Liver Cancer Treatment in India - Best Cancer Hospitals of India for Advanced Liver Cancer Treatment

Liver Cancer or Hepatic Tumour is a cancer of Liver. There are several different types of tumours that can develop in the liver as liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant. Cancerous tumours can start in liver and spread to other areas of your body, through your bloodstream or your lymphatic system. This spread of cancer is called metastasis. Tumours may also spread from other parts of your body, such as from your bowel, breast or lungs, to your liver.

Symptoms of Liver Cancer

Most people do not have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary liver cancer. When symptoms do appear, they may include:

• Losing weight without trying

• Loss of appetite

• Upper abdominal pain

• Nausea and vomiting

• General weakness and fatigue

• An enlarged liver

• Abdominal swelling

• Yellow discoloration of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)

Types of Liver Cancer

There are two broad categories of liver cancer: Primary and Secondary

Primary Liver Cancer

Primary liver cancer starts in the cells, bile ducts, blood vessels or connective tissue of the liver . There are different types of primary liver cancer that include:

• Hepatoma : This is the most common type. It is sometimes called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This type of cancer originates from a liver cell (hepatocyte) which becomes cancerous. The bulk of the liver is made up from hepatocytes. A hepatoma most commonly develops as a complication of liver diseases such as cirrhosis or types of hepatitis (liver inflammation).

• Fibrolamellar : This hepatoma is a rare sub-type of hepatoma. It typically develops in a liver that was previously healthy.

• Cholangiocarcinoma : This is uncommon. It develops from cells which line the bile duct.

• Hepatoblastoma : This is a very rare cancer that occurs in some young children.

• Angiosarcoma : This is very rare. It develops from cells of blood vessels within the liver.

Secondary Liver Cancer

Secondary liver cancer is a cancer that first develops elsewhere in the body and then spreads (metastasizes) to the liver. It is sometimes called metastatic cancer. When a cancer forms in a part of the body, a few cancer cells may break off and find their way into the bloodstream. Because your liver filters your blood, any cancer cells in the bloodstream have a high chance of settling in the liver to form a cancer nodule (metastasis).

People who are most at risk of secondary liver cancer are those with cancers of the large bowel (colon), pancreas, stomach, lung or breast. It is important to know where the cancer started as this will determine the type of cells which are causing the cancer and affect which treatment is best suited for you. Secondary cancer diagnosed in the liver may be a sign of cancer in other organs. Sometimes, secondary cancer is found in the liver and yet, even with thorough medical tests, it’s not possible to find out where the cancer started.

This is sometimes known as cancer of unknown primary.

Staging of Liver Cancer

There are a number of different systems that can be used to stage liver cancer. Many liver cancer specialists use combination-staging systems that include features of both the cancer and liver function to stage a person’s condition.

One combination system for staging liver cancer is known as the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system that consists of the following five stages.

• Stage 0 - The tumour is less than 2cm (20mm) in diameter and the person is very well and has normal liver function.

• Stage A - A single tumour has grown but is less than 5cm (50mm) in diameter, or there are three or fewer smaller tumours that are less than 3cm (30mm) in diameter and the person is very well with normal liver function.

• Stage B - There are multiple tumours in the liver, but the person is well and their liver function is unaffected.

• Stage C - Any of the above circumstances, but the person is not so well and their liver function is not so good; or where the cancer has started to spread into the main blood vessel of the liver, into nearby lymph nodes or into other parts of the body.

• Stage D – Where the liver has lost most of its functioning abilities and the person begins to have symptoms of end-stage liver disease, such as a build-up of fluid inside their abdomen.

Diagnosis of Liver Cancer

• Physical exam -- The doctor feels the abdomen to check the liver, spleen, and nearby organs for any lumps or changes in their shape or size. The doctor also checks for ascites, an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen. The doctor may examine the skin and eyes for signs of jaundice.

• Blood tests -- Many blood tests may be used to check for liver problems. One blood test detects alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). High AFP levels could be a sign of liver cancer. Other blood tests can show how well the liver is working.

• CT scan -- An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the liver and other organs and blood vessels in the abdomen. The patient may receive an injection of a special dye so the liver shows up clearly in the pictures.

From the CT scan, the doctor may see tumors in the liver or elsewhere in the abdomen.

• Ultrasound test -- The ultrasound device uses sound waves that cannot be heard by humans. The sound waves produce a pattern of echoes as they bounce off internal organs. The echoes create a picture (sonogram) of the liver and other organs in the abdomen. Tumors may produce echoes that are different from the echoes made by healthy tissues.

• MRI -- A powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

• Angiogram -- For an angiogram, the patient may be in the hospital and may have anesthesia. The doctor injects dye into an artery so that the blood vessels in the liver show up on an x-ray. The angiogram can reveal a tumor in the liver.

• Biopsy -- In some cases, the doctor may remove a sample of tissue. A pathologist uses a microscope to look for cancer cells in the tissue. The doctor may obtain tissue in several ways. One way is by inserting a thin needle into the liver to remove a small amount of tissue. This is called fine-needle aspiration. The doctor may use CT or ultrasound to guide the needle. Sometimes the doctor obtains a sample of tissue with a thick needle (core biopsy) or by inserting a thin, lighted tube (laparoscope) into a small incision in the abdomen. Another way is to remove tissue during an operation.

Liver Cancer Treatment at Top Cancer Hospitals in India

The treatment options are dictated by the stage of Liver Cancer and the overall condition of the patient. The treatment to be given depends mainly on the size, number, and site of tumors in the liver. Before planning the appropriate treatment the functioning of the Liver is checked as also the spread of the cancer within and outside the liver is to be tested. The Various treatment options available are as follows:

Surgery : Surgery is the removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue during an operation. It is likely to be the most successful disease-directed treatment, particularly for patients with small tumors (smaller than 5 cm). A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer using surgery.

Hepatectomy : When a portion of the liver is removed, the surgery is called a Hepatectomy. A Hepatectomy can be done only if the cancer is in one part of the liver, and the liver is working well. The remaining section of liver takes over the functions of the entire liver and may regrow to its normal size within a few weeks

Liver Transplantation :Liver transplant may be the best option for some people with small liver cancers. At this time, liver transplants are reserved for those with small tumors (either 1 tumor smaller than 5 cm across or 2 to 3 tumors no larger than 3 cm) that have not invaded nearby blood vessels. In most cases, transplant is used for tumors that cannot be totally removed, either because of the location of the tumors or because the liver is too diseased for the patient to withstand removing part of it.

Chemoembolization: This is a type of chemotherapy treatment in which drugs are injected into the hepatic artery and then the flow of blood through the artery is blocked for a short time so the chemotherapy stays in the tumor longer. Blocking the blood supply to the tumor also kills cancer cells

Radiation Therapy : Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to kill cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. A radiation therapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time. External-beam radiation therapy is radiation given from a machine outside the body. External-beam radiation therapy is not often used for HCC.

Targeted Therapy : Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to normal cells. Recent studies show that not all tumors have the same targets. To find the most effective treatment, your doctor may run tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor.

Most Advance Non surgical Treatments for Liver Cancer in India

• Chemoembolization : Before Insertion of the tiny particles that block the blood flow an anticancer drug is injected into the artery. The drug stays in the liver for longer without blood flow, and thus the impact is more.

• Radiofrequency Ablation : For inoperable liver tumors, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) offers a nonsurgical, localized treatment that kills the tumor cells with heat, while sparing the healthy liver tissue. Thus, this treatment is much easier on the patient than systemic therapy.

• Cryosurgery : It is a treatment that uses an instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue, such as cancerous cells. This type of treatment is also called Cryotherapy. The doctor may use ultrasound to guide the instrument.

• Percutaneous Ethanol Injection : Percutaneous ethanol injection is a cancer treatment in which a small needle is used to inject ethanol (alcohol) directly into a tumor to kill cancer cells. The procedure may be done once or twice a week. Usually local anesthesia is used, but if the patient has many tumors in the liver, general anesthesia may be needed.

• Hyperthermia Therapy : Hyperthermia therapy is a type of treatment in which body tissue is exposed to high temperatures to damage and kill cancer cells or to make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation and certain anticancer drugs. Because some cancer cells are more sensitive to heat than normal cells are, the cancer cells die and the tumor shrinks.

• Biologic Therapy : Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body’s natural defenses against cancer. This type of cancer treatment is also called biotherapy or immunotherapy.

Treatment of Uterine Cancer in India | Best Hospitals for Advanced Uterine Cancer Treatment

Uterine (Endometrial) cancer originates in the female reproductive system and generally affects postmenopausal women between ages 50 and 60;. It develops in the body of the uterus or womb whose wall has an inner lining (called the endometrium) and an outer layer of muscle tissue (called the myometrium).

Endometrial cancer (Uterine Cancer) is often detected at an early stage because it frequently produces vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause. If discovered early, this slow-growing cancer is likely to be confined to the uterus. Removing the uterus surgically (Hysterectomy) successfully eliminates endometrial cancer, if detected and carried out in the initial stages.

Symptom of uterine cancer

Examples of abnormal vaginal bleeding include :

• Bleeding which starts after the menopause (in post-menopausal women)

• Bleeding between periods.

• Heavier periods than normal (in pre-menopausal women).

• Abnormal vaginal discharge.

Having had a recent normal cervical screening test (smear test) doesn't mean that you don't have uterine cancer. A smear test involves a scrape of cells from the surface of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus. Occasionally a smear test may show signs of a cancer of the lining of the womb, but this is unusual.

Other, less common, symptoms of uterine cancer are :

• pain in the lower abdomen (tummy), back or legs

• swelling in the abdomen or legs

• loss of appetite and weight

• constipation

• being sick (vomiting)

• passing urine more than usual

• tiredness and weakness.

Stages of Uterine Cancer

• Stage 1 : In this stage, cancer is confined to the womb. Stage 1 has been categorized into two types –

o Stage 1A: The cancer has developed in the muscle wall of the womb.

o Stage 1B: The cancer has developed more in the muscle wall of the womb.

• Stage 2 : The second stage is marked by the spread of the cancer to the cervix

• Stage 3 : In the third stage, the cancer has spread to more parts. This stage can be categorized into three types –

o Stage 3A: The cancer has now developed in the ovaries

o Stage 3B: The cancer has now spread to the tissues nearby the womb or in the vagina.

o Stage 3C: The lymph glands are also affected by this cancer.

• Stage 4 :The fourth stage is marked by the spread of the cancer to other body organ. This stage is further categorized into two types –

o Stage 4A: The bladder or bowel is no affected by the cancer.

o Stage 4B: The cancer has spread to different organs that include brain, lungs, bones or liver.

Diagnosis of Uterine Cancer

A vaginal examination is done when a patient had symptoms caused by the endometrial cancer. A patient may have an enlarged uterus. Some other tests are also required for diagnosing uterine cancer that include –

Hysteroscopy: A thin telescope known as a hysteroscope is used and is passed through the cervix into the uterus. This telescope helps in viewing the lining of the uterus and tissue samples (a biopsy) of abnormal areas can also be taken.

Endometrial Sampling: A thin tube is passed in the uterus for obtaining small samples of the endometrium by using mild suction. This procedure is performed on an out-patient basis. Abnormal cancer cells in the sample are then examined under a microscope.

Ultrasound Scan of the Uterus: This test is considered as a primary test for determining uterine cancer. This painless and safe scan makes use of sound waves for creating images of the structures within the body and also of the organs. Ultrasound scan of the uterus is used frequently in pregnant women. The womb of a woman can be scanned by placing the probe of a scanner on the abdomen. The placement of a small probe is also done within the vagina for scanning the uterus from a specific angle.

Uterine Cancer Treatment - Top Cancer Hospitals in India

There are a number of treatment options available for uterine cancer that include –

• Radiation Therapy : High-energy radiation beams are used in this therapy for killing the cancer cells. Radiation therapy is also recommended for reducing the risk of recurrence after surgery. Also this therapy is also beneficial after surgery for shrinking the tumor so that can be easily removed. This therapy may involve:

o Radiation given within the body : This involves the placement of a radiation-filled device like a cylinder, small seeds or wires within the vagina for a short duration. This process is known as internal radiation or Brachytherapy.

o Radiation given through a machine outside the body : This process makes use of machine that is placed outside the body. The radiation is then directed at a specific point in the body and this process is known as external beam radiation.

• Surgery : Surgery is considered as the most recommended treatment option for uterine cancer. A surgical procedure is performed for removing the uterus (hysterectomy), ovaries and fallopian tubes. Surgery also helps in determining the extent of the cancer that has spread in the other areas around the uterus. The stage of the cancer can also be determined by removing the lymph nodes.

• Chemotherapy : Certain types of chemicals are used for killing the cancer cells. One or more chemotherapy drugs may also be combined. The injection of these drugs can be done either through the mouth or into the veins. Women who are suffering from recurrent or advanced stage of uterine cancer that has spread beyond the uterus are treated with the help of chemotherapy. The drugs then enter into the bloodstream that moves in the entire body for destroying the cancer cells.

• Hormone Therapy : The hormone levels in the body can get affected by taking certain medications. This therapy is ideal for those who are suffering from advanced uterine cancer that has spread beyond the uterus.

Bone Cancer Treatment in India - Best Cancer Hospitals of India for Advanced Bone Cancer Treatment

Bone cancer is considered as a rare cancer that develops in a bone. This cancer can start in any bone in the body and mostly long bones are affected that make up the legs and arms. Many bone tumors are benign that means they are non-cancerous and does not spread to any part of the body. Normal bone tissue is destroyed by this cancer and can spread to different body parts (known as metastasis). As a whole, bone cancer is categorized based on whether the cancer originated in the bone (primary) or whether it spread from another location to the bone (secondary). Secondary bone cancer, or cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body, is much more common than primary bone cancer. Bone cancer symptoms may vary based on the type of bone cancer, but pain is the most commonly experienced symptom. Bone cancer most often occurs in the long bones of the body (arms and legs), so these are the most common sites for pain. Keep in mind that not all bone tumors are cancerous; some are benign. Bone pain is more often related to a benign condition, like an injury, than it is to cancer.

Other symptoms of bone cancer include:

• Joint tenderness or inflammation
• Fractures due to bone weakness
  
  
  Non-specific symptoms like fever, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, and anemia can also be symptoms of later stage bone cancer, but are also indicators of other less severe conditions.

Stages of Bone Cancer

•  Stage I - At this stage, bone cancer is limited to the bone and hasn't spread to other areas of the body. After biopsy testing, cancer at this stage is considered low grade and not aggressive.

•  Stage II - This stage of bone cancer is limited to the bone and hasn't spread to other areas of the body. But biopsy testing reveals the bone cancer is high grade and considered aggressive.

•  Stage III - At this stage, bone cancer occurs in two or more places on the same bone. Biopsy testing shows this bone cancer is high grade and considered aggressive.

•  Stage IV - This stage of bone cancer indicates that cancer has spread beyond the bone to other areas of the body, such as the brain, liver or lungs.

Diagnosis of Bone Cancer

•  OPD Consultations

•  X-ray

•  Computerized tomography (CT) Bone scan

•  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

•  Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

•  Biopsy A sample of tissue (Biopsy) from the tumor is removed for laboratory testing. Testing is done to know whether the tissue is cancerous and, if so, what is the type of cancer. Testing may also reveal the cancer's grade, which helps oncologists to understand how aggressive the cancer is.

Types of biopsy procedures used to diagnose bone cancer include:

•  Inserting a needle through skin and into a tumor. During a needle biopsy, surgical oncologist inserts a thin needle through the skin and guides it into the tumor. The needle is used to remove small pieces of tissue from the tumor.

•  Surgery to remove a tissue sample for testing. During a surgical biopsy, surgical oncologist makes an incision through the skin and removes either the entire tumor (excisional biopsy) or a portion of the tumor (incision biopsy).

Determining the type of biopsy patients need and the particulars of how it should be performed requires careful planning by the oncology team. Surgical Oncologists perform the biopsy in a way that will not interfere with future surgery to remove bone cancer.

Most Advanced Bone Cancer Treatment in India

Surgery
The goal of surgery is to remove the entire bone cancer. To accomplish this, surgical oncologists remove the tumor along with a margin of surrounding healthy tissues that surrounds it. Types of surgery used to treat bone cancer include:

•  Surgery to remove the cancer, but spare the limb. If a bone cancer can be separated from nerves and other tissue, the surgical oncologist is able to remove the bone cancer and spare the limb. Since some of the bone is removed with the cancer, the surgeon replaces the lost bone with some bone from another part of the body or with a special metal prosthesis. Intense rehabilitative therapy may be necessary after limb-sparing surgery to make the affected arm or leg to become fully functional.

•  Surgery to remove a limb. Bone cancers that are large or located in a complicated point on the bone require surgery to remove all or part of a limb (amputation). As other treatments have been developed, this procedure is becoming less common. After surgery an artificial limb is fitted and training is given to do everyday tasks using new limb.

•  Surgery for cancer that doesn't affect the limbs. If bone cancer occurs in bones other than those of the arms and legs, surgeons may remove the bone and some surrounding tissue, such as in cancer that affects a rib, or may remove the cancer while preserving as much of the bone as possible, such as in cancer that affects the spine. Bone removed during surgery can be replaced with a piece of bone from another area of the body or with a special metal prosthesis.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses specific type’s high energy beams of radiation to shrink tumors or eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy works by damaging a cancer cell's DNA, making it unable to multiply. Although radiation therapy can damage nearby healthy cells, cancer cells are highly sensitive to radiation and typically die when treated. Healthy cells that are damaged during radiation are resilient and are often able to fully recover.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is an important part of the treatment for most osteosarcomas, spindle cell sarcomas and Ewing's sarcomas. Chemotherapy is usually given before you have surgery or radiotherapy. When given before surgery, it can shrink the tumour and make it easier to remove. It can also reduce symptoms such as pain and reduce the chances of the cancer spreading. If you have an osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma, you will also have chemotherapy after surgery or radiotherapy. This is to destroy any remaining cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body.

Head and Neck Cancer Treatment in India | Best Head and Neck Cancer Hospital in India

Most head and neck cancers begin in the cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck area, e.g., mouth, nose, and throat. Mucosal surfaces are moist tissues lining hollow organs and cavities of the body open to the environment. Normal mucosal cells look like scales (squamous) under the microscope, so head and neck cancers are often referred to assquamous cell carcinomas. Some head and neck cancers begin in other types of cells. For example, cancers that begin in glandular cells are called adenocarcinomas.

Types of Head and Neck Cancer

• Nasaopharyngeal Cancer :The nasopharynx is the airway passageway at the upper part of the nose at the back of the nose.

• Salivary Gland Cancer : Saliva produced by the salivary gland is the fluid that is released within the mouth in order to keep the mouth moist. Mouth helps in breaking down the food as it contains certain enzymes

• Hypopharyngeal and Laryngeal Cancer : A tube shaped organ located in the neck used for swallowing, breathing and talking is the larynx. The hypopharnx, also referred to as gullet, is the lower part of the throat surrounding the larynx.

• Oropharyngeal and Oral Cancer : Both tongue and the mouth is included in the oral cavity. The middle part of the throat is included in oropharynx.

• Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer : The air-filled areas surrounding the nasal cavity is known as the paranasal sinuses. The space at the back of the nose from where air passes on the way to the throat is known as the nasal cavity.

Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer

If a person has symptoms and signs of head and neck cancer, the doctor will take a complete medical history, noting all symptoms and risk factors. In addition, the following tests may be used to diagnose head and neck cancer:

•  Physical exam. The doctor will feel your neck and check yourthyroid, larynx, and lymph nodes for abnormal lumps or swelling. To see your throat, the doctor may press down on your tongue.

•  Indirect laryngoscopy. The doctor looks down your throat using a small, long-handled mirror to check for abnormal areas and to see if your vocal cords move as they should. This test does not hurt. The doctor may spray a local anesthesia in your throat to keep you from gagging. This exam is done in the doctor's office.

•  Direct laryngoscopy. The doctor inserts a thin, lighted tube called a laryngoscope through your nose or mouth. As the tube goes down your throat, the doctor can look at areas that cannot be seen with a mirror. A local anesthetic eases discomfort and prevents gagging. You may also receive a mild sedative to help you relax. Sometimes the doctor uses general anesthesia to put a person to sleep. This exam may be done in a doctor's office, an outpatient clinic, or a hospital.

•  CT scan. An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the neck area. You may receive an injection of a special dye so your larynx shows up clearly in the pictures. From the CT scan, the doctor may see tumors in your larynx or elsewhere in your neck.

Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer at World Top Hospitals in India

Each and every Head and Neck cancer patient is evaluated by a special team of surgical oncologists (Head & Neck unit), medical oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Onco-pathologists and Imaging Specialists. Depending on the age, general condition, type of pathology and stage of the disease

Treatment Available for Head and Neck Cancers

• Surgery

• Radiation

• Chemotherapyp

• Rehabilitation

The treatment plan for an individual patient depends on a number of factors, including the exact location of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, and the person's age and general health. The patient and the surgical oncologist should consider treatment options carefully. They should discuss each type of treatment and how it might change the way the patient looks, talks, eats, or breathes.

Surgery

Surgery is one of the main treatments for mouth, head and neck cancers. The aim of surgery is to remove the cancer cells. If the cancer is found early, surgery can often cure it. Depending on where the tumour is found, your surgeon may need to remove skin, muscle or bone along with your cancer. This can be replaced by skin or muscle or prosthesis. Surgery may also affect how you eat or drink or how you look. A plastic surgeon might also work with your surgeon to reconstruct the affected area to give you the best possible function and appearance. This is called reconstructive surgery.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is the use of high-energy rays to kill or shrink the cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be used alone or with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy. If given after surgery, it can destroy any cancer cells left behind. There are two main ways to give radiotherapy: external beam radiation and internal radiation.

External beam radiation aims high-energy X-rays at a cancer to cure or control it. These X-rays come from a machine called a linear accelerator. The treatment does not hurt but you must lie very still during it. For most mouth, head and neck cancers, a ‘mask’ is needed. These masks are moulded from plastic to the shape of your face and make sure your head keeps still during treatment.

Internal radiotherapy involves giving radiotherapy from within your body. Usually an implant containing a source of radiation is put directly into the tumour and left in place for several days. It will release radiation and kill the cancer cells. Internal radiotherapy is also known as brachytherapy. The implant is usually put in under general anaesthetic.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to cure or control cancer. Chemotherapy drugs can be given on their own or with each other. Chemotherapy can also be given before or after radiotherapy and surgery. The drugs are either injected into the bloodstream or given in tablet form. Your doctor will decide the type and dose of your chemotherapy based on the size and location of the tumour, if it has spread, and your general health. Some drugs used for mouth, head and neck cancer are carboplatin and Taxol. See the booklet Understanding Chemotherapy, which you can download from our "Important cancer information booklets" list on the right hand side of this page, for more information about chemotherapy.

Biological therapies

Biological therapies are drugs that block the growth of cancer cells by interfering with molecules needed for the cancer to grow. Unlike chemotherapy, biological therapy can tell the difference between cancer cells and normal cells. Biological therapy can be given on its own or with chemotherapy drugs.

Most Advanced Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer in India

Minimally invasive surgical techniques are used when possible to remove tumors that are located near structures involved in sensory and physical functioning. In many cases, patients can recover more quickly when treated with minimally invasive surgery compared with traditional, open surgery.

• Endoscopic Laser Surgery :This technique may be used to remove tumors in the larynx or pharynx (throat) while preserving the structures involved in speech and swallowing. The surgeon inserts a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope through the patient's mouth and into the throat. Surgeons remove the tumor using a special laser that is attached to the endoscope. Endoscopic laser surgery is often performed on an outpatient basis with a safe, fast-acting anesthetic that wears off quickly after the procedure.

• Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroidectomy (MIVAT): A tiny video camera that is attached to an endoscope is used to remove thyroid tumors through a small incision.

• Robotic Surgery : Tumors of the tongue and tonsils can be removed with the aid of small robotic arms that are placed in the mouth, avoiding the need to make a large incision or to split the jawbone.

Most Advanced Brain Cancer Treatment at World's Best Cancer Hospitals in India | Advanced Technology for Brain Tumor: MRI Guided Brain Tumor, Gamma Knife Radio Surgery in India

Latest Technologies Advance Brain Cancer (Tumors) Surgery to Benefit Patients Brain Tumor is no more a scary health condition as modern technology and advanced surgical modalities now offer near perfect clinical outcomes and the patients can soon return to normal life after surgery.

•  Brain Suite - Intra-operative MR Navigation Microsurgery

•  Trans-Nasal Endoscopic Removal of brain Tumor through the nose

•  Stereotactic Radiosurgery - Gamma Knife & Novalis TX

•  Tumor Embolization using Neuro Interventional Radiology

•  CyberKnife Radiosurgery

Brain Cancer the very words strike fear in the heart of anyone suffering from one. It once was considered as one of the most frightful events that could occur. Though, the treatment of brain cancer is extremely difficult because of polyclonicity, the Blood: Brain barrier, the diffuse infiltrative nature of these tumors, and the perilous location of some tumors. However, with improving technology and the gradual unfolding of scientific understanding of the basic biology of brain tumors, patients and families can look to the future with considerably more hope. Hence with Brain Cancer Surgery performed using these modern methods makes the patient stand up with courage and confidence.

What is Brain Cancer (Tumors)

Brain cancer is a malignant tumour or a cancerous growth that takes place in the brain. A tumour could be a mass or growth of abnormal cells inside or closer to the brain that could be cancerous or non-cancerous cells. Cancer or tumour can begin in the brain or start spreading towards the brain from other parts of the body. The tumour that begins in the brain grows slowly and normally does not spread to the other parts of the brain and possibilities of the tumour removal from the brain are high. As the tumour grows in the brain it could damage the nearby tissues and the symptoms could vary from person to person based on the location of the tumour in the brain.

Types of Brain Cancer

•  Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma

•  Schwannoma

•  Acoustic neuroma

•  Chordoma

•  ptic nerve glioma

•  Astrocytoma

•  Pituitary neuroectodermal

•  Ganglioneuroma

•  Brain stem glioma

•  Pineal tumors

•  Meningioma

•  Primitive neuroectodermal

•  Medulloblastoma

•  Mixed glioma

•  Craniopharyngioma

Other symptoms for Brain Cancer can include:

•  Headaches

•  Nausea and/or vomiting

•  Difficulty speaking or remembering words

•  Disturbed vision, hearing, smell or taste

•  General irritability or a change in personality - this is sometimes noticed only by family or friends

•  Drowsiness

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Brain Cancer Treatment at World's Best Cancer Hospitals in India

Surgery: Surgery is often the first treatment if the tumour can be removed without causing harm to the surrounding brain tissue. Treatment of brain cancer is usually complex. Most treatment plans involve several consulting doctors. The team of doctors includes neurosurgeons (surgical specialists in the brain and nervous system), oncologists, radiation oncologists (doctors who practice radiation therapy), and of course, your primary health-care provider. A patient's team may include a dietitian, a social worker, a physical therapist, and probably other specialists.

Chemotherapy – This is another treatment method opted by the doctors for the treatment of brain tumour. This is used for the people with high-grade primary brain tumour or could be used as an initial treatment along with radiotherapy. The chance of completely removing the tumour from the brain with this method is unlikely but helps in shrinking the tumour or controls it in spreading to other parts.

Radiotherapy – In this method of treatment, high levels of energy rays are used to kill the cancer cells, which stop the cancer cells either to grow or multiply further. Radiotherapy is a treatment used when a person cannot undergo a surgery or is used after the surgery if some tumour cells are still remaining. This treatment does not affect the other parts of the body and is localised to where the cancer cells exist.

What are the advances in radiation therapy of Brain Cancer (Tumors)?

•  3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): CT scan and MRI are used to delineate the tumour and computers are used for radiation planning. Only the tumour and the high-risk region surrounding the tumour is radiated, avoiding radiation to the normal structures in the brain.

•  Stereotactic Radio-surgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT): Highly precise immobilization and image guidance system is used for treatment of selected brain tumours . Stereotactic radio-surgery delivering high-dose of radiation in single or a very few sessions is performed in adults with tumours such as metastatic residual glioma, meningioma and schwannoma. Novalis-Tx and Cyberknife are advanced machines to deliver such high-precision therapy.

•  High-definition Rapid Arc: This is the latest software advancement in radiation planning technology. Radiation is delivered in continuous fashion moving the machine head and its small components simultaneously around the patient's head targeting the tumour by infinite small radiation beams.

•  Proton beam therapy: Proton therapy avoids spillage of radiation dose to the surrounding brain. It is preferred in children as well as in patients with recurrent tumours who have received radiation therapy earlier.