Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre at CMC Ludhiana

Ludhiana, October 5, 2018: The not-for-profit model and missionary spirit that Christian Medical College (CMC) & Hospital, Ludhiana has followed for the last 125 years has led to the initiative to provide affordable, accessible and state of the art comprehensive Cancer Care facilities at CMC Ludhiana, said Dr.DhruvNath Ghosh, Associate Director, CMC Ludhiana during the launch ceremony of the cancer care facilities including preventative, diagnostic, curative and palliative care for cancer patients under one roof. We are making efforts in making the affordable and accessible treatment to all patients using. A specialized centre that offers facilities for diagnosis and treatment for all types of cancers including blood cancers, solid organ cancers (including brain, lung, breast, bladder, gallbladder, liver cancers) and bone marrow (stem cell) transplantation has been made available to the public from October 6th, 2018 at CMC Ludhiana. What is unique in CMCcentre is that it has all the components of cancer care under one roof with availability of medical, radiation, surgical, paediatric, gynaecology, oncology services along with palliative care, laboratory facilities including FISH (Fluorescent in-situ hybridization) which is one of the advanced cancer diagnostic facilities and molecular lab facilities. Besides this CMC has already been offering stem cell transplantation for blood cancer patients for the last 10 years and we do autologous (own stem cell), allogeneic (from another person, matched unrelated donor transplantation (from a registry donor) and haploidentical transplantation (half matched). We also have a team of specially trained oncology nurses who are a vital link in patient care. Cancer has emerged as a leading cause of death in the last few decades and has overtaken diabetes and heart disease in many parts of the country. Many patients here in Punjab are not able to access or afford treatment due to logistical or financial problems. For these patients all these facilities for treatment under specialists for blood cancers, solid tumours and other childhood cancers are available now at CMC Ludhiana at very affordable rates also external financial support from the chief minister and Prime Minister Funds and as well as Philanthropic NGOs who have partnered with CMC, Ludhiana is available. Christian Medical College, Ludhiana is the first institution in Punjab to have a dedicated bone marrow transplant service and provides bone marrow transplantation for children and adults alike. In addition, support services such as advanced hematopathology, histopathology, transfusion medicine (blood bank), and ICU support is available round the clock. Dr Dhruv,further said that treatment for cancer has improved steadily over the last few years, and many malignancies which were previously incurable can now be cured and good long-term survival can be seen. Improvement in multi-specialty care is a major cause for these improved results. CMC has introduced palliative care in the region a few years ago and is currently running a home based palliative care program for Ludhiana city.