Hyderabad Oncologist Pioneers New Device For Radiation Delivery In Breast Surgery

Dr Mohana Vamsy, Director & Chief Surgical Oncologist at Hyderabad-based Indo-American Cancer Institute and Research Centre, has successfully used intramammary radiation delivery device (for a breast surgery), which is the first of its kind in India. The advantage of this device over the linac conventional exteral RT is the precision with which it delivers the radiation to the affected area as it is introduced into the breast cavity during the surgical removel of the breast lump. "Radiation is given through this device for only five days starting on the first post-operative day and then removed, unlike conventional radiation, which lasts for 30-35 days," quips Dr Vamsy.

By this procedure, the treatment period is drastically minimised. It is thus beneficial for working women and outstation paitents. This technique is quite common in the US. However, there is a hitch- the device which is used for performing this procedure is an imported one and is expensive as of now.