Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology

Pioneering History & Legacy

• July 1982: Padhar Hospital established the Theratron 780 Teletherapy Unit—becoming Asia’s first Cobalt unit in a rural setting. Over 10,500 cancer patients have received external beam radiation since its inception.

• February 1987: Inauguration of the Amersham Manual Afterloading Brachytherapy Unit by thespian Mr. Sunil Dutt, funded with the support of the Nargis Dutt Cancer Foundation (USA), providing targeted treatment for over 1,500 women with cervical cancer.

• 1992: First interstitial wire implants (Iridium-192) introduced under Dr. Anant Kekre for treating breast and head & neck cancers.

• January 2000: Inception of the dedicated Palliative Care Unit to offer holistic end-of-life care, pain relief, and psychosocial/bereavement support.

• April 2008: Installation of a state-of-the-art High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy Unit, inaugurated by Member of Parliament Ms. Priya Dutt, supported by the Nargis Dutt Cancer Foundation (USA) and Friends of Padhar (UK).

• Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Grant: Awarded a grant by the Government of India to install an advanced, indigenous Bhabatron Teletherapy Machine to modernize external beam treatment capabilities.

Hospital Cancer Registry & Caseload

Padhar Hospital registers approximately 1,000 new cancer patients annually. The department's disease distribution highlights key regional health needs:

Cancer Type% of Total Caseload

Head & Neck Cancers50%

Cervical Cancer20%

Breast Cancer8%

Esophageal Cancer8%

Lung Cancer7%

Other Malignancies7%

Clinical Modalities & Technology

1. External Beam Radiotherapy (Teletherapy)

• Theratron-780 Teletherapy Machine: Utilizes a Cobalt-60 ($^{60}\text{Co}$) radioisotope (half-life of 5.26 years, mean energy of 1.25 MeV) delivering conformal gamma radiation beams to tumor targets while sparing surrounding critical organs.

• Bhabatron Teletherapy Unit: Modernization upgrade supported by the Government of India's Department of Atomic Energy.

2. High Dose Rate (HDR) Multisource Brachytherapy

• First in India: The country’s first HDR Remote Afterloading System featuring a miniaturized Cobalt-60 source with 20 channels.

• Clinical Advantage: Reduces delivery time from multi-day inpatient stays down to 15–20 minutes on an outpatient/day-care basis.

• Applications: Supports Intracavitary, Intraluminal, and Interstitial radiation implants.

• Staff Safety: Fully automated remote source loading ensures zero radiation exposure to medical and nursing personnel during applicator positioning.

3. Computerized Treatment Planning Systems (TPS)

• Radplan System: Dedicated computer system calculating 3D dose distributions for external beam radiotherapy.

• HDR Plus System: Specialized planning platform for high-precision brachytherapy implants.

• Image Fusion: Direct integration of CT, MRI, Ultrasound, and digital X-ray datasets to calculate optimal tumor dose coverage while adhering to strict normal tissue tolerance limits.

4. Multidisciplinary Palliative Care Unit

• Comprehensive symptom management, morphine-based pain alleviation, and psychological/spiritual support delivered by an interdisciplinary team (Radiation Oncologist, Physician, Oncology Nurses, Radiotherapy Technologists, and Medical Social Workers/Counselors).

Department of Medical Physics & Radiation Safety

Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance

• Regulatory Recognition: Fully certified and licensed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and compliant with IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and Central Government radiation safety frameworks.

• Quality Assurance (QA) & Dosimetry Equipment: Equipped with calibrated ionization chambers, dosimeters, gamma zone monitors, radiation survey meters, and TLD (Thermoluminescent Dosimeter) badges for continuous personnel dose monitoring.

 

Community Oncology & Patient Welfare

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• Cancer Vijay Diwas: An annual public celebration felicitating cancer survivors, where each survivor is presented with a mango sapling to plant in their home village as a symbol of renewed life and hope.

• Early Detection Camps: Routine outreach and screening camps conducted throughout rural and tribal belts.

• Financial Aid Assistance: Active facilitation of state and national welfare schemes including:

  • Indian Cancer Society (ICS)

  • Chief Minister Refill Fund

  • Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF)

  • Doctor Arun Kurkure Initiation and Treatment Fund

  • Central Railway

  • Medsave

 

Public Health Guidance: Seven Early Warning Signs of Cancer

Early detection saves lives. Consult a doctor immediately if you notice:

1. Any non-healing sore or ulcer.

2. A persistent lump or thickening in the breast or elsewhere.

3. Unusual bleeding or discharge from any bodily orifice.

4. Noticeable changes in the size, shape, or color of a wart or mole.

5. Persistent indigestion or difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).

6. Persistent hoarseness of voice or chronic cough.

7. Any unexplained, lasting change in bowel or bladder habits.