Cancer Institute

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY  

Medical Oncology as part of Comprehensive Cancer Care of Caritas Cancer Institute offers treatment of both solid and dermatological malignancies, with stem cell transplantation added recently, Has exclusive ‘Day Care’ Chemotherapy ward and equipped with facilities to manage chemotherapy induced complications. We have counsellors and dieticians to guide the patients.We are well versed in giving Chemotherapies, including newer targetted therapies as per latest international guidelines.

SURGICAL ONCOLOGY  

• Performed x10,000 successful major cancer surgeries
• Organ conserving cancer surgeries
• Head and neck resection +reconstruction
• Breast cancer surgeries and reconstruction
• Breast conserving cancer treatment
• Cancer surgeries for stomach
• cancer surgeries for large and small bowel, rectum etc
• Lung cancer surgeries
• Mediastinoscopy, Thoracoscopy and Laparoscopy cancer surgeries
• Cancer surgeries for gynecological tumors like ovaries, uterus etc.
• Day care cancer surgeries
• Physical cancer surgeries

Dr. GURUCHANNABASAVAIAH B MS, MCh

RADIATION ONCOLOGY  

What we Have
As a part of comprehensive cancer treatment, department of radiation oncology is offering the state of the art radiation treatment to its cancer patients. We have facilities for delivering both external beam radiation (teletherapy) and internal beam radiation (Brachytherapy). For external beam radiation the department is equipped with two dual energy (6MV AND 15 MV) Linear accelerator machines capable of delivering both three dimensional conformal treatment (3D-CRT) with multileaf collimators (MLC) and Intensity Modulated radiation Treatment (IMRT). Three dimensional computerized treatment planning is done using Plato (Nucletron) while IMRT planning is done with KONRAD (Seimens) soft wares. CT and MR images are automatically transferred to our radiation treatment planning computers which has the facility for fusing preoperative CT, MR and PET images with the radiation planning CT images. A separate contouring work station (ONCENTRA) helps in accurately delineating tumor and the critical normal tissues. We also have Electronic Portal Imaging (EPID) for verifying the accuracy of treatment delivery. Brachytherapy or internal radiation is delivered with Nucletron Microselectron High Dose Rate (HDR) Unit using radio active Iridium- 192. Advantage of high dose rate brachytherapy is the very short treatment time of less than thirty minutes.
What we provide
Patients upon referral for external radiation are seen by the radiation oncologist who briefs them about the various aspects of radiation. They are given leaflets and are also shown a short video and power point presentation about radiation. Patients then undergo CT scan of the affected area for radiotherapy planning purpose. These images are transferred to the planning computers where the tumor and the normal structures are accurately drawn. Computerized planning is done so that radiation treatment is focused on the tumor region thereby delivering maximum dose to the tumor, while minimizing the dose to the surrounding critical structure as much as possible. The best plan is then transferred from the planning computers to the treatment machine using LANTIS. Patients are then set up and the accuracy of the treatment delivery is assessed using electronic portal imaging before the actual treatment delivery. Till September 2010 we have delivered external radiation to nearly 5000 patients. Apart from delivering accurate state of the art radiation it is also our endeavor to make the patients treatment as comfortable as possible.

A. Siemens Primus Plus Dual energy Linear Accelerator

• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Multi Leaf Collimator (MLC)
• Three Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT)
• Electronic Portal Imaging (EPID)
• Virtual Wedge
• 6 MV photon for Head & Neck and Thoracic Tumors
• 15 MV photon for Pelvic& Abdomen Tumors
• Electrons of various energy (6,9,12,15,18,21 MeV) for skin & superficial tumors

B. Computerized Treatment Planning Systems

• CONRAD- Inverse Planning for IMRT
• PLATO for 3DCRT
• ONCENTRA for Contouring & Image Fusion( MRI&PET)
• COHERENCE DOSIMETRIST for Virtual Simulation
• LANTIS for record and verification

C.Internal Radiation Thearpy- BRACHYTHERAPY

• Nucletron Microselectron High Dose Rate(HDR) Unit
• Radioactive source- Iridium- 192 (10 Ci)

D. Imaging Modalities

• Spiral CT
• MRI
• Ultrasound
• Mammography
• X-Ray

PAIN AND PALLIATIVE CARE  

“Add life to their days not days to their life”

Palliative care is the active total care of patients and their families by a multi-disciplinary team at the time when the patients’ disease is no longer responsive curative treatment. It is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering. Palliative care responds to physical, psychosocial, mental, economic and spiritual needs. It also extends necessary support in bereavement.

With great interest and support of Archbishop Emeritus Kuriakose Kunnachery, caritas Palliative care unit started in 2004 mainly for cancer patients, but gradually the service was extended to patients suffering from other chronic incurable diseases such as COPD, Stroke, paraplegia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, old age etc…

Home care is an integral part of Palliative care. We have trained volunteers’ home care, nurses home care, Doctors home care (need based). We have 20 active volunteers working with us. The home care team focuses on giving tender loving care. The joy lies in giving the patients happiness and peace in their dying moments. Regular visits by the home care team, proper counseling, prayer etc…help the patients get rid of their negative feelings. For Patients who are fighting an illness that cannot be cured, the love and care given by the home care team is a great blessing. There is limit for cure but no limit for care. Under changing social conditions, the old and the sick often feel isolated. More Volunteers are required to bring the light of love and peace in to the lives of these people. A kind and caring heart and willingness to serve without any financial return is the only qualification required for a volunteer.
We visit the patients in their homes and provide them with the necessary assistance like medicine, wheel chair, water bed, air bed, nebulizer, walker, back rest etc.. .for the needy. In case of patients from very poor back ground help is given for the education of children.
We get timely guidance and support from Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkat, Caritas Hospital Director Rev Fr. Thomas Animoottil who is our patron, gives unstinted help and support for our activities.
Since 7 years 25-30 of our poor Cancer patients get US $ 150 in their names as one time help, from SUSAN DANIEL MEMORIAL CANCER RELIEF FUND. Besides they sponsor the bed charge of two patients per day. Since few years the employees of SBT Kanjikuzhy transfer an amount from their salary in favor of Cancer patient’s kids for their education. They also give financial help for Christmas and Onam celebrations to our poor patients. The South Indian Bank Thellokom Branch has donated money to our charity fund. We are getting charity box collections from various shops in Kottayam, Ettumanoor, Kaduthuruthy, Pala etc.one of our patient late Mrs.Mariam Philip George had published a CD for patients and the income was donated to our charity fund.
We are extremely grateful to all our Benefactors and well-wishers from India and abroad who have supported us in various ways such as financial assistance, moral support etc… Thank you
Our Activities
Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases of our time. Once a Patient is diagnosed with cancer not only the patient, but the family            as well, gets into a state of mental agony which is some times worse than the physical ailment. These negative feelings often lead to depression and despair. This is where palliative care becomes a great help and a beacon of hope. If diagnosed early and treated in time, cancer is curable, but many are not aware of this. The palliative care team helps those who get cured, to come back into the normal stream of life. In the case of those in the advanced stages of the disease, they help in providing physical and mental care.

Dr. V.P. Gangadharan, the well-known medical oncologist, is a consultant al Caritas Cancer Institute. According to him the palliative care volunteers be of great help to the patients in many ways. The aim of palliative care is to create a pain free world. About 75% of cancer patients suffer from physical pain. Here palliative care can help a lot by giving proper analgesics (NSAIDS). In cases where ordinary analgesics are not effective in relieving pain, oral morphine is administered in palliative care. The patients and their families are given awareness about the treatment which helps to dispel the fears and doubts connected with the intake of morphine.

The Palliative Care team also deals with other kinds of ‘pain’ felt by the patients, such as anxiety about the expenses of the treatment, the debt the family incurs, the education of the children, their marriage etc. In some patients there is a fear of death. By proper counseling and spiritual advice and supportive prayer, the Palliative Care team helps to allay their fears to a certain extent. Nurses home care once in week and need based. Doctors home care need based Trained local volunteers home care frequent and need based. When provision of care at home becomes difficult, if willing we refer our patients to St.josephs home kottayam which provides the best hospice care free of cost.No bystander is needed. We refer palliative patients to local hospitals to reduce the cost and other problems of theb patient and their family. Patient and relatives can call any time the doctor or any team member. We provide medicines, dressing kit water bed, wheel chair, walker, back rest,nebulizer etc to the needy free of charge. Counselling to the patient and family. Financial support for the education of poor patient kids. Rehabilitation of the patient and family members.
Home Care
Home Care is an integral part of Palliative Care. Many cancer patients live with constant physical pain and have to go to hospital frequently for things like changing of tubes or dressing of wounds. Some may not have the necessary conveyance. Here the palliative care team comes to their help. They visit the patients in their homes and provide them with the necessary assistance. Many patients, including those who are terminally ill, have found home care a real blessing. They welcome the visit of the Home Care team and very soon begin to consider them as friends or angels of mercy. The team also gives the necessary training to members of the family in giving care to the patient. One advantage of Home Care is that the volunteers come to understand the stress and mental agony of the patient and the family members and they are able to help them confront the situation.
Home Care was started in Caritas Hospital in 2006 Absence of proper conveyance was   difficulty in the early days. But this problem was solved when a vehicle was donated in memory of Mr. Sunny Vettathukandathil by his family. The Home Care Unit provides   medicines, dressing kit, Wheel Chair, Water bed, Nebulizer, Back Rest, Walker etc. for patients who need these. Patients who have financial difficulties are given medicines and other equipment free of charge. In the case of patients from very poor background, help is given even for the education of children. The Home Care Unit focuses on giving tender loving care. The joy lies in giving the patients happiness and peace in their dying moments. Regular visits by the Home Care team, proper counseling, prayer etc. help the patients get rid of their negative feelings. For patients who are fighting an Illness that cannot be cured the love and care given by Home Care team is .a great blessing, There is a limit for cure but no limit for care. Under changing social conditions, the old and the sick often feel isolated; more volunteers are required to bring love and peace into the lives of these people A kind and caring heart and willingness In serve without any financial return is the only qualification required for a volunteer. The terminally ill often become desperate. Palliative Care helps them accept the reality with a composed mind Life which is a gift from God is to be protected from the womb to the tomb. Mercy killing is as much a wrong as abortion. We in India are fortunate as the Indian ethos gives due respect and attention to the aged and the terminally ill.
“We can add life to their days, if not days to their life”
AcknowledgementWe thank God Almighty for all the blessings showered on us. We express our sincere gratitude to Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry and Arch Bishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt for the unstinted help and support extended to us. We are grateful to all our well-wishers in India and abroad who have helped us in various ways. With God’s grace and the support of kind hearted People the Caritas Palliative Care Unit will be able to i extend its services to Many more people who are in great need of such services.

PREVENTION OF CANCER

Life style modification

1.            Regular food habits and exercise (Add Fruits, Vegetables, Row salad)

2.            Avoid overweight.

3.            Reduce the use of meat, especially red meat.

4.            Reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

5.            Avoid Alcohol and Soft Drinks

6.            Stop smoking and avoid the use of Panmasala etc.

7.            Reduce the use of plastic.

8.            Find time for relaxation like Yoga, Meditation, Music, TV, Reading etc.

Awareness class
Prevention and early detection of cancer Pallative care Palliative care integrates the physical,psychological and spirtual care of patients suffering from advanced cancer and other chronic incurable diseases.It assures the best possible quality of life for these patients,providing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms.Palliative care affirms life and striives to make the last days of the patient as comfortable as possible. The team gives holistic support to the patients to live and die with dignity. There is limit for cure but no limit for care. Add life to their days, not days to their life.

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We have a Joint Account Joint A/C. South Indian Bank, Caritas Branch

SWIFT CODE: SOININ55 A/c No. 0363053000051660