What Are the Types & Procedures of Radiation Oncology in India?

Radiation oncology is becoming widely popular in the Indian medical landscape. Due to the improvements in technology and the inferences gathered from cancer research, it has become clear that radiation can have therapeutic properties that have the potential to treat cancer patients. 

Radiation Oncology: An Overview

Radiation oncologists are responsible to decide where radiation can be beneficial while treating different types of cancers. Radiation is also being used to help curb symptoms like pain and bleeding. 

The concept takes advantage of the fact that normal human cells are capable of healing themselves while cancer cells cannot. Radiation therapy for cancer is used to damage cells in the body and then the cells are allowed to naturally regenerate. This process slowly eradicates cancer cells and speeds up the recovery of the patient.  

Radiation treatment is a slow process that is generally administered alongside chemotherapy or surgery. It takes anywhere between 1 and 7 weeks before a substantial result can be seen. 

Radiation oncology in India has gained significant momentum in the past few years and is now increasingly being used in the fight against cancer. 

The various procedures involved should be properly understood by patients so that they can inculcate the appropriate aftercare practices, leading to a better chance of success. 

Also Read: RADIATION AND SURGERY: WHICH ONE IS THE BEST FOR CANCER TREATMENT?

The Procedure

Here’s a look at the various types and procedures of radiation oncology in India:

• Immobilization

After cancer has been diagnosed, staged and group, the team of oncologists treating the patient will have elaborate data about the type, size and location of the tumours in the body. 

Immobilization aims to restrict or stop movement in parts of the body that have been affected by cancer. Casts, vacuum cushions and thermoplastic moulds are used to keep various parts of the body in the right position for daily treatment.  

• Simulation

Simulation is the process that helps determine what treatment method would be most appropriate for each case. Patients are required to undergo CT scans, MRI scans or PET CT scans depending on the requirement. 

The body is scanned post immobilization so that oncologists can simulate how the treatment will be administered to the patient and how effective it may be. The images are sent to a Treatment Planning System (TPS) where the decisions about radiation treatment are made.  

• Planning

After the TPS receives the scanned images, they begin to contour and map the target cells and tissue structures in the patient’s body. The best oncologist in India would be able to plan the treatment better and decide what radiation beams would be helpful for each case. There are also complex computer programs that can help visualize how the radiation would be delivered to the patient.  

• Treatment Delivery

During the treatment delivery, the dosage is decided and radiation is administered to the patient. There are various delivery techniques like IMRT, IGRT, SBRT, SRS and many more. Most patients seek out the best oncologist in India for their procedure so that they can trust and understand the decisions made by the specialist.  

Also Read: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RADIATION THERAPY FOR CANCER

Most oncologists develop a personal connection with their patients and act as a source of hope for them when they are at their sickest. With various treatment methods like external beam radiotherapy, hypothermia and radioactive implantations already available in India, radiation oncology has become one of the most effective ways to aid cancer treatment.