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Best Radiation Oncology Service in India

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OVERVIEWRadiation oncology, or radiotherapy, is one of the key cancer treatment modalities. This treatment modality uses the controlled use of powerful radiation beams to kill cancer cells or ease cancer-related symptoms.

It is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment method that has many advantages for patients:

  • Shorter treatment time.
  • Precise radiation delivery reduces tissue damage.
  • Can be an outpatient procedure too.
  • Non-invasive treatment with no incisions, blood loss, long recovery, or infection risks.
  • Fewer treatment-related complications lead to improved quality of life.
  • HCG is considered one of the top radiation treatment hospitals in India, thanks to its multiple path-breaking radiation therapy platforms that deliver the highest quality radiotherapy solutions.
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Radiation Therapy at HCG

Across the HCG network, we carry some of the most advanced radiation therapy platforms that help us treat a broad spectrum of malignancies with excellent success rates.

CyberKnife is the world’s first whole-body robotic radiosurgery platform that can be used to treat multiple cancerous and non-cancerous conditions, namely prostate cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, spine cancer, trigeminal neuralgia, etc. The radiation is delivered from multiple angles to precisely kill the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues. CyberKnife utilises real-time imaging to track even the smallest changes in tumour location caused by breathing or other bodily movements, allowing for precise and accurate radiation delivery to the target area while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

Ethos Adaptive Radiation Therapy is a radiation therapy platform that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with traditional adaptive therapy to capture and analyse fine-grained images, determine the kind, size, and location of tumours, and plan and deliver adaptive treatment within just 15 minutes. The platform allows radiation oncologists to study the anatomical changes before each session and alter the radiation treatment accordingly. Ethos Adaptive Radiation Therapy primarily aims at targeting the tumour more precisely, reducing the dose to surrounding healthy tissues, and improving the quality of overall treatment results.

TomoTherapy H is an advanced radiation delivery system that combines the benefits of computed tomography (CT scan) and a linear accelerator. It enables specialists to plan the treatment accurately and deliver high-dose radiation precisely to the target area, thanks to its real-time imaging guidance. With the ability to deliver up to 1000 beams of radiation from various angles, TomoTherapy H effectively destroys cancer cells. As a non-invasive procedure, it eliminates the risk of blood loss, prolonged hospital stays, and extended recovery. Patients can resume their day-to-day activities while undergoing treatment.

TrueBeam is another unique radiotherapy platform that precisely delivers radiation beams to destroy the tumour cells throughout the body while minimising damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. TrueBeam's advanced imaging facility and treatment models allow the specialists to customise radiation delivery for each cancer case. It synchronises radiation delivery with imaging and thereby adjusts radiation delivery according to the smallest movements shown by the patient, including breathing. TrueBeam can deliver high-dose radiation in a shorter duration, and this allows the specialists to shorten the overall treatment duration for the patients.

Versa HD is an all-in-one radiation delivery system that delivers radiation with advanced stereotactic precision. Versa HD comes with sophisticated conformal beam-shaping technology and high dose rate mode delivery, which improves the precision and facilitates the speed necessary to deliver stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) techniques, which require superior accuracy in tumour targeting and protecting the internal organs.

Brachytherapy, or internal beam radiation therapy, allows specialists to treat cancers by placing a radiation source inside or close to the tumour. The radiation emitted by this source kills the cancer cells over time. This helps deliver high-dose radiation to the target while sparing the healthy tissues surrounding the tumour. Brachytherapy is used to treat a wide range of cancers, namely prostate cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, rectum cancer, head and neck cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer, gallbladder cancer, uterine cancer, and eye cancer.

Hyperthermia is a treatment approach wherein the cancer cells are exposed to heat up to 42°C. Usually, hyperthermia is administered in combination with radiation therapy or anti-cancer drugs. Hyperthermia is helpful in treating tumours on the skin, tumours of the head and neck region that may have spread to the lymph nodes, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does radiation weaken the immune system?

Radiation therapy has the potential to impact the immune system, particularly if the treatment targets the bone marrow which plays a crucial role in producing immune cells. However, it is unlikely that radiation therapy will significantly suppress the immune system. Patients can take comfort in knowing that the immune system typically resumes its normal functioning after some time has passed following treatment. Nevertheless, patients may still have concerns regarding the effects of radiation therapy on their immune system and are encouraged to discuss them with their healthcare provider prior to treatment.

In general, patients receiving radiation therapy can continue to work, but taking breaks to rest may be necessary depending on the radiation dose. We recommend that patients discuss possible options, such as working from home, working with regular breaks, or taking leaves to manage their work and treatment schedule with their employers. These arrangements can help patients maintain a balance until the completion of their therapy.

High-dose radiation used in radiation therapy can harm the developing foetus of pregnant women. Therefore, if you suspect pregnancy at any stage of your treatment, it is crucial to inform your treating doctor. They can then work on developing alternative treatment plans. Similarly, breastfeeding women should also inform their doctors before undergoing radiation therapy to protect their babies from the harmful effects of radiation.

During cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, it is common for patients to experience a decrease in appetite, coupled with side effects like nausea. This may lead to significant weight loss, which can impact your overall health and well-being. If you are facing these challenges, it is advisable to consult with your treating doctor or an oncology dietitian to develop a personalised diet plan that can help maintain your strength and healthy weight throughout the treatment.