Bringing relief to many prostrate cancer patients who had lost hope from the deadly disease, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC) in the national capital has started using a new
Bringing relief to many prostrate cancer patients who had lost hope from the deadly disease, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC) in the national capital has started using a new and effect treatment technique with negligible side effects.
According to the health experts, “Theranostics”, a technique which has been in use in Europe, is effective in resistant cases where patients don’t respond to the conventional treatment modules. Experts claimed that the technique has negligible side effects, no morbidity and is administered once in two or three months thus reducing the hospital costs.
“We are the first one to use this technique in Delhi and are extremely happy with the outcome. We are certain that this would be very useful in many such cases where the disease has progressed and spread to bones,” said Dr Partha S Choudhury, director (nuclear medicine) at RGCIRC.
The technique has been used on 75-year-old Ishwar Modi, who was first diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 62 and has been under different treatments regimens from time to time. Over the years, he has received hormones, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Despite the treatment, cancer was spreading in his body and he was developing progressive pain in his bones due to which he was bed-ridden.
“We felt the need of a different approach to address this debilitating condition as the standard treatment was unable to contain the spread. Theranostics was the best option available and after consultation with the patient and family as well as some preliminary tests, we found that he was fit for this technique,” added Dr Choudhury.
“I am glad Mr Modi’s disease has partially regressed, his tumour markers have come down and his quality of life has improved substantially. He first came to us in a stretcher before treatment, and came walking during his second cycle of therapy,” he added.
On the question of how this was better than the other available options, Dr Choudhury informed, “The other treatment option like chemotherapy needs regular cycles with a lot of supportive care due to its toxic side effects. Theronstics is administered once in 2-3 months, costs as much as any other treatment, has negligible side effects and morbidity is nil,” added the doctor.
