South Tamil Nadu gets Its first advanced center for Cancer Care.
This first-of-its-kind Oncology day-care center inaugurated at Vadamalayan Hospital, Madurai

Dr.P.Vadamalayan, our founder, was an excellent surgeon, an enthusiastic teacher, a strong believer in corporate social responsibility and a stringent practiitioner of Evidence based medicine. Since the 1930s, the name of Vadamalayan, has been synonymous with excellent medical care delivered with the latest of technologies, and accessible at affordable cost to all the needy, throughout South Tamilnadu. His contribution to healthcare was immense, and he was conferred the title of “Rao Bahadur” by a thankful Central government, which at that time, was equivalent to a “Padma Bhushan”. His values and his legacy of ” patient comes first” has enabled us, over the past 59 years, to grow from a small clinic with 10 beds, to the present 250 bedded superspeciality hospital. His battle with cancer and demise, caused a deep impact on his son Dr.Pugalagiri Vadamalayan to full fill the dreams of founder setting “ Vadamalayan Integrated Cancer Center” to bringing world class treatment to Southern Tamil Nadu districts making their over all cost of treatment affordable.

Close to half a million people in India suffering from Cancer die every year1. This is primarily because 70-80% of cancer cases are diagnosed late in India2, mainly due to lack of diagnostic facilities at the peripheral levels, rendering any form of treatment less effective. Tamil Nadu is no exception: It is the seventh highest in incidence and mortality due to cancer in the country

To bridge the huge need gap and to provide access to world-class cancer care to the people of South Tamil Nadu, Vadamalayan Hospital today inaugurated the first Oncology Day Care Center in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

About the center, Dr. Pugalagiri Vadamalayan, CMD Vadamalayan Hospitals said, it will revolutionize the way cancer care is delivered to people of Madurai and South Tamil Nadu districts, bringing world-class treatment closer to them and making their overall cost of treatment affordable.

“Cancer today is one of the biggest killers in India with one death every minute”, said Milan Rao, President and CEO, GE Healthcare, South Asia.”

The center has the following Diagnostics & Treatment modalities

• PET CT (Discovery IQ)
• Linear Accelerator with Rapid Arc
• HDR Brachytherapy
• Gamma Camera – SPECT
• Mammography
• Chemotherapy Day Care Center
• Digital Tumor Board

GE also helped Vadamalayan plan their IT infrastructure with oncology specific digital solutions that will enable the center go paperless, drive efficiency and also allow doctors to collaborate with specialists from others parts thus ensuring high quality care and clinical outcomes for patients.

Before this center came up, the Madurai region had only one government hospital and three Private hospitals with Radiotherapy treatment facilities. The region did not have advanced cancer diagnostic facilities like PET/CT and patients in South Tamil Nadu had to travel to Chennai or Coimbatore to avail any comprehensive care for Cancer, significantly increasing their cost of treatment. With this center, people in the regions can avail advanced cancer care treatment while significantly lowering their overall cost of treatment (travel and lodging).

Also the Oncology Day Care center modelallows delivery of comprehensive cancer care in an OPD setting without the need for hospitalization, as is the practice in the western world.

PET/CT is revolutionizing Cancer care

The value of Whole body Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography (PET/CT) for diagnostic imaging in oncology is well established with its capabilities to combine anatomical and functional aspects of the whole body to provide a complete picture of patient’s health.

Healthcare providers not only want the ability to detect smaller lesions, but also the ability to accurately determine whether the patient is responding to current treatment(chemotherapy and radiotherapy). When using CT alone, up to six cycles of chemotherapy may be required to determine if the treatment is effective. PET/CT can help speed up treatment, because metabolic changes in a tumor occur more frequently than structural changes. It is a more accurate and reliable solution that can help clinicians determine how well a treatment is working especially in lymphomas after as few as 1 to 2 cycles of chemotherapy, and they will be able to tailor the treatment according to individual patient’s response and needs. Thus Molecular imaging using PET/CT is a decisive tool for early diagnosis, treatment staging as well as monitoring the progress of treatment, while also reducing overall treatment cost.

Linear accelerator with Rapid Arc

This powerful workhorse treats thousands of patients around the world every day. Designed to deliver a wide range of imaging and patient treatment options, the Clinac iX system offers advanced features to facilitate state-of-the-art treatments including IMRT, IGRT, RapidArc and stereotactic body radiotherapy,the latest radiation therapy treatment techniques.

RapidArc delivers the precise dose distribution and conformity of IMRT and IGRT in a fraction of the time, often two minutes or less. By simultaneously shortening treatment times and improving treatment accuracy, RapidArc technology represents a significant advance for improving the patient experience and increasing the efficiency of radiation oncology departments.

HDR Brachytherapy

HDR Brachytherapy is a powerful form of internally delivered radiation therapy that destroys many types of cancers including skin, cervical, prostate and breast. HDR Brachytherapy can be used as a standalone treatment or after a tumor has been surgically removed to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells.

Gamma Camera – SPECT

Millennium MG, Multi-Geometry Nuclear Medicine System is used to perform a range of Nuclear Imaging studies. Imaging with Gamma Camera involves preparation and injection of radiopharmaceuticals that specifically trace the function of Organ of Interest. Radiopharmaceuticals are prepared in the well-equipped Hot Lab in the Department of Molecular Imaging. These specific radiopharmaceuticals are administered to patients and images are acquired. Static, dynamic and parametric images can be obtained under a Gamma Camera.

Mammography

Providing exceptional mammography care means more than just state-of-the-art technology. It means a positive patient experience that begins with you. It is an important screening tool for early detection of breast cancers which leads to high chances of cure. Breast cancer forms a major burden of cancer load among Indian women population and hence such screening is mandatory in women more than 40 yrs age and even earlier age in those with high risks such as a family history of breast cancer.

Chemotherapy Day Care Center

• Complete infrastructure with latest gadgets.
• Expertise of eminent Consultants.
• Competent and dedicated Technicians and Nurses
• No overnight stay
• Faster recovery
• Minimal or no disruption to regular routine
• Economic advantages

Digital Tumor Board

Vadamalayan cancer designed as per latest digital patient workflow, all the modalities has been digitally connected, which enables delivering highest clinical outcome for cancer patients. It system powered with unique tumor board solutions, which allows Cancer specialists to collaborate, discuss and debate the stages of cancer patients and decide the right treatment protocols/Regiments.

GE also helped vadamalayan plan their IT infrastructure with oncology specific digital solutions that will enable the center go paperless, drive efficiency and also allow doctors to collaborate with specialists from others parts thus ensuring high quality care and clinical outcomes for patients.