Thalassery. It is a cancer treatment method that preserves the sight of the eye. The therapy was led by the Department of Ocular Oncology and Radiation Oncology at MCC. Minister Veena George said that this kind of treatment is being done for the first time in Kerala.
After Delhi AIIMS, Delhi Army Hospital and Chandigarh Govt Medical College, MCC has become the fourth government hospital in India to conduct this treatment and congratulated the doctors who led it.
This is a cancer treatment method that preserves the sight of the eye without removing the eye. A 55-year-old woman with uveal melanoma underwent successful surgery. The treatment was done using ruthenium 106 plaque produced indigenously by Bhabha Atomic Research Center at a much lower cost than imported plaques.Â
Plaque brachytherapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy used to treat eye cancer. This treatment can save the eyes without removing them and prevent vision loss. Plaque brachytherapy is very effective in treating tumors on the surface of the eye, uveal melanoma, retinoblastoma, and tumors inside the eye. A plaque containing a radioactive isotope is surgically deposited over the eye tumor and left there for a specified time. After a period of radiation treatment, this plaque is removed and the patient is closely monitored. The biggest advantage of this treatment is that the patient's vision can be preserved.
Health Minister Veena George's note:
The Thalassery Malabar Cancer Center has achieved a rare feat in cancer treatment. Ocular plaque brachytherapy treatment for eye cancer has been successfully performed at MCC. It is a cancer treatment method that preserves the sight of the eye. The therapy was led by the Department of Ocular Oncology and Radiation Oncology at MCC. This kind of treatment is being done for the first time in Kerala. Very few hospitals in India offer this treatment.Â
After Delhi AIIMS, Delhi Army Hospital and Chandigarh Govt Medical College, MCC has become the fourth government hospital in India to conduct this treatment. Congratulations to the entire team at MCC including the Head of Radiation Oncology Dr. Geeta, Dr. Jonita, Dr. Greeshma, Dr. Feroze, Dr. Hridiya, Dr. Shilpa, Dr. Sonali, Staff Nurses Jisha, Manish, Sreejil, who led the treatment. I also congratulate MCC Director Dr Satheesan.