The Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited has opened the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), giving cancer patients access to a specialised form of radiotherapy that is extremely precise in destroying cancer cells. The APCC was recently inaugurated in Chennai by the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami and the Chairman of the Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr Prathap C Reddy.

Opening a new frontier in cancer care, the 150-bed APCC is an integrated cancer hospital in Chennai, providing world-class 360 degree comprehensive cancer care. The APCC will offer patients advanced multi-room proton therapy with cutting-edge pencil-beam scanning technology that provides the highest degree of precision.

The clinical advantages of proton therapy as compared to conventional radiation therapy are many, with more than 200,000 patients successfully treated worldwide. The proton beam therapy takes the fight to cancer with increased precision and greater dose delivery at the precise site of the cancer, minimising damage to healthy tissue, better quality of life and a higher cure rate. This ultimately leads to better results with fewer short and long-term side effects.

The Vice President of India commented, “Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and is a major cause of mortality in India. My heartiest congratulations to Dr Prathap C Reddy and the Apollo Hospital Group on the launch of their first proton cancer therapy centre that will serve patients not just in India, but also our neighbours in Southeast Asia. This pioneering treatment also marks a new milestone in the medical journey of our country.”

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu added that, Tamil Nadu has always been in the forefront when it comes to healthcare. With the opening of the APCC, the state shall continue to offer the best to the patients.

The chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), G Nageswara Rao said, “AERB appreciates the efforts of Apollo Hospital for establishing the state of art proton therapy’ facility, the first-of-a-kind in Southeast Asia. The AERB earnestly hopes this most advanced APCC will conquer the dreaded cancer disease at affordable cost in a safe manner.”

Speaking at the launch, Dr Reddy said, “Today is a red letter day in the history of healthcare in India. The launch of the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre puts India on the global map for the best and the latest in cancer treatment, and will give new hope to cancer patients not just in India, but across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa, i.e., countries that comprise over 40 per cent of the world’s population. It is pertinent to note that even a first world country like the UK, launched a Proton Beam centre just last month, in December 2018, making our achievement in bringing this best and latest medical technology to India, truly praiseworthy. It is with a sense of pride that we dedicate the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre to the health of the nation.”

Proton therapy is effective against many kinds of cancer, but is particularly effective in challenging cancer sites including tumours affecting the eye and brain, tumours close to the brain stem, spinal cord or other vital organs, head and neck cancers, deep seated abdominal and pelvic cancers, recurrent cancers and paediatric cancers, where children and young adults are at a particular risk of lasting damage to organs that are still growing. The proton therapy also helps in situations where treatment options are limited or conventional radiotherapy presents an unacceptable risk to the patient.