Indian Express
07 July 2010

SOUTH–EAST Asia’s first facility to treat tumours sans surgical incisions was introduced at the Jaslok Hospital, Peddar Road, on Tuesday.

“The USP of this technology is its patient–friendliness. Besides eradicating the trauma of surgery, it cuts down hospitalisation and surgery–related costs. This will gradually usher in a non–surgical era of pain–free cancer treatment,” said Dr SP Desai, direc tor, Imaging and Interventional Radiology at the hospital. Moreover, the patient will recover in a day as the technique rids of any surgery–related complications. The magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound technique uses sound waves to target tumours and ablates the diseased tissue by heating it.

The technique is being heralded for the benefits it offers women. “For tumours in the breast , a patient runs the risk of loss of anatomy in surgery. Similarly, surgical removal of uterine fi broids often results in loss of fertility,”said gynecologist Dr G N Mansukhani. This new technology makes treatment completely radiation–free. Dr Mansukhani also said the technique had come at a crucial time, when India was witnessing a noted rise in fibroid cases.

Patients, who have tried the technique in its one–month trial at Jaslok Hospital, are all praises for the technology. “I was suffering from adenomiosis, which results in hardening of uterine wall. Unlike cancer, this condition had no treatment so far. After going through this new procedure, I was back on my feet in two days,"said Dr Irena Dey, a practising gynecologist from Hyderabad who was treated at Jaslok Hospital.

Malta Pawar, another patient, said she “couldn’t believe her surgery was over without any pain.” “I had fibroids in my uterus which caused constant bleeding and it made me anaemic for years. I was avoiding a surgery fearing other complications may arise out of it,”she said.