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Time of India
27-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
India's highest radiation dose used at Tata hosp, may slash kid cancer treatment cost
Mumbai: The treatment chamber's walls had to be lead-shielded, the next few rooms vacated and several other strict safety measures put in place before two highly radioactive injections were given at a gap of just 15 seconds to a 17-year-old with stage 4 neuroblastoma at the Tata Memorial Centre's ACTREC facility in Kharghar recently. It marked the first time such a high-radiation dose procedure had been attempted in India, requiring extensive planning over three months, multiple safety checks, and full-scale mock drills, reports Eshan Kalyanikar. Treatment for neuroblastoma, a type of cancer mostly associated with children, will change significantly and could be provided for Rs 4-5 lakh. At the moment, treating a high-risk neuroblastoma requires a multi-modality approach, including anti-GD2 immunotherapy, and costs could go up to Rs 75 lakh, said oncologists. The patient was treated on May 5 and discharged in 5 days. This week, he was considered out of danger — for now. The outcome of the treatment will be determined over the next two years depending on if the patient has cured or had a relapse. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai We were coordinating with Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. There were three meetings with them, as they have performed over 100 such procedures before. Our confidence increased after learning that our hospital was already extensively equipped," said Dr Archi Agrawal, head of the nuclear medicine department who spearheaded the pioneering treatment and was one of the two doctors who administered the injections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Gorgeous Women, Ranked BigGlobalTravel Undo A patient remains highly radioactive after the therapy and even bodily fluids and excretions pose a risk of nuclear exposure to others. To prevent this, urine and stool were collected and stored in special containment systems — 'delay-decay tanks' — designed to hold radioactive waste for several days until the radiation decays to safe levels before disposal. From lead-shielded walls and a high-isolation treatment room to a long-term nuclear biomedical waste holding system, doctors said the procedure was only possible because the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) had much of the required infrastructure in place. The treatment, called 131I-mIBG, is a type of radiotherapy in which a radioactive form of iodine is attached to a molecule (MIBG) that is absorbed by neuroblastoma cells. This allows targeted radiation to the tumor while sparing most healthy tissues. "Until now, only a 300-millicurie dose of this therapy was administered to patients," said TMC director Sudeep Gupta. Most hospitals typically administer 200 millicuries. "We aimed to deliver 800 millicuries: four times the usual dose and the highest ever given in India," said Dr Venkatesh Rangarajan from the department of nuclear medicine. The permissions had to be obtained from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The hospital recalled that two AERB officials were sent to ACTREC to monitor the procedure. Dr Agarwal emphasised that there was no room for error and that the safety of the patient and everyone in the hospital was the top priority. "We managed it because the patient and their family were highly cooperative, and isolation protocols were strictly followed. Everything, from food to medical assessments, had to be managed through the door, from a distance," she said, adding that she would have risked radiation exposure herself to rush to the patient had he experienced an emergency hypertensive episode. "That was a risk, but thankfully, it did not occur," she said. Other departments involved include departments of paediatric oncology, the bone marrow transplant unit, and the transfusion medicine department. Dr Navin Khatry of haematology department said that the cure rate for this treatment is 30%, with a relapse typically occurring within two to three years. He added, "The condition impacts paediatric patients. This treatment will be only given to patients who have had a relapse. We will be doing clinical trials before moving ahead with this therapy for others." No Mixed-Media Items
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
4 more Covid deaths in state take total toll since May to 25
Mumbai: A 35-year-old woman battling a heart disease died of Covid-19 at a private hospital in city on Friday. The woman had come from Nashik for treatment. The death of three others on the same day in the state — one with diabetes and hypertension, one with heart disease and TB, and another with heart disease and cancer — take the total Covid-19-linked deaths to 25 in Maharashtra since May. The three other victims were a 79-year-old from Satara, a 55-year-old in Ulhasnagar, and an 85-year-old from Kolhapur. The city also reported 25 new cases on Friday. All the patients had mild symptoms. In four other Covid deaths in the city since May, the primary cause of fatality has been linked to multiple comorbidities. An official from BMC's health department said, "We are admitting a few patients every couple of days, but all of them are people with severe comorbidities. They're referred to Seven Hills for isolation. The admissions are only to be safe, all are stable." — Eshan Kalyanikar Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
2 more Covid deaths take state's tally to 21
Mumbai: On Wednesday, the state reported two more deaths, taking the total number of Covid-19-related deaths with comorbidities to 21. One of the deceased was a 78-year-old Navi Mumbai patient with diabetes and heart disease. The second was a 65-year-old with diabetes and parkinson disease in Kolhapur. In all, the state reported 107 Covid-19 cases on the same day, of which 34 were in Mumbai. According state health officials, all the diagnosed have mild cases. Most of the deaths since May, when the cases began to surge, have been due to comorbidities. Most impacted are elderly with diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart disease and even interstitial lung disease. Since Jan, 18,885 tests have been conducted, with a recovery rate of 62.58%. Active Covid cases in state stands at 615. — Eshan Kalyanikar
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Mumbai reported 95 new Covid-19 cases in May
MUMBAI: A sharp increase in Covid-19 cases was reported in the state this May, with 95 new infections detected in the city alone, according to the state health department. This accounts for 101 cases of the entire statewide total of 106 cases since Jan. A total of 16 patients are currently hospitalised, as health officials ramp up surveillance. Most of these are those who were transferred from KEM Hospital to Seven Hills Hospital to minimise the risk of further transmission, hospital officials told TOI. State health authorities are closely monitoring Influenza-like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection, with all such cases now tested for Covid-19, officials said. -Eshan Kalyanikar KEY HIGHLIGHTS City reports 95 of 106 Covid cases seen in the state since January. Surge in May triggers heightened Covid surveillance by health officials. 16 patients hospitalized; most shifted from KEM to Seven Hills Hospital. Authorities testing all ILI and SARI cases for Covid-19 as a precaution. Health department closely monitoring virus spread and hospital capacity.
