Treatment Cancer Institute
Encouraged by the public appreciation of the Inlaks and budhrani general hospital and to widen the scope of service to suffering humanity, sadhu vaswani mission thought of adding a cancer institute with state of the art cancer diagnostic and treatment equipments and other modern facilities both for outdoor and indoor patients. The urgency for such a cancer institute became all the more pressing since patients from Pune and far–flung areas had no other option but to go to Tata Memorial hospital, bombay incurring very high expenses for treatment, transport and accommodation. Accordingly the project of a well planned 150 be cancer institute with a basement and five upper stories having an area of about 60.000sq. ft. was taken up. The foundation stone of the building was laid by revered Dada J. P. Vaswani on the 10th of March, 1994. The building was completed, equipped and provided with all the required medical specialists/technicians within 17 months. The Institute was consecrated and commissioned on the 24the Nov., 1995 by Dada J. P. Vaswani.
Donors and Finances
Several benevolent donors, particularly M/s Chandru and Dasi Budhrani and their families offered to contribute about INR 9 crores towards the construction of the building and providing it with substantial number of imported equipments. Other donors who contributed generously towards the procurement of imported equipment include Dada Daulatram of curacao, Mr. Hiro Makhijani of Lagos, Shri. Ashok Gurnani of USA, M/sDon, Kishoo, Chandru, Vashi Sakhrani Brothers of Hong Kong/St. Martin, Mr. Kishu Gagumal of Manila, Mr. Dharmu Chandiramani and Mr. Hiro Moorjani of Hongkong and devotees from Miami and several other cities in USA. The total cost of the first phase of the project is expected to be INR 20 Crores. The cancer institute has been named as M. N. Budhrani cancer institute after the parents of the main donors. The cancer institute has already started attracting a sizeable number of patients. Sadhu Vaswani Mission hopes that the M. N. Budhrani Cancer Institute will shortly become a great diagnostic and healing center for cancer patients for its unmatched facilities and affordable costs.
Director: Sital Menghani
New Modalities of Treatment
- Cryo surgery for liver tumors.
- Long term venous access.
- Intra–operative radiotherapy.
- Stereo tactic biopsies – breast lesions.
- High intensity chemotherapy.
- Bone marrow transplant.
The Cancer Institute established a screening OPD including mammography, for the first time in Pune for detecting early cancers in 1993. Screened more than 2600 women from Aug.1993 to March 1998 and detected 75 early breast cancers and 46 other cancers (cervix, oral cavity and esophagus). More importantly detected 14 cases of breast cancers in women who otherwise had no outward symptoms. Every patient is treated after a thorough discussion in a joint meeting of the Radiation Oncologist, Chemotherapist, Cancer Surgeon and other specialists.
Operation Chemotherapy
This is the specialized science of administering anti–cancer drugs. There have been giant strides made in the cure rates of many cancers with the introduction of new and efficacious drugs. The side–effects of the cytotoxic drugs are effectively countered at our Institute with personalized care during and after chemotherapy. The future direction for our department is to develop high intensity chemotherapy regimes. The Cell Separator shown in the inset helps to provide blood components for patients which helps combat the chemotherapy induced complications. The drugs are delivered through long term venous access devices thus preventing local complications. Most drugs are administered in a pleasant day care room.
Bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplant
Facilities for bone marrow transplant and PBSCT are now being commissioned at in our institute. In relapsed and advanced solid tumors like breast, ovary and germ cell tumors results with conventional chemotherapy regimes are poor. Today the trend is towards high dose chemotherapy for these tumors. This is possible with our cell separator machine whereby the patient’s own stem cells are separated out before treatment and are infused back after high doses of chemotherapy. This method of replacing the patient’s stem cells is called autologous peripheral blood cell rescue, and obviates the need for a donor bone marrow transplant.
Stimulator
A sophisticated automated X–ray unit which mimics the treatment machine cobalt 60 or linear accelerator) in all respects other than actually treating the patient. It is akin to the Simulator used to train pilots. The tumor is localized and the treatment parameters selected so as to aim the Radiation beams precisely onto the tumor, accurately and adequately while sparing surrounding organs. These parameters are then verified by the computer before the actual treatment is delivered.
Spiral CT scan (3–D & laser camera)
Deep seated tumors are localized with precision as a planning CT Scan is done showing a blown up 3–D picture of the tumor and adjacent organs as shown in the inset). This scanner is highly versatile and efficient. It is the first of its kind in pune. It can pick up the smallest of tumors and can characterize them into benign and malignant. The laser camera provides high quality images. The spiral mode enables continuous scanning thus ensuring much shorter scanning time and accuracy.
Treatment planning computer
This consists of a dedicated computer with advanced software. Details of the tumor obtained from the simulator or the CT Scanner, are fed into the computer and a 3 – dimensional reconstruction of the tumor done (shown in photograph), along with the surrounding organs. The precise dose required is then calculated by the computer, so as to have maximal effect on tumor while sparing normal organs. The same computer also plans accurate treatment for the Brach therapy machine i.e. the micro–HDR. The system is capable of accepting images directly through an optical disc from the CT scanner.
High dose rate HDR brachytherapy (micro–selectron)
This is a form of radiation where a radioactive isotope is introduced within or very close to a tumor. It enables the delivery of intense radiation to chosen specific sites sparing the surrounding normal tissues. The high dose rate ensures a treatment time as short as ten minutes as compared to a few days when low dose rate machines are used. This machine consists of the main body in which a radioactive Iridium source, the size of a grain, is stored. The computer guides the source to its destination through various applicators which transmit the source to the tumor site for radiation.
Theratron 780C (cobalt 60 unit)
This is a very accurate cancer therapy unit. Most cancers in India are effectively treated on this machine. It consists of a radioactive source – Cobalt 60, rotating gantry, adjustable collimator, motorized table and a control console. Theratron 780C is accepted in the world as the gold standard in Cobalt therapy. The dose delivered is highly precise, thus side effects of treatment are minimal.
Linear accelerator
The Clinic 2300 CD is a highly versatile Linear Accelerator which has revolutionized radio therapeutic treatment of tumors all over the world. It delivers high energy X–rays and electron beams. High energy (photon) X–rays are useful in delivering homogenous radiation dose distribution in deep seated tumors while saving the skin from damage. Electron beams are useful in treating superficial tumors which deliver negligible dose to deeper structures. Layout of the operation theatre and the radiation department integrates facility for intra–operative radiation.
Liver cancer
Liver cancer could be either primary or secondary. Contrary to popular belief, this cancer can be effectively treated with resection, cryotherapy and hepatic artery chemotherapy and thereby increase the life span of patients significantly.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery for Liver tumors is an effective, bloodless technique, relatively free of complications introduced in the Institute for the first time in India. A hollow probe introduced into the core of the tumor is connected to a liquid Nitrogen source at minus190 C. The ice–ball thus formed destroys the tumor, sparing the rest of the normal liver.
Nuclear medicine center multispect – 2
This is a versatile whole body scanner and one of the few in India. It can help in detection of primary tumors as well as rule out metastatic involvement in the bones and liver. It is also used in evaluating the functions of various organs like kidney, heart, lung, brain and gastrointestinal system and thereby help in providing enhanced patient care.
The Institute has also established a Nuclear Medicine cancer treatment unit. nuclear isotopes will be used to treat thyroid cancers, neuroendocrine tumors and alleviate bone pain caused by metastasis from various cancers.