Jagmohan Singh Barhok

Amritsar, December 22: As many as 30 doctors from the city attended a CME on Radiation therapy in cancer treatment at a hotel here today. The CME was organized by Max Hospital, Mohali at Hotel Hyatt Regency here today in association with Manav Adhikar Sangharsh Committee. 

Speaking during CME, Dr. Sajal Kakkar, associate director of radiation oncology at Max said that cancer is a growing disease burden in India and worldwide and one of the leading causes of mortality in the country. At present, there are more than a million cancer cases in India and 25.3 lakh new cases of cancer are estimated to occur by 2025, he informed. 

However, numerous advancements in cancer care and early detection can significantly improve the outcome of the disease. Majority of our population is not able to avail the benefits of these advancements due to lack of knowledge and myths associated with the disease, he said.

He further said that radiation therapy plays a pivotal role in cancer treatment. Approximately two-third of cancer patients needs radiation therapy during the course of the disease. It involves the use of ionizing radiation (commonly known as X rays) for the treatment of malignant and some benign tumors. Radiation therapy is used to treat cancer, prevent it from returning or stop/slow its growth or used to ease the symptoms due to cancer spread, he maintained.