MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

PERSONALISED CHEMOTHERAPY

Taking a shift from the regular procedures of giving chemotherapy and general drug treatment to any cancer patient, the high end therapeutic method is the next level of treating cancer with more personalised drugs. With the help of various investigations, this trend of high end therapeutics that includes various diagnostic tests, and profiling, gives an indication as to whether a particular drug will be beneficial in treating cancer for a patient and how the body of the particular patient will respond when that drug is administered. This kind of treatment is more focused and personalised and is more valuable in combating cancer and helping the patient to conquer it more effectively and efficiently.

MOLECULAR PROFILING

The Oncology specialists at Apollo conduct Molecular Profiling and Genetic Profiling using high end therapeutic techniques. Under Molecular Profiling, the cancer tissue sample collected for biopsy or the patient's blood sample undergoes molecular biology tests which predict the patient’s chance of responding to cancer drugs when administered for treatment. Accordingly the treatment is customised to the needs of the patient.

GENETIC PROFILING

In Genetic Profiling the gene mutation of the cancerous cells are checked to predict whether the patient can respond to a particular drug or not. The genes of the patient will help in judging the effectiveness of a method of appropriate cancer treatment. We use this protocol to treat the various types of cancers such as :

• Lung Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Lymphomas
• Leukaemia
• Head and Neck Cancer

CHEMOTHERAPY WARDS

We understand that undergoing chemotherapy is not easy for a patient, given its side effects. Chemotherapy is administered at dedicated short stay Chemotherapy wards with strict protocols of infection control and a warm and cheery ambience, as well as specially trained nursing staff.

RADIATION THERAPY

Apollo Hospitals' comprehensive care is supported by technology and innovative techniques in High Precision Radiation oncology. High tech radiation oncology is used to treat not only small tumours located in critical areas but is useful in large tumours as well. Experts at Apollo, from a range of disciplines, come together to assess a patient's suitability for the therapy, which is delivered using a number of precisely-targeted stereotactic beams. The 4-dimensional CT scanner is useful in planning treatment to track the tumour's position as it moves when the patient breathes, guaranteeing a high degree of accuracy and potentially fewer side effects by limiting irradiation of the surrounding normal tissues.

The diagnostic imaging and therapy systems at Apollo are sophisticated and the radiology groups and imaging facility at the hospitals offer the most economic and effective ways to treat cancer.

3D MAMMOGRAM

A revolutionary screening and diagnostic tool, Tomosynthesis (also known as 3D mammography), used for the early detection of breast cancer that can be done in conjunction with a traditional 2D digital mammogram, is effective for women with dense breast tissue and those with an increased risk of breast cancer. During the 3D portion of the exam, the X-ray arm — which uses a comparable radiation dose to a traditional mammogram — sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images in a matter of seconds. The produced 3D image of the breast tissue in one millimetre slices provides greater visibility for the radiologist to see tissue details like never before. Tomosynthesis creates a three-dimensional rendering of the breast — which results in greater accuracy, earlier breast cancer detection and a decrease in biopsies and recall rates.

64 SLICE PET CT SCAN SYSTEM

The patented 4D Time-Of-Flight (4D-TOF) PET-CT technology is the latest step forward in the imaging of the whole body. 4D PET-CT uses a faster, more accurate combination of PET and CT technology to capture the internal movement of organs and tumours over time, while also capturing the metabolism of the tumour. With this technology Oncologists can see how the tumour moves with breathing and other normal body motions, helping them decide which parts of the tumour require more attention. The result of this is a complete, accurate treatment with the least side effects. The 64-Slice Multi Detector Computerised Axial Tomography scan acquires the sectional data of the patient’s entire body in a minimal timeframe. This, combined with the ‘Brilliance’ work station provides superb anatomical data for the physician with minimum discomfort to the patient. The PET-CT scan gives an accurate diagnosis and prognosis of many diseases, especially in the field of oncology.

TRANSPLANT PROGRAMME

Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplantation is one of the innovative treatments offered at Apollo Hospitals. It is an exciting area of medicine. Over the last few decades this has been a well established treatment for several cancers and diseases of the blood. The Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Programme has a team of highly skilled experts including paediatricians, nurses, apheresis staff, infectious disease specialists, a paediatric ICU team and a BMT co-ordinator who work as part of a multi-specialty team to provide customised care for children who undergo stem cell therapy. We have the largest experience in the country in the care of infants and young children undergoing stem cell transplantation.
Stem cell transplantation can be performed for the following conditions:

• Thalassaemia Major
• Sickle Cell Anaemia
• Relapsed or High Risk Leukaemias
• Immune Deficiency Disorders
• Aplastic Anaemia
• Hurler Syndrome and other rare Metabolic Disorders

Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation

Physiotherapy is a therapy for the preservation, enhancement or restoration of movement and physical functions that are impaired or threatened by disability, injury or disease. It utilises therapeutic exercises, physical modalities, assistive devices, patient education and training. At Apollo Cancer Hospitals patients can benefit from Exercise Therapy, Electro Therapy and Occupational Therapy