HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd, The Specialist in Cancer Care, today organized a press conference at Hyderabad, on Robotic Radiosurgery for Urological Conditions.

Dr. G. Kilara, Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncologist, HCG, said, “The incidence of the prostate cancer is on the rise. Lifestyle factors have also contributed to this increase. Prostate cancer constitutes to 6% of all cancers in men. With the advancement in technology, we are now able to target the disease with larger doses of radiation, with sub-millimeter accuracy. Because of the organ motion, traditional methods of radiation had to treat a larger volume of tissue to achieve this and this meant increased dose to some of the normal surrounding structures. For Ex: Bladder, Rectum and Intestine. Robotic Whole Body Stereo Tactic Radio Surgery, tracks the organ motion in real time and directs radiation with sub millimeter precision at the tumor tissue. This is typically applicable in prostate cancer, where we effectively cure the disease, but spare the bladder and the rectum.”

He further adds, “Because of the high doses of radiation per sitting (Hypo Fractionation), the entire process of treatment can be completed in 8 to 10 days as opposed to 7 to 8 weeks with conventional treatments.”

CyberKnife:

It is the world’s first non-invasive whole body robotic radiosurgery. CyberKnife offers patients new hope for the treatment of tumours and lesions, including ones that previously have been diagnosed as inoperable or untreatable with the existing technology. CyberKnife uses state-of-the-art real-time image guidance, similar to cruise missile technology, to precisely target tumours anywhere in the body with pinpoint accuracy and delivers high doses of radiation.

Advantages of CyberKnife:

 Non-invasive and pain-less
 Treats inoperable tumors
 Pin-point accuracy
 Significantly reduces treatment time
 Automatic movement tracking
 No need for invasive body or head frame
 Higher radiation dose possible
 Minimises side effects

About HCG:
Health Care Global Enterprises Ltd, (HCG), The Specialist in Cancer Care, headquartered in Bangalore with over 23 cancer centers is South Asia’s largest cancer care network. HCG has defined the future of cancer care in India by designing, building and managing cancer care centres with a committed vision. HCG focuses on cancer care treatment, imaging and laboratory services, clinical trials and research services. The vision of HCG is to make high quality cancer care accessible by adopting global innovations to all segments of the society.

By focusing on molecular and cellular changes that are specific to cancer, targeted cancer therapy may prove to be effective against the disease.

Cancer, the dreaded C-word, is most often related to pain and inevitable death. But modern medicine is far advanced and new treatments have enabled doctors to treat it, reduce side effects and thus improve the quality of life of a patient. Target therapy is opted as the first line of treatment for most cancer diseases and has yielded positive results.

What is targeted cancer therapy?

Targeted cancer therapy uses drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer.

They interfere with specific molecules involved in carcinogenesis (the process by which normal cells become cancer cells) and tumour growth. As scientists prefer to call these molecules molecular targets, this form of therapy is called molecularly-targeted therapy. By focusing on molecular and cellular changes that are specific to cancer, targeted cancer therapy may be more effective than current treatments and less harmful to normal cells.

Most targeted cancer therapies are in preclinical testing (research with animals), but some are in clinical trials (research studies) or have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Targeted cancer therapies are being studied for use alone, in combination with each other, and in combination with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy.

What are the cellular changes that lead to cancer?

Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as and when the body needs them.

When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumour. The cells in malignant (cancerous) tumours are abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumour and spread to other parts of the body.

Normal cell growth and division are largely under the control of a network of chemical and molecular signals that give instructions to cells. Genetic alterations (changes) can disrupt the signaling process so that cells no longer grow and divide normally, or no longer die when they should. Alterations in two types of genes can contribute to the cancer process. Proto-oncogenes are normal genes that are involved in cell growth and division. Changes in these genes lead to the development of oncogenes, which can promote or allow excessive and continuous cell growth and division.

Tumour suppressor genes are normal genes that slow down cell growth and division. When a tumour suppressor gene does not work properly, cells may be unable to stop growing and dividing, which leads to tumour growth.

To use the metaphor of a car, the presence of an oncogene is like having a gas pedal that is stuck to the floorboard, causing cells to continually grow and divide.

Tumour suppressor genes act like a brake pedal. The loss of a functioning tumor suppressor gene is like having a brake pedal that does not work properly, allowing cells to continually grow and divide.

Genetic changes that are not corrected by the cell can lead to the production of abnormal proteins. Normally, proteins interact with each other as a kind of relay team to carry out the work within a cell. For example, when molecules called growth factors (GFs) attach to their corresponding growth factor receptors (GFRs) on the surface of the cell, a process, carried out by proteins, signals the cell to divide.

Damaged proteins may not respond to normal signals, and may over-respond to normal signals, or otherwise fail to carry out their functions. Cancer develops when abnormal proteins inside a cell causes it to reproduce excessively and allow that cell to live longer than normal cells.

How does the targeted therapy work?

Targeted cancer therapy interferes with cancer cell growth and division in different ways and at various points during the development, growth, and spread of cancer.

Many of these therapies focus on proteins that are involved in the signaling process.

By blocking the signals that tell cancer cells to grow and divide uncontrollably, targeted cancer therapy can help to stop the growth and division of cancer cells.

What impact will targeted therapy have on cancer treatment?

Targeted cancer therapy will give doctors a better way to treat cancer. Eventually, treatments may be individualised based on the unique set of molecular targets produced by the patient’s tumour. Targeted cancer therapy also holds the promise of being more selective, thus harming fewer normal cells, reducing side effects, and improving the quality of life.

HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd, South Asia’s largest cancer care network, in its endeavor to spread awareness on breast cancer formed the largest human awareness ribbon in the world on October 30th, 2011, at Sullivan Police Grounds, Bangalore. The largest human awareness ribbon was formed with 6583 people. Once the ribbon was formed all the participants stood for ten minutes, with the start and stop signal. The participants were given Pink t shirts and pink head gear. All participants of the largest human awareness ribbon were given provided free mammography coupons, cancer screening and consultation with a cancer specialist. Cancer survivors, cancer patients, care givers, nurses, corporates, students and public at large participated in this event.

The largest human awareness ribbon has been formed by strictly following the guidelines of Guinness World Records in attempting to create a new record. All the materials pertaining to the record like high resolution photographs of the ribbon, video of the formation of the ribbon will be sent to Guinness World records for the adjudication of the new world record.

According to the Guinness World Records and Limca Book of Records, the documentation of the ribbon has to be duly signed by civil law notary and sports officer. In this regard, all the documents will be verified by Mr. Omprakash, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Mr. K L Sudheer, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police,KSRP, Dr. M A Saleem, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Mr. K M Mahadeva Prasad, Sports Officer, Karnataka State Police Sports Promotion Board, Bangalore, and Mrs. Keerti Tewari, IAAS, Accountant General,Government of India.

In the Limca Book of Records, the largest human awareness ribbon will be included in the 2013 edition of Limca Book of Records.

The documents will be sent to the Guinness World Records and Limca Book of Records,. Once it’s verified by Guinness World Record, a new world record will be created surpassing the previous record held by Saudi Arabia and India will hold the new record in forming the largest human awareness ribbon.

Dr. B S Ajaikumar, Chairman, HCG, said, “In India, there is lack of awareness on health and people don’t undergo regular preventive health checkups. Preventive health checkups always plays important role in the early diagnosis of cancer. As a doctor, I feel happy so many people from all walks of life have come here and participated to create awareness on breast cancer. We issued free 6000 mammography coupons for all the participants. This is the first step in eradicating the social stigma associated with word ‘cancer’.”

N A Haris, MLA, Shantinagar Constituency, Founder of N A Haris Foundation, said, “I’m glad that we are able to participate in this event to create awareness and nip the cancer in the bud.”

Mr. Dinesh Madhavan, Director Marketing, HCG,& the brain behind create awareness create a record event said, “Over 60% of cancers can be prevented. We believe awareness is the key, this is a step in this direction to create awareness and early diagnosis. We are glad that we were able to reach to a large no of people & create this level of participation.”

Although initially distraught, with the support of her family and doctors, Roopa Venkatesh overcame the disease.

I WANTED TO CRY OUT LOUD…..THE FIRST THING I ASKED THE DOCTOR WAS WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF MY ONLY SON ( Roopa Venkatesh, breast cancer survivor )

Joining hands for a cause : HCG, in its endeavour to spread awareness on breast cancer, had planned to form t he largest human awareness ribbon in the world by gathering more than 6,000 people on one platform on October 30 at Sullivan Police Grounds, Bangalore. This event will be adjudicated by Guinness World Records and Limca Book of Records.

For a woman, being diagnosed with breast cancer does not mean the end of the road, it is just a challenge that can be overcome. It has been overcome by many women. One such survivor of the disease, Roopa Venkatesh, tells DNA about her journey from the day she was diagnosed to her treatment and the life after trumping the cancer.

“I wanted to cry out loud”, she recalled the moment when her fears were confirmed”.

It was January 1, 2007, when she learnt she had breast cancer. The new year seemed like the beginning of the end to her. Until the news broke out, life seemed good. At 42 years then, she was a chartered accountant who had worked her way to become the owner of a software company, T8. Health Care Global Enterprises Ltd confirmed she had indeed contracted the cancer.

Even her grandmother was diagnosed with the cancer 17 years ago, although she had survived. Her elder sister, too, had the disease but succumbed, at the age of 33 years.

Doctors counseled her about the treatment available. She spoke to her 15 year old son, Pranav. “He helped me bring perspective. My son told me (to) take treatment and then I will be okay”, he said.

Her Surgery was scheduled for January 4, 2007. She had to undergo lumpectomy, wherein only the tumor and some surrounding tissue are removed. After surgery, doctors asked her to undergo chemotherapy because she had a family history of the cancer. Chemotherapy went on for 11 months and ended in November 2007.

“Emotionally, as a woman, I felt very ugly as this disease attacks the breasts and the treatment attacks the hair, both of which are very important for a woman. I felt less of a woman, cheated by life and God,” she said, adding that her parents, son and doctors were a real support.

Now, Roopa has overcome the disease and even written a book on breast cancer, called Breast Cancer, A Comma And Not A Full Stop.

HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd, one of South Asia’s’ largest cancer care network, in its endeavour to spread awareness on breast cancer will form the largest human ribbon in the world on October 30th 2011 at 11:00 am at Sullivan Police Grounds, Bengaluru. This effort has been adjudicated by the Guinness World Record as well as the Limca Book of Records. “According to the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) there are going to be more than 1.5 million suffering from cancer in India by 2015. We wanted to create awareness to educate the masses on preventive measures that one must take to avoid cancer and we felt bringing the masses together would be the best way, hence the largest ribbon,” said Dr B S Ajaikumar, Chairman, HCG.

This initiative is taken primarily to avoid stage IV cancer which will only happen by educating the masses. “A number of patients are diagnosed with cancer at a very late stage, where treatment becomes extremely difficult. A lot of patients are resistant to getting themselves checked which is not a good sigh. This awareness camp will have genetic counselors which will educate the masses on the various preventive measures of avoiding cancer by keeping a check on their lifestyle and other habits,” said Dinesh Madhavan, Director Marketing, HCG.

This event is open to all, former cancer patients, doctors, support groups, well wishers all are welcomed to participate. HCG has gone all out to create awareness about this campaign and can be seen active on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. So far they have received approximately 2000 registrations on facebook. They have created a registration site (http://www.hcgoncology.com/pink_ribbon.php) where people can register themselves and win free merchandises. All the participants of the awareness camp will receive a participation certificate from HCG, Limca records and Guinness World Record.

Cancer is becoming the number one killer in the world, breast cancer out of which has become the most common of them. Though cancer is prevalent in the urban areas; HCG is also taking initiatives to create awareness in the rural areas and would have more than 1500 rural women participating in the event from areas like Mysore, Gundlupet and more. These women would go through one on one check up to avoid cancer and will be guided by the team of doctors on the various changes they need to make in their lifestyle to avoid cancer.

HCG has planned to conduct this activity in Bengaluru as it has witness a huge number of cancer patients from this region. “Cancer is the number one killer in the world. In India, the highest incidence of breast cancer is in Bangalore. Out of we treat more than 800 cancer patients a year. The age group of people affected by cancer are reducing, earlier we used to treat patients of the age group of 40-60 but now we have patients coming in at an early age of 26,” said Ajaikumar.

Every year HCG observes the month of October as World Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is why the largest human awareness ribbon will be help this month and will be formed by gathering more than 5000 people on one platform. Hopefully the pink ribbon will save many lives in times to come and help people stay away from cancer.

Every year the month of October, is observed as World Breast Cancer Awareness Month. HCG, in its endeavor to spread awareness on breast cancer has planned to form the largest human awareness ribbon by gathering more than 6000 people on one platform. This unique activity is planned for the first time in India and for a cause. This event has been recognised by Guinness World Records and Limca Book of Records.

Venue – Sullivan Police Grounds, Opp Garuda Mall, Bangalore

Time – 11: 00 AM

Kindly register to confirm your participation below:

http://www.hcgoncology.com/pink_ribbon.php

Bangalore, 24th, September, 2011- HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd, South Asia’s largest cancer care network, for the second consecutive year won The Frost and Sullivan Oncology leader of the year award 2011 -2012. The awards were presented by Frost and Sullivan on September 23rd, 2011 at Mumbai

Dr. B S Ajaikumar, Chairman & Mr. Dinesh Madhavan, Director Marketing ,HCG received the award on behalf of HCG , on receiving the award they said , “We are honored to receive this award, it recognizes us for redefining cancer treatment across the globe , it also reiterates the faith that countless cancer patients have in us, in the fight against cancer . The fact that, HCG has won the awards for the second consecutive year endorses our vision to provide high quality, affordable and comprehensive cancer care to the society.”
Frost & Sullivan Awards

Excellence in Healthcare Awards are presented to companies in lifescience / healthcare sectors, demonstrating best practices in a variety of regional and global markets. They recognize the superior planning and execution of product launches, strategic alliances, distribution strategies, technological innovations, customer service, healthcare delivery services and mergers & acquisitions.

A host of other crucial factors such as leadership, strategy, growth, service, innovation, integration, marketing, financial performance and development are also considered as part of the Award Methodology. The companies that are commended as Excellence Award recipients are those with the diligence, perseverance, and dedication required to develop a successful business plan and excel in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.

HealthCare Global Enterprises, (HCG) South Africa’s cancer network, announced that the company is planning to set cancer facility center in Ethiopia. The facility, which is estimated to be constructed within twenty months, needs a total investment of around twenty two million US dollars. “As we usually do elsewhere, we plan to set up the facility in partnership with a local private company,” said Dinesh Madhavan, HCG’s Marketing Director, during the press briefing at the Hilton Addis yesterday afternoon (July 21, 2011).

“Our main objective is to change the way cancer is being treated in Ethiopia. We hope the facility will save the money, time and energy cancer patients in Ethiopia have been spending to travel to South Africa for treatment,” he said.

In addition to treatment for cancer patients and providing prevention advices and consulting, the facility will also be used as training institute for teaching Ethiopian health professionals on how they can treat cancer.

The construction of the facility will be started in the coming September, according to Mr.Madhavan, who also noted that HCG’s team of doctors have been providing free cancer treatment visit in Ethiopia at Bethel Hospital every three months.

HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd, headquartered in Bangalore and South Asia’s Largest Cancer Care Network, is a cancer care network with quality care across 22 centers. To know more about HCG please visit http://hcgoncology.com

CME Program in association with IMA Bardez and ASI Goa

Time: 730 PM onwards

Where: Hotel Orion, Porvorim

Who’s invited: All the ASI and IMA list doctors and KOL s in North and South Goa

The event description :

Topic 1: Advances in Oncology – Optimization of Targeted Therapy Combination
Speaker: Dr. Kumara Swamy- Consultant Radiation Oncologist

Topic 2: Management of Hepato-Pancreatico- Billiary cancers and role of Liver Transplantation

Speaker: Dr. Dilip K Chakravarty – Consultant Surgical Oncologist

June 18th, 2011, Bangalore: HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd. (HCG), South Asia’s largest cancer care network, on the eve of world sickle cell day opened the first sickle cell clinic in Karnataka, on June 18th, 2011.

The sickle cell clinic was inaugurated by Dr. B S AjaiKumar, Chairman, HCG. He said, “This sickle cell clinic is the first in Karnataka. It will offer patient care, education, screening & counselling for afflicted patients & families. This initiative will help in the early detection of the disease & treatment.”

Dr. Intezar Mehdi, Consultant Paediatric Hematologist, HCG, said, “Sickle Cell is the first molecular disease known to the mankind for over 100 years now. 50% of the world sickle cell population resides in India. In India, the disease is especially present in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Approximately 3.2 million population, belongs to these high risk communities.”

Stressing on the awareness he further added “Awareness is the key, because it is a genetic disorder. Genetic Counselling, premarital screening, antenatal diagnosis, newborn screening would be the key for effective management of the sickle cell disease.”

In the year 2008, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution which determines sickle cell disease as a public health problem and one of the world’s foremost genetic disease, requiring heightened awareness and activism, diagnosis and management. The result of the resolution was that June 19th was declared as World Sickle Cell to increase awareness of the condition all over the world.