What is Oncology?

Oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. It focuses on understanding the nature of cancer, its causes, and its development, as well as finding effective ways to manage and cure the disease. Oncologists are medical professionals specialized in oncology and work closely with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to individuals affected by cancer. They employ various treatment modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy to combat cancer and improve patients' outcomes.

Who requires an Oncology?

• Individuals diagnosed with cancer

• Individuals suspected to have cancer

• Individuals with a family history of cancer

• Individuals at a higher risk of developing cancer due to genetic factors or exposure to carcinogens

• Individuals in need of cancer screening and prevention strategies

• Individuals seeking guidance on lifestyle modifications to reduce cancer risk

Overview

• Cancer Center

• Medical Oncology

• Radiation Oncology

• Surgical Oncology

• Pallative Care

Asian Cancer Centre

Asian Hospital Faridabad is the first cancer hospital in Faridabad. It was established in 2010 and has successfully treated a lot of cancer patients since then. From prevention to detection, from treatment to palliative care, we cover all the parameters of patient care under one roof. They provide all facilities for our patients including operative rooms, pharmacies, radiation, laparoscopic advancements, robotic technology, and well-maintained infrastructure.

Our oncologists have experience, expertise and the right techniques which make them brilliant in their respective fields. They use different methods of treatment like chemotherapy, target therapy, immunotherapy, endocrine therapy or stem cell transplant depending on the patient’s need. Our Versius robotic assistant is a tremendous tool, with which the patients heal faster, and helps the oncologists to enhance their precision.

Technology

Their department of radiation and imaging complements the oncology department. The department of radio diagnosis and imaging has some of the best equipment available today conforming to world class standards which are crucial in the diagnosis of cancer, such as:

• PET/CT

• 5T MRI

• Gamma Camera

• Mammography

• 4D Ultrasound

• High end Digital X-ray

• Lab for hematology, biochemistry and microbiology (Available round the clock)

• Clinical pathology

• Cytotoxic Admixture Rooms

• Laminar flow bio-safety cabinets

• Day care chemotherapy unit

• Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy

• Bone Marrow Transplant

Medical Oncology

Medical Oncology deals with all aspects of cancer from prevention to early diagnosis, treatment planning to support and palliative care. This department provides a comprehensive management of hematological, pediatric and adult cancers.

Supported by a dedicated team of experienced senior doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists and coordinators, this department has made it a leading cancer centre of North India, along with its multi-disciplinary support services of a 425 bedded Hospital.

Technology

Chemotherapy

Treatment of cancer using drugs is called chemotherapy. Chemotherapy slows and kills the growth of cancer cells and helps to prevent them from spreading to other parts of the body. It is combined with radiation therapy as primary treatment to shrink the tumor before the surgery. It may also be used after surgery and to treat cancer that has spread to other organs.

Types of Chemotherapy:

• Intravenous (IV)

• Intrathecal

• Intra peritoneal

• Intra-arterial

Dedicated Daycare Therapy Facility

Facilities are available to undertake out patients chemotherapy in the specialized day care units. Specially trained nursing staff assists in administration of chemotherapy. The day care facility is supported by full fledged laboratory services .

Asian Cancer Centre also provides the latest and best available care and cure plan for the patients . The various therapies comprise of:

• Immunotherapy

• Hormonal Therapy

• Biological Therapy

• Palliative Care

Radiation Oncology

Radiotherapy is the controlled use of high energy X-rays to treat different types of cancer. It is also known as radiation oncology treatment (Cancer Treatment). According to NCI, approximately 60% of the cancer patients receive radiation therapy during treatment and in some cases; radiotherapy is also used to treat benign (non-cancerous) tumours.

Radiation therapy is done with curative intent or palliative intent and usually lasts from one week to 7-8 weeks. The duration depends on stage, histological type, location and intent of treatment. Radiation therapy is a local treatment like surgery. It can be done alone or in combination with other modalities like surgery and/or chemotherapy. It can be implemented to cure tumour, shrink the tumour prior to radical surgery in pre-operational setting and post operation to kill microscopic amounts of leftover tumours and to prevent relapse.

Uses of Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy may be used:

• to cure an illness – for example, by destroying a tumor (abnormal tissue)

• to control symptoms – for example, to relieve pain

• before surgery – to shrink a tumor to make it easier to remove

• after surgery – to destroy small amounts of leftover tumor and to prevent relapse

Courses of Radiation

Radiotherapy is usually given as a course of treatment that lasts for a number of days or weeks. Most people who undergo radiotherapy to treat a serious condition, such as cancer, have five treatments a week (one treatment a day, Monday to Friday) with a break at the weekend. Taking a break allows the normal and non-cancerous cells to recover. Depending on cases, a patient can get radiation treatment more than once a day or over the weekend.

Technology

Our innovative technology leads towards better patient outcomes.

• Teletherapy | External Beam- Our latest technology within trilogy linear accelerator have IMRI, IGRI, Rapid Arc and 4D Gating facilities.

• Brachytherapy- High dose brachytherapy using Iridium 192, Gamma Med Plus iX and 24 channel brachytherapy system to treat a very large tumour in few minutes.

Surgical Oncology

Surgical oncology team is actively involved in care of incredibly diverse group of patients with cancer. The Department of Surgical Oncology at Asian Cancer Centre provides state-of-the-art diagnostic, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services for very diverse oncology related conditions. We at AIMS Hospital are continuing to target cancer with unmet needs in a world-class facility by experienced and dedicated team of renowned doctors.

Technology

Their surgical oncologists can provide unique surgical expertise in surgical cases unfamiliar to general surgeons. The Surgical Oncology Treatment Department aims at the following:

• Cure or palliate and improve quality of life while emphasizing on multimodal treatment

• Practice evidence-based medicine

• To achieve minimal morbidity and near zero mortality which is acceptable by any international norms

• Good preoperative preparation, careful preoperative monitoring and postoperative care

• Quality of life

Palliative Care

They provide palliative care to patients with severe medical conditions — such as cancer. Unlike other therapeutic approaches, it takes a holistic approach in attending to the patient, instead of just focusing on the specific medical condition.

The patients receive medical care for the underlying conditions along with the palliative care for their symptoms, and they can start on palliative care at any stage of the disease.

Palliative care provides many benefits to the patients, some of which are:

• Improved quality of life

• Better control of symptoms

• Less depression

• Feeling more in control

• Better avoidance of treatment risks

• Decreased medical costs because of efficiencies

• Less unnecessary hospital visits

Apart from addressing the patient, the family also receives coaching and guidance to better support the loved one with the medical condition.