Services - Radiation Oncology


The department has expertise and facilities that offer high quality, high precision radiotherapy  treatment to the needy cancer patients, and , is comparable to the best in the medical environment

 Out-Patient Services for all cancer sites, In-Patient Services, Oncologic emergency, Blood irradiation

OPD: Outpatient clinic works from Monday to Saturday, from 9am-1pm.

Teletherapy technologies like Three - Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3-DCRT), Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Stereotactic radiotherapy and Radiosurgery  (SRT and SRS)), total Body irradiation (TBI).

Brachytherapy technology (Intra Cavitary, Interstitial, Intraluminal and Surface Mould),sites like Gynaecological malignancies, Breast, Head and Neck, Oesophagus, Soft tissue sarcomas and skin cancers.

Site-wise practice: We practice site-wise : Dr Nirmala S (Breast and CNS malignancy),

Dr Sandeep Muzumder (Head and neck, Paediatric, lymphoma, and Bone & soft tissue malignancy),

 Dr Avinash H. U. (Gynaecologic, GIT and Genito-urinary malignancies).

The site-wise practice allows the treating radiation oncologist to specialize in their sub-field and do research and publications  ultimately benefitting patients and students.

Multi-Disciplinary team & Tumour Board: We work closely with other departments including Surgical oncology, Medical Oncology, Pain and Palliative care, Pediatric Oncology, pathology, Radiology, Anesthesia, and Nursing. All cancer cases get discussed in multi-disciplinary tumor board. We are also a part of National Cancer Grid, and cases that have diverse opinion in our tumor board are discussed in national virtual tumor board and opinion taken.

Academics & Training: The department has MCI approved MD in Radiotherapy program since 2020 and has an intake of 2 students per year.   We also have “One-year Internship in Medical Physics” from August 2017 and presently are training 2  interns per year. B.Sc. Radiotherapy Technology (RTT) course was started in 2018 and our intake is 10 students per year.

Department facilities:
Equipments& techniques: The department offers the best of expertise with the state of art equipment to deliver world class comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment for cancer patients.

Teletherapy:

1. High Energy Linear Accelerator (Elekta Synergy IGRT Machine)

This is a State-of-art High end Teletherapy Unit, used for treatment of cancers by External Beam Ionizing Radiation. It has Triple Energy Photons (4, 6 15MV) and Electrons. The machine is equipped with Micro MLCs, onboard planar (EPID – Electronic Portal Imaging Device) as well as volumetric imaging (CBCT – Cone Beam Computed Tomography).. The machine can perform the following treatments.

a. Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy (3DCRT)
b. Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT)
c. Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)
d. Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)
e. Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
f. Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT)
g. Total body Radiation.

2. Dedicated in-house CT simulator (GE LightSpeed Dedicated CT Simulator :
Every patient is subjected to a specially focused CT Simulation where in the area to be treated is scanned by a four-slice Scanner, and the images are then transferred to the dedicated treatment Planning Computer. On these images the oncologist delineates the tumor and the normal organs in the surrounding, and the Medical physicists plan appropriate technology to deliver precise dose of Radiation to tumor at the same time minimal dose to the normal organs. The machine is fully equipped and modified to suite the radiotherapy planning with carbon fibre flat couch, immobilisation and positioning devices and wall mounted moving laser systems., Having a dedicated CT simulator in house like ours helps in avoiding errors and reduces inconvenience to the patients.

3. Advanced Treatment Planning Systems and Contouring Stations
Treatment Planning System (CTPS CMS – XIO, CMS- MONACO, & HDR Plus),), various positioning and immobilization devices, and quality assurance equipment.

St John’s Radiation oncology department is equipped with the latest version of Monaco 5.10 treatment planning system and Oncology information system, and is periodically updated to the newer versions. Monaco Treatment planning system is based on Monte Carlo Algorithm which is the most accurate method of dose calculation presently known to mankind and is the current State-of-Art technology

4. Brachytherapy:
BEBIG High Dose Rate Multi Source Cobalt -60 Remote after-load Brachytherapy unit from Eckert & Zeigler for brachytherapy

This highly sophisticated remote controlled high dose rate after loading Brachytherapy Unit, is used for all forms of brachytherapy techniques like intracavitary, interstitial , intraluminal and surface mould. This can be the sole treatment or in conjunction with External beam Radiotherapy. Department of Radiation oncology practices volumetric CT image guided brachytherapy for all the patients. The faculty are well trained and highly experienced in brachytherapy for Gynaecological Malignancies (Carcinoma Cervix, Endometrium, Vagina), Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Breast Cancer, Head and Neck cancers

Why Choose Department of Radiation Oncology @ St John’s Oncology Centre?
1. Department of Radiation Oncology is equipped with all the State-of-Art technologies and trained personnel.

2. Every patient presenting to the Department will be discussed in a Multidisciplinary tumor board meeting conducted every Wednesday, to draw the most optimal line of treatment.

3. Every patient’s radiotherapy plan will be audited regularly in Weekly planning audit meeting conducted on Mondays.

4. Every patient on treatment will be reviewed twice a week to closely monitor the clinical response and toxicities.

5. The treatment slots on the linear accelerator is scientifically programmed to reduce the patient waiting time and improve patient satisfaction.

6. Subsite based practice by the consultants of the department offers the patients to get best treatment for their ailment.

7. All the above at a very affordable cost.

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