Tech strides in medicine
Lucknow: Cancer treatment can now be completed in one to five sessions instead of the conventional seven-week schedule for early-stage patients, doctors said at the two-day UPAROICON-2026 organised by Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute. With UP reporting over 2 lakh new cancer cases annually, doctors said the technology could benefit thousands of patients with selected lung, brain, liver and bone cancers, particularly those with small tumours or patients who cannot undergo surgery. UP recorded about 2.1 lakh new cancer cases in 2022, while India reported nearly 14.6 lakh cases, according to National Cancer Registry Programme estimates.
Doctors said the treatment can be especially useful for select patients with early-stage lung cancer who are unfit for surgery and in certain brain tumours, liver cancers and cancer in a limited number of bones. The institute’s radiotherapy department head, Dr Sharad Singh, said the objective was not only to shorten treatment duration but also to improve precision, protect healthy tissues and make cancer care more convenient for eligible patients. Treatment begins with detailed scans to determine the exact size and location of the tumour. A computerised treatment plan ensures radiation is delivered precisely to the cancer while minimising damage to surrounding organs. A shorter treatment schedule reduces hospital visits and improves convenience for patients. However, doctors cautioned that fatigue, inflammation and other treatment-related complications can still occur.