India-based Apollo Hospitals is set to deploy proton therapy in its facilities, in a bid to provide an advanced treatment for cancer.
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy, which uses beams of high-energy protons instead of traditional X-rays to irradiate a tumour.
The protons will target cancerous cells, attack their DNA and eliminate them, according to Apollo.
Protons will deliver their energy at a precise and measurable location that can be calibrated, while X-rays have a tendency to affect surrounding healthy tissues.
This phenomenon is known as Bragg peak, which will significantly reduce negative effects generally affecting healthy tissues.
Proton therapy allows treating tumours with accuracy, security and efficiency, as the administered dose is focused on the tumour and spares healthy surrounding tissues, decreasing side effects such as radiation-induced cancers.
X-rays used in traditional radiation therapy are said to damage healthy tissue due to their intrinsic physical properties, while protons will stop at a certain point and deposit most of their energy at a precise and controllable depth in the patient’s body.
Established in 1983, Apollo operates facilities in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
It has 51 hospitals, 1,586 pharmacies, 92 primary care and diagnostic clinics and 100 Telemedicine units across ten countries.
Image: Apollo Hospitals to install proton therapy systems in its facilities. Photo: courtesy of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.
