DONATEMEDICAL ONCOLOGY SERVICES
Overview
A highly qualified, experienced and dedicated team of medical oncologists is available at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre. The team is subgrouped according to the area of specialization as per disease of different organ systems. Evidence based, internationally approved Chemotherapy guidelines are followed for treatment of various solid and hematological malignancies.
Medical oncology department also extends its support and services to the patients who are beyond the scope of active chemotherapy treatment by offering optimum palliation. Medical oncology OPD services are available from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM while emergency services are available 24×7.
The hospital’s medical oncology department includes specially trained nursing and peripheral staff that assists in the administration of Chemotherapy in Day Care as well as indoor. Chemotherapy Drug mixing is done at a separately designated Cytotoxic Admixture lab, under laminar airflow with prescribed quality controls.
In order to make administration of chemotherapy safe and more patient friendly, use of central catheters or ports is instituted routinely in the department. RGCIRC is also backed by a modern and highly efficient blood bank offering facility round the clock for blood & blood components.
Medical oncology department is actively involved in research and academic activities as well, which includes a successful DNB medical Oncology program running over decade.
Approach to Cancer Patients
The aim of cancer treatment is to relieve symptoms, cure the patient, and prolong or save life.
When cancer is detected early, treatment is very effective and patients are usually cured.
In patients with advanced stage cancer, complete cure may not be possible, and its treatment aims to control the disease, improve quality of life, and keeping the patient comfortable as long as possible. The treatment of each patient is designed to suit the individual and depends on many factors like age of the patient, general condition, type of cancer and stage of disease.
The treatment of cancer requires multi-disciplinary approach. This involves diagnostic services, pathology and molecular studies, radiology and nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, surgical oncology and radiation oncology.
Medical Oncology has evolved over time with comprehensive cancer care . Today’s cancer treatment encompasses multi-disciplinary treatment approach to all types of cancer- be it solid tumours or blood cancer. With the advancement in molecular techniques, we are ushering in the era of precision medicine.
Medical Oncology Deals with
- Cancer Screening: Breast cancer, Colon cancer, Cervical cancer, Prostate cancer
- The diagnosis of any cancer
- Therapy (e.g. Chemotherapy, Hormonal therapy, Immunotherapy and Monoclonal antibodies)
- Follow-up of cancer patients after successful treatment
- Palliative care of patients.
- Pain management
Various Modalities of Medical Treatment for Cancer
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with one or more cytotoxic anti-neoplastic drugs (chemotherapeutic agents) as part of a standardized regimen. Chemotherapy may be given with a curative intent or it may aim to prolong life or palliate symptoms. It is often used in conjunction with other cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy, surgery, and/or hyperthermia therapy.
By medical oncology, we mean treatment of cancer with the help of Chemotherapeutic drugs. Chemotherapy reaffirms the efficacy of the surgery if the cancer is detected in its early stage. Chemotherapy improves the quality of life and prolongs survival in advanced stage or end-stage cancers. In conditions like Lymphoma, Leukemia and Germ Cell tumors, chemotherapy plays a curative role.
Our experienced and empathetic chemo nurses use the latest chemo delivery devices to make treatment easier. This helps patients to complete planned drug cycles and prepares them for the next line of treatment, putting them on the path to recovery. The drugs are prepared under an infection-free Laminar Hood which maintains effectiveness. Chemotherapy can be administered in day care basis.
Traditional chemotherapeutic agents act by killing cells that divide rapidly, one of the chief properties of most cancer cells. This means that chemotherapy also harms cells that divide rapidly under normal circumstances i.e. cells in the bone marrow, digestive tract, and hair follicles.
Some of the chemotherapeutic agents also play a vital role in the treatment of a host of other non-malignant conditions such multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Psoriasis, Ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and lupus erythematosus.
It is a known fact that chemotherapy can cause some side effects in the digestive tract, hair follicles etc. Decreased production of blood cells (myelosuppression and resultant immunosuppressant), inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract (mucositis), hair loss (alopecia) etc. are some of the common side effects of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy may use one drug at a time (single-agent chemotherapy) or several drugs at once (combination chemotherapy or polychemotherapy). The combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is chemo-radiotherapy. Few drugs that exerts cytotoxic activity only upon light exposure is called photo-chemotherapy or photodynamic therapy.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy has limited use in cancer treatment since only minority of tumours are hormone sensitive e.g. breast and prostate cancer. This therapy provides systemic means of treatment to the whole body, but without the side effects of chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a form of treatment which stimulates the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells. But it is expensive.
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
It is the use of monoclonal antibodies (or mAb) to specifically target cells. The main objective is stimulating the patient’s immune system to attack the malignant tumour cells and the prevention of tumour growth by blocking specific cell receptors.
Facilities
- RGCIRC offers a state-of-the-art day care facility for chemotherapy.
- Cytotoxic Admixture Rooms and laminar flow bio-safety cabinets conforming to world class standards
- Well-equipped in-house pharmacy for all oncology medicines.
- A multi-disciplinary team provides services ranging from cancer screening to diagnosis and cancer management in a holistic manner.
- The team comprises of experienced doctors, dedicated nurses and trained technicians
Our Medical Oncologists are setting the standard in theranostics, cancer research and rehabilitation.
Medical Oncology Services FAQs
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is also called chemo,” it’s a way to treat cancer that uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
How does chemotherapy work?
In our body each day new cells are formed to maintain the normal function of the body. It targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancer cells do. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout your body. But it can also affect some fast-growing healthy cells, like those of the skin, hair, intestines, and bone marrow. That is what causes some of the side effects from the treatment.
What does chemotherapy do?
It depends on the kind of cancer and stage you have.
- Cure: In some cases, the treatment can destroy cancer cells to the point that your doctor can no longer detect them in your body. After that, the best outcome is that they never grow back again. In scientific language, a patient without disease for 5 years is considered as cured.
- Control: In some cases, it may only be able to keep cancer from spreading to other parts of your body or slow the growth of cancer .
- Palliation or Ease symptoms: In some cases, chemotherapy can’t cure or control the spread of cancer and is simply used to shrink tumours that cause pain or pressure. These tumours often continue to grow back.
How is chemotherapy used?
Sometimes chemotherapy is used alone, but more often it’s used in combination with:
- Surgery: A doctor removes cancerous tumors or tissue, or organs contaminated with cancerous cells.
- Radiation therapy : A doctor uses invisible radioactive particles to kill cancer cells. It may be delivered by a special machine that bombards parts of your body from the outside, or by putting radioactive material on, near, and even inside your body.
- Biological therapy:in the form of antibodies are carefully introduced to kill cancer cells.
How chemotherapy works against cancer?
- CT may reduce the size and extent of lesion before radiation therapy or surgery – this strategy is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
- CT may kill remaining cancer cells, which may not be visible after surgery or radiation therapy — called adjuvant chemotherapy.
- Make other therapies (biological or radiation) more effective.
- Destroy cancer cells that return or spread to other parts of your body.
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets the specific molecules in cancer cells. These therapies have less side effects , and available in oral form for many cancers.
Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow. All cancers do not respond to hormone treatment.ER and PR positive breast cancers may benefit from hormonal manipulation.
What Are Cancer Clinical Trials?
Frequently Asked Questions:
In our body each day new cells are formed to maintain the normal function of the body. It targets cells that grow and divide quickly, as cancer cells do. Unlike radiation or surgery, which target specific areas, chemo can work throughout your body. But it can also affect some fast-growing healthy cells, like those of the skin, hair, intestines, and bone marrow. That is what causes some of the side effects from the treatment.
It depends on the kind of cancer and stage you have.
- Cure: In some cases, the treatment can destroy cancer cells to the point that your doctor can no longer detect them in your body. After that, the best outcome is that they never grow back again. In scientific language, a patient without disease for 5 years is considered as cured.
- Control: In some cases, it may only be able to keep cancer from spreading to other parts of your body or slow the growth of cancer .
- Palliation or Ease symptoms: In some cases, chemotherapy can’t cure or control the spread of cancer and is simply used to shrink tumours that cause pain or pressure. These tumours often continue to grow back.
Sometimes chemotherapy is used alone, but more often it’s used in combination with:
- Surgery: A doctor removes cancerous tumors or tissue, or organs contaminated with cancerous cells.
- Radiation therapy : A doctor uses invisible radioactive particles to kill cancer cells. It may be delivered by a special machine that bombards parts of your body from the outside, or by putting radioactive material on, near, and even inside your body.
- Biological therapy:in the form of antibodies are carefully introduced to kill cancer cells.
- CT may reduce the size and extent of lesion before radiation therapy or surgery – this strategy is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
- CT may kill remaining cancer cells, which may not be visible after surgery or radiation therapy — called adjuvant chemotherapy.
- Make other therapies (biological or radiation) more effective.
- Destroy cancer cells that return or spread to other parts of your body.
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets the specific molecules in cancer cells. These therapies have less side effects , and available in oral form for many cancers.
Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow. All cancers do not respond to hormone treatment.ER and PR positive breast cancers may benefit from hormonal manipulation.
