Gamma Knife Surgery to Treat Diseases and Conditions of the Brain

Gamma Knife RadioSurgery in India

 

Gamma knife is now the most accepted and widely used radio surgery treatment in the world for brain tumours. About half a million people have been treated with Gamma knife surgery, and it's the only Radiation Therapy System cleared by the FDA for irradiating brain metastases. Gamma knife surgery, despite the name, there is no blade or knife - it's called Gamma knife because radio surgery (one-session treatment) has such a dramatic and precise effect in the target zone that the changes are considered 'surgical.' So there's no incision or blood, and minimal risk of complications. The device aims gamma radiation through a target point in the patient's brain. The patient wears a specialized helmet that is surgically fixed to the skull, so that the brain tumor remains stationary at the target point of the gamma rays. An ablative dose of radiation is thereby sent through the tumor in one treatment session, while surrounding brain tissues are relatively spared.

 Radiosurgery uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors, delivered precisely to avoid damaging healthy brain tissue. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is able to accurately focus many beams of high-intensity gamma radiation to converge on one or more tumors. Each individual beam is of relatively low intensity, so the radiation has little effect on intervening brain tissue and is concentrated only at the tumor itself.

 GammaKnife radiosurgery has proven effective for patients with benign or malignant brain tumors up to 4 centimeters in size, vascular malformations such as an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), pain or other functional problems.

The risks of gamma knife radiosurgery treatment are very low, and complications are related to the condition being treated. Gamma-Ray Stereotactic Treatment System. The Gamma Knife instrument put many gamma-ray beams from different angles and directions irradiate to body, making them all together to form the focus point. Since each dose of radiation beam is very small, it basically does not cause damage to human tissues which it through. As long as the ray focuses on the lesion, it can be as precise as a scalpel to destroy the lesion, with no trauma, no hemorrhage, no infection, no pain, and also reach rapid, safe, reliable magical effect.

Why is gamma knife surgery performed? 

Your doctor may recommend gamma knife surgery to treat some diseases and conditions of the brain. Your doctor may recommend gamma knife surgery to treat:

• Acoustic neuroma, a tumor of the nerve between the brain and the ear
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and other blood vessel disorders in the brain
• Brain tumors including some types of malignant and benign tumors
• Some types of cancer of the eye
• Epilepsy caused by a brain tumor. A brain tumor that causes epilepsy may be treated with gamma knife surgery if medications do not control seizures.
• Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder that leads to uncontrollable shaking, muscle stiffness, and severe problems with coordination and balance
• Trigeminal neuralgia, a nerve disorder causing debilitating face pain

 Advantages Of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

• Gamma Knife is a neurosurgical tool designed exclusively for the treatment of brain disorders.

• No incisions, No general anesthesia.

• The lesion being treated receives a high dose of radiation with minimum risk to nearby tissue and structures..

• The absence of an incision eliminates the risk of haemorrhage and infection.

• A secure head frame ensures safety and accuracy within half a millimeter

• Hospitalization is short, typically an overnight stay or an outpatient surgical procedure. Patients can immediately resume their previous activities.

• Patients go home usually on the same day (time lost from employment is minimal)
  
  
  MyMedOpinion affiliated  Best hospitals in India provide an medical opinion from experienced surgeons and the treatment cost includes companion stay  , surgeon fee, medicines and consumables, nursing care, patient's food and airport pick up & drop etc. etc. We offer free, no obligation assistance to international patients to find world class medical treatment in India. We offer support and services to facilitate the care you require. We can help you find the best hospital in India
  
  
  Send us a Medical Report to Get FREE Medical Opinion from India's Top Doctors
  
  
  MyMedOpinion.com  is the hub of Surgeons and specialists for major diseases. We give you a chance to speak to our doctors and discuss your health issues directly.
  Email Us: Free@mymedopinion.com  Call Us: +91-7503537224

Stomach Cancer Treatment at Best Cancer Hospitals in India

Stomach cancer

Stomach cancer is sometimes called gastric cancer. Worldwide it is one of the most common cancers. Stomach cancer is more common in men than in women and ten/ds to occur mainly in older people. Most people who develop stomach cancer are over the age of 55.

In most cases, stomach cancer begins from a cell which is on the inside lining of the stomach (the mucosa). This type of stomach cancer is called adenocarcinoma of the stomach. As the cancer cells multiply :

• The tumour may invade deeper into the wall of the stomach. In time, it may pass through the wall of the stomach and invade nearby organs such as the pancreas or liver.
• The tumour may spread up or down the stomach into the oesophagus (gullet) or small intestine.
• Some cells may break off into the lymph channels or bloodstream. The cancer may then spread to nearby lymph nodes or spread to other areas of the body (metastasise).

Types of Stomach Cancer

• Adenocarcinoma : is the most common type of stomach cancer. More than 95 out of every 100 stomach cancers (95%) diagnosed are adenocarcinomas. The cancer starts in the gland cells in the stomach lining. The gland cells produce mucus and stomach juices.
• Squamous : cells are the skin like cells that lie between gland cells to make the stomach lining. These cancers are treated in the same way as adenocarcinomas.
• Lymphoma : is another type of cancer altogether. It is very rare. There is a whole section on non Hodgkin's lymphoma, which will be more relevant to you if you have been diagnosed with lymphoma of the stomach.
• Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour GISTs : can be cancerous or non cancerous (benign). These rare tumours develop from the cells of the connective tissue that support the organs of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract. Most are found in the stomach.
• Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) : can be cancerous or non cancerous. They grow in hormone producing tissues, usually in the digestive system. They are rare, but the most common is carcinoid tumour.

Diagnosis of Stomach Cancer

If you have symptoms that suggest stomach cancer, your doctor will check to see whether they are due to cancer or to some other cause. Your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist, a doctor whose specialty is diagnosing and treating digestive problems. Your doctor will ask about your personal and family health history. You may have blood or other lab tests. You also may have :

• Physical exam : oncologist feels the abdomen of the patient for fluid, swelling, or other changes. They also will check for swollen lymph nodes.
• Endoscopy : Surgical Oncologist uses a thin, lighted tube (endoscope) to look into the stomach after numbing the throat with an anesthetic spray. Patient may be given medicine to help him relax. The tube is passed through the mouth and esophagus (food pipe) to the stomach.
• Biopsy : An endoscope has a tool for removing tissues. Surgical Oncologist uses the endoscope to remove tissue from the stomach. A pathologist checks the tissue under a microscope for cancer cells. A biopsy is the only sure way to know if cancer cells are present.

Stages of Stomach Cancer

• Stage 0 (Carcinoma in situ): In this stage, cancer is present in the inner lining of the mucosal layer of the wall of the stomach.
• Stage I : This stage is categorized into two stages- IA and IB that also depends on the spread of the cancer.
  
  • Stage IA : Here in this stage, the cancer has spread completely from the mucosal layer of the wall of the stomach.
  • Stage IB : Cancer has spread to the muscularis layer of the stomach wall or has completely spread from the mucosal layer of the stomach wall that can be found in almost 6 lymph nodes surrounding the tumor.
• Stage II : In this stage, the cancer has spread –
  
  • To the serosal layer of the wall of the stomach but not to other organs or to lymph nodes
  • To the middle layer of the stomach wall and can be found in almost 6 lymph nodes surrounding the tumor, or
  • From the innermost layer of the wall of the stomach and can be found in 7-15 lymph nodes surrounding the tumor
• Stage III : This stage is categorized into IIIA and IIIB that depend on the spread of the cancer. In stage IIIA, cancer has spread to –
  
  • Organs just next to the stomach that has not spread to other body parts or to lymph nodes
  • The middle layer of the wall of the stomach and can be found in 7-15 lymph nodes surrounding the tumor, or
  • The outermost layer (serosal) of the wall of the stomach and can be found in 1-6lymph nodes surrounding the tumor
• Stage IV : Here in this stage, the cancer has spread to –
  
  • Different body parts
  • Organs just next to the stomach and to at least 1 lymph node, or
  • More than 15 lymph nodes

Most Advanced Stomach Cancer Surgery and Treatment in India

Surgery

The goal of surgery is to remove all of the stomach cancer and a margin of healthy tissue, when possible. Options include :

• Removing a Portion of the Stomach (Subtotal Gastrectomy). During subtotal Gastrectomy, the surgeon removes only the portion of the stomach affected by cancer. Subtotal gastrectomy can be of two types :
  
  • Distal subtotal gastrectomy is performed if the tumor cells are present in the lower part of the stomach near to the stomach duodenum junction.
  • Proximal subtotal gastrectomy is done when the tumor is situated in the upper part of the stomach and also involves the esophagus.
• Removing the Entire Stomach (Total Gastrectomy). Total Gastrectomy involves removing the entire stomach and some surrounding tissue. The esophagus is then connected directly to the small intestine to allow food to move through your digestive system.
• Removing Lymph nodes to look for Cancer. The surgeon examines and removes lymph nodes in your abdomen to look for cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout your body, killing cancer cells that may have spread beyond the stomach. Chemotherapy can be given before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to help shrink a tumor so it can be more easily removed. Chemotherapy is also used after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to kill any cancer cells that might remain in the body.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy may be used to kill the cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be administered using a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy) or using needles, seeds, wires, or catheters placed in the body in or near the cancer (internal radiation therapy). External radiation therapy uses a machine outside of the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. 

MyMedOpinion.com  affiliated   Best hospitals in India provide an medical opinion from experienced surgeons and the treatment cost includes companion stay  , surgeon fee, medicines and consumables, nursing care, patient's food and airport pick up & drop etc. etc. We offer free, no obligation assistance to international patients to find world class medical treatment in India. We offer support and services to facilitate the care you require. We can help you find the best hospital in India

Send us a Medical Report to Get FREE Medical Opinion from India's Top Doctors

MyMedOpinion.com is the hub of Surgeons and specialists for major diseases. We give you a chance to speak to our doctors and discuss your health issues directly.

Email Us: Free@mymedopinion.com  Call Us: +91-7503537224

Best Lung Cancer Hospitals in India

Lung Cancer Treatment in India

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Your lungs are two spongy organs in your chest that take in oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you exhale. People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes you've smoked. If you quit smoking, even after smoking for many years, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. These abnormal cells do not carry out the functions of normal lung cells and do not develop into healthy lung tissue. As they grow, the abnormal cells can form tumors and interfere with the functioning of the lung, which provides oxygen to the body via the blood.

Types and Staging of Lung Cancer

There are two major types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Staging lung cancer is based on whether the cancer is local or has spread from the lungs to the lymph nodes or other organs. Because the lungs are large, tumors can grow in them for a long time before they are found. Even when symptoms—such as coughing and fatigue—do occur, people think they are due to other causes. For this reason, early-stage lung cancer (stages I and II) is difficult to detect. Most people with lung cancer are diagnosed at stages III and IV.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about 85 percent of lung cancers. Among them are these types of tumors:

• Adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer in the United States among both men and women.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (which is also called epidermoid carcinoma) forms in the lining of the bronchial tubes.
• Large cell carcinomas refer to non-small cell lung cancers that are neither adenocarcinomas nor epidermoid cancers.

Stages of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Stage I : The cancer is located only in the lungs and has not spread to any lymph nodes.
• Stage II : The cancer is in the lung and nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage III : Cancer is found in the lung and in the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest, also described as locally advanced disease. Stage III has two subtypes:
  
  • If the cancer has spread only to lymph nodes on the same side of the chest where the cancer started, it is called stage IIIA.
  • If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest, or above the collar bone, it is called stage IIIB.
• Stage IV : This is the most advanced stage of lung cancer, and is also described as advanced disease. This is when the cancer has spread to both lungs, to fluid in the area around the lungs, or to another part of the body, such as the liver or other organs.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer results from smoking even more so than non-small cell lung cancer, and grow more rapidly and spread to other parts of the body earlier than non-small cell lung cancer. It is also more responsive to chemotherapy.

Stages of Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Limited stage : In this stage, cancer is found on one side of the chest, involving just one part of the lung and nearby lymph nodes.
• Extensive stage : In this stage, cancer has spread to other regions of the chest or other parts of the body.

Symptoms

Early lung cancer often does not cause symptoms. But as the cancer grows, common symptoms may include:

• A cough that gets worse or does not go away
• Breathing trouble, such as shortness of breath
• Constant chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• A hoarse voice
• Frequent lung infections, such as pneumonia
• Feeling very tired all the time
• Weight loss with no known cause

Most often these symptoms are not due to cancer. Other health problems can cause some of these symptoms. Anyone with such symptoms should see a doctor to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

• History and physical examination, and imaging with chest X-ray and CT scan or MRI.
• Positron emission tomography (PET)scanning is a specialized imaging technique that uses short-lived radioactive drugs to produce three-dimensional colored images of those substances in the tissues within the body, in a growing tumor.
• Bone scans are used to create images of bones on a computer screen or on film.
• Sputum cytology : The diagnosis of lung cancer requires confirmation of malignant cells by a pathologist. The simplest method to establish the diagnosis is the examination of sputum under a microscope.
• Bronchoscopy : Examination of the airways through a probe inserted through the nose or mouth may reveal areas of tumor that can be sampled (biopsied) for diagnosis by a pathologist.
• Needle biopsy : Fine needle aspiration (FNA) through the skin, most commonly performed with radiological imaging for guidance, may be useful in retrieving cells for diagnosis from tumor nodules in the lungs.
• Thoracentesis : Sometimes lung cancers lead to an accumulation of fluid in the space between the lungs and chest wall (called a pleural effusion). Aspiration of a sample of this fluid with a thin needle (thoracentesis) may reveal the cancer cells and establish diagnosis.

Treatment options for Lung cancer in India

Treatment of Lung cancer is depends on the type and stage of cancer. Lung cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these treatments. The decision about which treatments will be appropriate for a given individual must take into account the location and extent of the tumor as well as the overall health status of the patient.

Surgery for Lung Cancer Treatment

All of the lung, or just part of the lung, can be removed during surgical intervention. The most common lung cancer surgery is called a lobectomy, where a surgeon removes the tumor as well as a lobe of the lung.

Another surgery, called a segmentectomy or wedge resection, occurs when the tumor along with a small amount of the lung that surrounded the tumor is removed. When the entire lung is removed, the surgery is called apneumonectomy.

Chemoembolization

Strong chemicals are used in chemotherapy that interferes with cell division process and damages DNA or proteins. The aim of these treatments is to rapidly divide the cells. The normal cells can be recovered from any chemical-induced damage whereas cancer cells cannot be recovered. The medicines in chemotherapy travel in a systematic way by passing from the complete body and destroying the original tumor cells that have spread in the whole body. Usually many therapies are combined that also includes many types of chemotherapy.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy may be employed as a treatment for both NSCLC and SCLC. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill dividing cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be given as curative therapy, palliative therapy (using lower doses of radiation than with curative therapy), or as adjuvant therapy in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy generally only shrinks a tumor or limits its growth when given as a sole therapy, yet in 10%-15% of people it leads to long-term remission and palliation of the cancer. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy can further prolong survival when chemotherapy is administered. External radiation therapy can generally be carried out on an outpatient basis, while internal radiation therapy requires a brief hospitalization.

Targeted Therapy Lung Cancer Treatment

Recent scientific advances have brought a better understanding about specific genes and molecules in the body that is associated with the growth of certain cancers. Targeted therapies are designed to block the action or signals that tell cancer to grow. Drugs such as Iressa and Tarceva target a molecule called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGRF) that is overproduced by non-small lung cancer cells. Another targeted therapy called Avastin is used to treat some non-small cell lung cancers. It works by cutting off the development of new blood vessels that feed the growth of cancer.