Facilities of Modern Cancer Treatment in Manipur
- 22nd March 2023 -

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Dr. Y. Indibor Singh, Head-Radiation Oncology, Karkinos Manipur Cancer Care Institute and Research Centre

Focus on Affordability and Facilities of Modern Cancer Treatment with Precision Medicine and Radiation Therapy in Manipur

Karkinos Healthcare in Imphal has partnered with Government of Manipur to fill the gap of affordable and accessible cancer care in the state: Dr. Y. Indibor Singh, Head-Radiation Oncology, Karkinos Manipur Cancer Care Institute and Research Centre

With the advent of modern radiation equipments and techniques, we can give high dose precision radiation therapy and increase chance of cancer cure: Dr. Y. Indibor Singh

Oncology centres offer hope to patients locked in a life and death situation. Yet, countless patients often have to travel thousands of kilometres to meet a medical oncologist or a surgical oncologist. That the key to solve patient movement is to decentralize cancer care to district level where public private partnership models can be explored.

There has been rapid stride in the field of cancer treatment during the last 2 to 3 decades. This has resulted into better cure prospects, early detection and prevention as well. Even in late stages with wide spread disease, life can be prolonged with good quality and many will reach ripe age before dying in a dignified manner. Even though globally, the cancer incidence keep rising the mortality rate in many cancers are decreasing.

As we learn more about cancer biology the genomic or molecular pathology and genesis of cancer, we found many abnormal genes or products which we can specifically target. We can stop cancer cells from getting blood supply or kill them by enhancing body’s immune system. This we call molecular targeted therapy. It is a high precision and personalised form of therapy since the drugs can specifically target the cancer cells and kill them without damaging normal cells.

In the same way External beam radiation can be delivered in a highly conformal way without collateral damage that is injuring normal cells. For this high precision radiation therapy, newer machines are available using cutting edge technologies and artificial intelligence. We have stereo tactic radiosurgery with the help of Cyberknife, High energy megavoltage Linear accelerators to deliver IMRT, IGRT, VMAT by using rapid Arc technique or Rotational ring Gantry modes etc.

For small localised tumors we can treat with the help of Brachytherapy. It is a radiation technique where we can deliver lethal tumour dose by inserting or keeping radio isotopes very close to tumor or within the tumor itself. Due to rapid dose fall of radiation from source the surrounding normal tissue hardly gets any significant harmful dose. We now have particle beam therapy with proton and heavy ions like Carbon-14 which gives radiation oncologists more flexibility and versatility while dealing with radioresistant tumors in critical areas.

With the advent of these modern radiation equipments and techniques, we can give high dose precision radiation therapy and increase chance of cure and at the same time decreasing the radiation induced toxicity, says Dr. Y. Indibor Singh, Head-Radiation Oncology, Karkinos Manipur Cancer Care Institute and Research Centre. We can preserve organs and avoid drastic mutilating surgeries like amputation, radical surgery which removes organs etc. These types of surgeries are now things of past. Surgeons now perform organ or limb sparing surgery minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery as well.

Treatment of breast cancer by modern helical tomotherapy or ring gantry linear accelerator-Modern radiation therapy requires high resolution imaging techniques like CT scan, MRI and PET CT scan based etc. Good surgical hands or onco surgeons who are doing high volume surgery. Finally a tumor board of experts in its treatment modality is required for a multi-disciplinary approach for best out-come.

The big question is how much or how well our state of Manipur is prepared or equipped with all these modern infrastructures and expertise to deal with the fight against cancer or least control it. As of today our state lags behind in cancer treatment facilities specially in radiation discipline. Government institutes like RIMS and JNIMS have hardly any advanced radiation treatment facility.

There is a big gap in affordable and accessible standard and quality patient care for those suffering from cancer. Consequently patient has to move outside state with great financial difficulty. Needless to say, technology alone cannot control the cancer menace as we need to do more in health promotion and preventive aspects along with awareness programs.

Dr. Y. Indibor Singh, Head-Radiation Oncology, Karkinos Manipur Cancer Care Institute and Research Centre said that Private sectors like Karkinos Manipur Cancer Care Institute and Research Centre in Porompat, Imphal has come forward in a big way by partnering with Government of Manipur (PPP mode) to fill the gaps. To this end, with our motto of Karkinos Healthcare Centre delivering affordable and accessible world class cancer care by collaborating up with MAYO clinic, USA, will usher in the dawn of a new era in cancer treatment in our state.

Karkinos Manipur Cancer Care Institute and Research Centre is comprehensive cancer hospital with all facilities under one roof like radiation oncology, medical oncology and surgical oncology.

Karkinos Healthcare is located at
JNIMS Campus, 25 - Soibam Leikai,
Porompat, Imphal East - 795005.
Email: rajesh.siwakoti@karkinos.in