Hundreds of radiation oncologists of the State participated in a two-day conference which concluded here on Sunday. The conference had been inaugurated by law and Tourism and Culture Minister Maheswar Mohanty on Saturday.
The medicos deliberated over application of new technologies in treating various types of cancer being introduced in various hospitals of the State. The conference was organised jointly by the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India, Odisha chapter, and the Odisha Society of Oncology.
Prof Surendranath Senapati, HoD of the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Research Institute, Cuttack said over 20,000 cancer patients are registered in various hospitals in the State every year. Most of the male patients suffer from oral cavity and lungs problems due to tobacco-related complicacies. Women patients are victims of breast and cervix cancer.
Since most of the patients report at an advanced stage, only 30 per cent of them get cured, Dr Senapati said.
Though the existing infrastructure and other treatment facilities are in a poor state, the recent allocation of huge funds for state-of-the-art instruments like Pet scan, Gama ray machine, CT simulator and linear accelerator besides for appointment of support staffs in hospitals would ensure effective treatment, he said. This apart, free treatment of BPl category patients would help the patients, he added.
Mumbai-based Prof Mohan Das K Mallath, considered as an authority in cancer treatment, focussed on various technical aspects of treatment. Profs KB Das, Krupasindhu Panda, CR Nayak, SK Giri, Pravas Manjari Pattnaik, PK Das, Diptirani Samant, Niharika Panda and Swadip Mahanty of various medical colleges of the State participated in the deliberations. Dr KB Das, Dr KS Panda, Dr KC Sahu and Dr PM Pattnaik were felicitated on the occasion for their contributions in treatment of cancer.