Imphal, August 27: Following machinery breakdown, cancer patients who are undergoing treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre in RIMS Hospital are staring at possible deterioration of their condition.

With daily treatment of about 200-300 out-patients through the heat radiation (radio-therapy) process, a normal activity, technical failure of the machine since yesterday is likely to trigger serious apprehension and fear among the patients as disruption in the midst of the treatment necessitates resumption from the beginning.

Even though the radio-therapy machine used since 1997 broke down and the replacement has already arrived the same nevertheless is yet to be installed thereby posing threat to the patients.

It is pertinent to mention here that Union health Minister Dr Ambumani Ramadoss during his visit to the State and NE region in May this year had strongly advocated development of the Centre to a Cancer Hospital considering that fact that NE region is home to substantial number of cancer patients due to rampant use of tobacco items.

Contrary to the machine breakdown 15 patients out of 28 currently admitted at the Centre require regular radio-therapy treatment in addition to other patients tallying up the number recently.

Many other cancer patients from neighbouring states such as Nagaland and Mizoram also undertake treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre but failure of the machine entails extra expenditure for the treatment as well as for their stay in the State for treatment.

Among others one five year old Pebam Satyajit of Ningomthongjao Kitna Panung is said to be in serious need of radio-therapy after a lump from near his ear was recently removed.

The child needs anaesthesia four days a week for the treatment.

The new machine awaiting installation is said to be of advance technology and could complete radio-therapy session within 1-2 minute compared to the previous one that requires atleast 15-20 minutes per patient.

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