‘Best of Astro’ to be held in India

Medical fraternity unites in a bid to discuss new technology/ treatment modalities to fight cancer

Kokilaben Hospital, in association with the’ Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI)’, will host the BEST OF ASTRO Cancer Conference on 2-3 May 2015, Mumbai, a pioneer in clinical practice, guidelines and research being held for the first time outside US in India at KDAH.ASTRO, or The American Society for Radiation Oncology, is the largest radiation oncology body in the world.

Dr Ram Narain, Executive Director, KDAH, said, “Kokilaben Hospital has played a pivotal role in cancer care in the city and country, and is proud to host such a feast of cancer education. Events like Best of ASTRO are of utmost importance in the field of oncology as they help in the evolution of the discipline through discussions, leading to research and innovation. One can expect this event to be a benchmark in medical oncology in India that will eventually help the Indian Diaspora by bringing the best of treatments home.”

The first ‘Best of Astro’ in India will be represented by five eminent international faculties namely-Director of Radiation Oncology, US, Oncology Group; a member from Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, Massachusetts; and three distinguished professionals from MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas. Beside this, 100 national and SAARC faculties and 400 delegates from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka are expected to join this premier international scientific event. Participants will gain exposure to the latest science in radiation oncology in the context of day-to-day practice and treatment protocols.

Dr Rajesh Mistry, Director, Centre for Cancer, KDAH said, “In early stage lung cancer treatment, surgery has been the main and traditional option, but stereotactic body radiotherapy (a form of radiation) has emerged as a major treatment modality. Such conferences will help elaborate discussion on such useful techniques.”

Dr MC Pant, President, and Dr Rajesh Vashistha, Secretary General (Association of Radiation Oncologists of India) also commented, “It is a great opportunity for those who could not attend ASTRO annual conference in San Francisco, as attending a conference in the US is not only expensive but difficult logistically. It cannot get better than presenting and discussing the same abstracts and scientific presentations by eminent international and national faculties in India.”

Dr Kaustav Talapatra, Head – Department of Radiation Oncology, KDAH, and Organising Secretary and Coordinator, first BEST OF ASTRO Conference, India, said, “It is a matter of great pride for us at Kokilaben Hospital to host an international meet of such repute and magnitude. For the first time, ASTRO has officially licensed the “BEST of ASTRO” conference to three nations: Mexico, Turkey and India. Radiation as a treatment has become very prominent in treatment of various cancers like head and neck, cervix, breast, lung and brain. BEST OF ASTRO will help cancer specialists in a unique manner by informing us about the latest updates in the field and recent changes in practice of treatment. This will ultimately help our doctors improve cancer services by adding more scope to the opportunities available, which are at the core of discussion in this conference.”

Dr Sandeep Goyle, Consultant Medical Oncologist, and Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, “The trend of organ preservation in cancer is on the rise and with modalities like radiation and chemotherapy, mutilating surgeries are on the decline. A multimodal approach has rendered better cosmetic and functional outcomes.”

Radiotherapy has been one of the mainstays in the treatment of cancer, with about half of all cancer patients receiving some type of radiation therapy during the course of their illness. In solid adult tumours, owing to its limited biological efficacy .High precision techniques have not only decreased the toxicities and side effects but has also helped improved survival in certain cancers, concluded Dr Talapatra.

EH News Bureau