Hope rose last week for the increasing number of Nigerians yearning for better care and management of cancer disorders as HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd (HCG), which is South Asia’s largest cancer care network, is about to into the Nigerian healthcare system with newer management techniques known as Cyberknife.

This newest technology in the treatment of canceris reputed to have fewer side effects and reduces time of treatment. Utilising state-of-the-art real-time image guidance, similar to cruise missile technology, Cyberknife precisely targets tumours anywhere in the body with pinpoint accuracy and delivers high doses of radiation.

Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Susheela Sridhar, said Cyberknife is the world’s first non-invasive whole body robotic radio surgery system. He disclosed that CyberKnife offers patients new hope for the treatment of tumours and lesions, including ones that previously have been diagnosed as inoperable or untreatable with the existing technology.

“Some forms of radio surgery require rigid head-frames that are screwed into the patient’s skull to minimize any movement. The CyberKnife System does not require such extreme procedures to keep patients in place, and instead relies on sophisticated tracking software, allowing for a much more comfortable and non-invasive treatment”, he added.

Unlike some radio surgery systems, which can only treat tumours in the head, the CyberKnife System has unlimited reach to treat a broad range

of tumours throughout the body, including the prostate, lung, brain,

spine, liver, pancreas, and kidney.

“The CyberKnife System can essentially paint” the tumour with

radiation allowing it to precisely deliver treatment to the tumour alone, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. It is non-invasive and painless, treat inoperable tumours, significantly reduces treatment time to about 45-60 minutes, minimises side effects with little or no recovery time.”

Dinesh Madhavan, one of the HCG Directors, lamented that cancer has been implicated to be the leading cause of death with over 70 percent of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. He noted that recent indications suggest global cancer cases are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 12 million deaths in 2030.

“In Nigeria, cancer of the cervix and breast as well as cancer of the prostrate are the most common. Many Nigerians who come for treatment in India come with advanced stages of cancer. HCG has contributed significantly to establish high quality cancer care centers in India.

We have partnered with the government in these countries to do extensive research and develop innovative treatment methods to provide the finest cancer care in a bid to make cancer a manageable health condition and improve the quality of life of patients.”

Madhavan further noted that “Our plan to partner with the Government in Nigeria and the private sector is aimed at training the capacity of Nigerian oncologists in the area of cancer care and management. We are committed to creating an environment that fosters the professional and personal achievements of each person who crosses the threshold of our centre. And by sharing these achievements across the network, the achievements of each centre, each physician, and each hospital are further heightened. HCG has been defining the future of cancer care in India by designing, building and managing cancer centres with a steadfast vision. This we want to replicate in Nigeria.”