HN Reliance Foundation Hospital launches comprehensive prostate cancer clinic

Robotic Surgery Opens-up New Frontiers in Cancer Treatment

Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre (RFH) launched a ‘Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Clinic’, which was inaugurated by Dr Ashish Kamat, Professor and Attending Surgeon in the Department of Urology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA (MDACC).

Cancer experts from MD Anderson Centre stressed the need for a multi-disciplinary approach with focus on prevention and early detection and hence the need for more patient awareness camps.

On the clinical side, the experts from both institutions spoke about advanced treatment options like robotic surgery. As it is a minimally invasive procedure, robotic surgery helps preserve the nerves that closely surround the prostate gland thus ensuring preservation of urinary and sexual functionality.

Incidence of prostrate cancer according to the latest data from ‘National Cancer Registry’ of prostate cancer patients is highest in the Kamrup (Metro) district in Assam (11.2per cent), followed by Delhi (10.7per cent ), Bangalore (8.9per cent), Thiruvananthapuram (8.5per cent), Mumbai (7.7per cent), Pune (7.2per cent) and Chennai (7per cent).

Dr Gustad Daver, Medical Director and HOD Surgery, Consultant – General, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital said,”“Prostate cancer is one of the leading cancer in urban males. Every man in the age group of 50-75 should undergo screening for prostate cancer. Special attention should be provided to individuals who have family history of the disease.We will aim to provide all aspects of care for prostrate patients within our premises.”

RFH’s aim is to provide the entire gamut of support and services required by patients at a single location, within its premises. This multi-disciplinary and customised care clinic approach would start with patient awareness camps (like the one conducted on October 6 for prostrate cancer) to aid prevention and early diagnosis, followed by patient counselling with a multi-disciplinary team of doctors.

Once a patient is diagnosed and decides on a treatment path, which could be surgical, radiological or medical depending on the stage and grade of cancer detected, the RFH team also provides both preoperative education on sexual rehabilitation and pelvic floor physiotherapy as well as preventive strategies like diet and genetic links.

Highlighting that the hallmark of the MDACC was ‘comprehensive protocol based care’, Dr Kamat shared insights on the latest techniques in the science of robotic surgery.

The team’s visit was a part of an ongoing consulting relationship that capitalises on MD Anderson’s unique expertise in the delivery of high quality, multidisciplinary cancer care. The MDACC is ranked as the number one hospital for cancer care in the US.

A medical symposium ‘Robotic Urological Surgery & Urological Oncology Update 2015’ was also arranged to promote knowledge sharing. Other experts from MD Anderson’s team who attended the seminar were Dr Farzin Goravanchi, Dr Anthony Lucci, and Dr Anuja Jhingran.