By Team Mangalorean
Photographs: Rajesh Shetty

Mangalore, Dec 16, 2007: A 'National Oncology Update' on current concepts and practices was hosted by Father Muller Oncology Centre, a speciality unit of Father Muller Medical College Hospital dedicated to cancer care and research.

Rev. Fr. Denis D'Sa, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital welcomed the gathering, comprising of leading oncologists from across the nation. He recalled the inauguration of the Father Medical Oncology Center, dedicated to the Nation by former President of India, His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam last week. He also welcomed the faculty of the programme, which included leading specialists from premier institutes like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore Institute of Oncology, St John's Medical College and Apollo Hospitals.

Dr. P.S Prabhakaran, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University, Bangalore inaugurates the ‘National Oncology Update’ at Father Muller Hospital, Mangalore. Also seen (L-R) are Dr. H.B. Suresh, Head of Radio-diagnosis, Dr. B. Sanjeev Rai, Dean, FMMC, Rev. Fr. Patrick Rodrigues, Director, FMCI, Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa, Administrator, FMMC and Dr. Suresh Rao, Head of Father Muller Oncology Centre

Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa, Administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital welcomes the delegates and introduces the top-notch resource persons for the 'National Update'

Dr. P.S Prabhakaran, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University, Bangalore, and an eminent oncosurgeon by profession was the chief guest, and delivered the keynote address. He spoke about the lack of cancer care facilities in India, the need for a state-of-the-art cancer institute like Father Muller Oncology Centre to address India's growing cancer burden. He also stressed upon the implementation of the population and hospital-level based cancer registries which provide statistics on the occurrence as well as provides the framework for assessing and controlling the impact of cancer on the community. Awareness is needed in nutritive education, safe sexual practices, he stressed. Fr. Patrick Rodrigues, Director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions presided over the function.

Dr. Suresh Rao gave a project overview of the Father Muller Oncology Centre, detailing the entire process that led to the creation of the state-of-the-art Oncology Centre, conceptualized in the year 2005, at the 125th post-centenary celebrations of Father Muller Institutions.

The first session was on 'Image-guided Radiation Therapy' by Dr. Vivek Bansal, Director, Apollo Hospital, Ahmedabad, who was also one of the first persons to start IGRT in India. He emphasized on Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy which included the benefits of reducing the adverse effects often encountered in conventional cancer therapy. He ended his session by elucidating upon the fact that whatever maybe the technology, unless there is an early diagnosis, treatment still remains an oncological challenge.

'Overview of Cancer' was the second session by Dr. Gopinath, Surgical Oncologist, Bangalore Institute of Oncology. He said that cancer is an old disease with therapeutic challenges and detailed upon the diagnostic tools and procedures and the pros and cons of various aspects of diagnosis. Dr. Gopinath highlighted upon the statistical data which showed that 83,000 cases of breast cancer are being reported every year, with an incidence rate of 17-40 per lakh population. He also spoke on the importance of breast conservation, reconstruction and the need for breast cancer awareness.

Dr. L. Appaji, Professor of Paediatric Oncology, Kidwai Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, spoke about Leukemias: the commonest cancers in children. His intricate presentation threw light upon the supportive measures and specific diagnostic parameters to be sought after in the treatment of different childhood cancers.

The fourth session was by Dr K.G. Kallur, Director, Global Health Care, Bangalore, on 'PET-CT in Oncology' and briefed the audience on the latest radiological advances at the molecular level.

The fifth session on 'Curable Cancers' was held by Dr. Shekar Patil, Medical Oncologist, Bangalore Institute of Oncology, who expressed himself regarding the skeptic attitude towards the cure of cancer. He spoke on the staging of tumors, treatment, prognosis and toxicities of certain curable malignancies. His presentations backed by statistical data clearly stated that nearly 90% of children with cancers in the present era can get fully cured of the disease if there is an early and proper diagnosis with appropriate treatment. 

The next session by Dr Rajashekara Naik, Director and Professor of Surgical Gastroenterology, Bangalore Institute of Oncology on 'Role of Laparoscopy in Upper Gastro-Intestinal Malignancies' further elaborated on the advantages of minimal access surgery in oncology.

The last session on 'Radiotherapy in Gynecological Malignancies' was chaired by Dr. Elizabeth Vallikad, Gyneco-oncologist, St. John's Medical Hospital, Bangalore  The supportive statistical data showed a mortality of 31-45 per lakh Indian women from cervical cancer, which in turn accounts for 45 percent of all cancers in women. She urged the strong need for a National Policy for prevention and early detection of gynecological cancers, as an alarming 25 percent of cervical cancer cases in our world today are found in India. She expressed her views on improved global survival rates by efficient screening procedures, clinical trials, risk assessment and follow-up in contrast with the Indian scenario. She also mentioned the importance of a multidisciplinary collaborative approach towards gynecological oncology. All presentations were followed by interactive sessions that generated healthy debate and discussions involving the delegates.

Dr. B. Sanjeev Rai, Dean, Father Muller Medical College, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr. Suresh Rao, Chief Radiation Oncologist and Head, Father Muller Oncology Centre and Dr. H.B. Suresh, Head of Radio-diagnosis, Father Muller Hospital were also present.

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