News & Events

A 5km cyclothon was organised to create awareness about Sarcoma

Chennai 29th July 2023: Amidst an air of triumph and hope, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) together with Apollo Cancer Centre (ACC) and Apollo Shine, to successfully host the second edition of 'Winners on Wheels' Cyclothon. The exceptional event was dedicated to accelerating awareness about Sarcoma, a type of cancer that predominantly affects children. The response from participants, spectators, and cancer warriors alike was nothing short of overwhelming, as they united with unwavering determination to make a difference.

Sarcoma, a rare and often misunderstood form of cancer, poses unique challenges to patients and their families. As a part of its ongoing commitment to supporting cancer warriors, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre along with Apollo Cancer Centre and Apollo Shine took the initiative to shed light on Sarcoma during the 'Winners on Wheels' Cyclothon with an aim to raise awareness and bring hope to those facing the complexities of this disease.

The inaugural edition of 'Winners on Wheels' in 2022 witnessed resounding success, with over 100 cyclists coming forward to support the cause alongside the brave cancer warriors. This year, the 5 km Cyclothon, flagged-off at APCC, focussed to spread the powerful message that "Cancer is Conquerable" with timely diagnosis and the right treatment. The inspiring event showcased sarcoma survivors leading the charge, symbolizing the indomitable spirit and resilience of those fighting cancer.

Renowned Film Director & Entrepreneur, Ms. Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, flagged off the event, expressing her admiration for Apollo’s efforts. "It is heart-warming to witness the impact that Apollo is driving among the lives of cancer patients. I am humbled to be part of this noble initiative, and events like 'Winners on Wheels' inspire all to unite in the fight against cancer."

Dr. Vishnu Ramanujan, Consultant - Musculoskeletal Oncology, said, " Sarcoma is a complex and less common type of cancer, especially in children, which makes it crucial for us to enhance awareness and understanding about the condition. Through the 'Winners on Wheels' Cyclothon, we aim to break the silence surrounding Sarcoma and provide a platform for survivors to share their inspiring stories of courage and tenacity."

Speaking at the event, Mr. Harshad Reddy, Director Group Oncology & International, emphasized, "At Apollo Proton Cancer Centre and Apollo Cancer Centre, we firmly believe in supporting cancer warriors at every stage of their journey. The 'Winners on Wheels' Cyclothon provides a platform to raise awareness about sarcoma and offer hope to those facing the challenges of this disease."

The 'Winners on Wheels' Cyclothon 2023 was a triumphant achievement, with enthusiastic participation from over 300 cyclists, including sarcoma survivors, medical staff, students, and members of the community. The unity displayed by the dedicated medical professionals and cancer warriors, demonstrated commitment towards the fight against cancer. By coming together as a community it has strengthened the belief that cancer is conquerable and that there is a bright future beyond sarcoma.

About Apollo Proton Cancer Centre

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, the most advanced Cancer Centre and the first Proton Therapy Centre in South Asia & the Middle East and it is India's first JCI accredited Cancer hospital. At the bedrock of APCC's approach to treating cancer is its robust multi-disciplinary platform; highly skilled professionals who come together to form a cancer management team (CMT). Each CMT is focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for its patients. An added feather in the cap is the recent launch of India's first & only site-specific Robotic Oncology Program.

THE CANCER CARE LEGACY: BREATHING HOPE INTO LIVES FOR OVER 30 YEARS

Cancer care today means 360-degree comprehensive care, which requires commitment, expertise, and an indomitable spirit from cancer specialists.

With over 325 oncologists, Apollo Cancer Centres are present across India to oversee the delivery of high-end precision Oncology Therapy. Our oncologists deliver world-class cancer care following an organ-based practice under competent Cancer Management Teams. This helps us in delivering exemplary treatment to the patient in an environment which has consistently delivered an international standard of clinical outcomes.

Today, people from 147 countries come to India for cancer treatment at Apollo Cancer Centres. With the first & only Pencil Beam Proton Therapy Centre in South Asia & Middle East, Apollo Cancer Centres has all that is needed to strengthen the battle against cancer.

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The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) has partnered with Ion Beam Applications SA (IBA), a Belgium-based manufacturer of advanced proton therapy systems.

The APCC said through the collaboration, which will be effective from July 15, it aims to train oncologists on proton beam therapy and facilitate the development of cancer care. Over 1,000 patients from 33 countries have been treated with proton beam therapy so far, said APCC. The therapy allows for non-invasive, targeted tumour treatment while minimising damage to surrounding tissues.

Preetha Reddy, executive vice-chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd., said: “We are proud of the fact that we have patients coming from countries as developed as the U.S., U.K., New Zealand and Singapore for the best cancer care.” Nearly 600 people have signed up for the course, she said at a press conference in Chennai on Friday.

Claude Dupont, Sales Director, IBA, said: “IBA is pleased to sign the agreement in which APCC commits to sharing its expertise in providing training and education to proton therapy users in Asia and other regions of the world.”

The training programmes would be both online and onsite and it would be customised differently for radiation oncologists, physicians, administrators, and so on. “It typically takes one to three months based on the student group,” said Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director, Radiation Oncology, APCC.

Dinesh Madhavan, President, Group – Oncology & International, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd

Apollo Hospitals, which launched south Asia’s first proton centre for cancer therapy in Chennai, is planning to add two more such centres in different parts of the country, according to a senior official of the healthcare group.

In January 2019, Apollo Hospitals launched a 150-bedded Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) at a cost of ₹1,300 crore to offer high precision proton therapy to cancer patients. The centre has treated over 1,000 cancer patients from more than 33 countries in the last four years

“We are looking to add two more (Proton) centres and we are looking to go beyond Chennai,” said Dinesh Madhavan, President, Group – Oncology & International, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd.

He was speaking on the sidelines of an event on Friday to announce APCC’s exclusive partnership with Ion Beam Applications SA (IBA) to train clinicians on proton beam therapy. IBA is a Belgium-based manufacturer of advanced proton therapy systems.

Madhavan, however, added that it is too early to comment more on the new proton centres since the decision will be based on the healthcare group’s strategy of getting into a particular geography and several other aspects. “But our vision is that we can have multi-centric proton centres in India,” he added.

In recent years, Proton beam therapy has emerged as a highly effective and precise radiation treatment for various types of cancers. Under the therapy, protons are used for a targeted treatment of cancerous tumours without damaging the surrounding healthy tissues and lesser side effects.

Earlier this year, Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Centre launched proton beam therapy, thereby becoming the first government healthcare institution to do so. Several private players are also entering the proton therapy space.

“For a population of six million, Singapore already has three proton centres. With India reaching 1.4 billion in population, we need 14-15 proton centres,” Madhavan said and added that both private and public healthcare providers should add more proton centres.

Elaborating on the latest tie-up with IBA, Madhavan said, proton cancer centres have now come in Thailand and Singapore while countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are also in the process of setting up.

“All these countries would like to come to a country which has got a more heterogeneous experience. “So, we decided to create a proton therapy training school in partnership with IBA and APCC, where physicians, technologists and oncologists can come for the training.”

The State’s first RadiXactX9 Tomotherapy and India's first High Precession TMI/TMLI programme

Chennai, 3 May 2023: In line with the mission to provide the most comprehensive and advanced cancer care in India, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) has once again set a new standard with the introduction of the latest suite of cutting-edge cancer-fighting technology called Tomotherapy. As the first centre in South Asia and the Middle East to offer proton therapy, APCC is renowned for its commitment to providing the finest in proton and photon therapies, and the addition of Tomotherapy is a step towards offering advanced cancer care.

Ms. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament-Lok Sabha, Govt. of India, inaugurated Tamil Nadu's first RadiXactX9 Tomotherapy and India's first High Precession TMI/TMLI programme in the presence of Ms. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, Mr Karan Puri, Chief Executive Officer, APCC, Dr Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director & HOD- Radiation Oncology, APCC, Dr Sapna Nangia, Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncology and Dr Srinivas Chilukuri, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology, APCC, Mr. Manish Jaiswal, Regional Vice President, Accuray Medical Equipment India Pvt. Ltd.

APCC is now the first in Tamil Nadu to offer RadiXactX9 Tomotherapy and India's first High Precession TMI/TMLI programme, thanks to its Helical Tomotherapy technology, which provides greater precision and control over radiation therapy delivery while minimising damage to healthy tissues. The daily imaging capability makes it possible for clinicians to identify and correct any variations in patient positioning, changes in the tumour, or other factors, such as weight gain or loss. As the Tomotherapy System's precision reduces radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, patients experience fewer side effects than those receiving conventional forms of radiation therapy.

Ms. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament-Lok Sabha, praised APCC's role in offering advanced cancer care, saying, "Tamil Nadu has always been at the forefront of medical infrastructure and healthcare delivery in India, and I am proud to say that the launch of Tomotherapy at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre is yet another example of this. With this new technology, the APCC is not only setting new standards for cancer care in Tamil Nadu but also in South Asia and the Middle East. I commend the APCC for its commitment to delivering the finest in proton and photon therapies, and for investing in the latest and most advanced technologies to enhance cancer care for patients."

Ms. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd, added, " The launch of Tomotherapy at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre marks a momentous occasion that will redefine cancer treatment in South Asia. With the increasing prevalence of cancer in India, projected to grow seven-fold by 2025 due to various factors such as air pollution, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles, the introduction of this technology comes at a critical time. Apollo has been a pioneer in healthcare, setting high standards for patient care and excellence, and this commitment is reflected in the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre's efforts to provide the finest in proton and photon therapies. The launch of Tomotherapy is yet another testament to this commitment, which is sure to positively impact the lives of countless patients not only in Tamil Nadu but also throughout South Asia and beyond.”

Dr. Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director & HOD- Radiation Oncology, APCC, emphasized the importance of the new technology, saying, " Tomotherapy represents a significant advancement in radiation therapy technology, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this development at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre. With Tomotherapy, we are able to offer our patients a high-level of precision and accuracy in radiation therapy that was once thought impossible. At APCC, we are committed to providing the finest in proton and photon therapies, and Tomotherapy is a significant addition to our suite of advanced cancer-fighting technologies."

Tomotherapy at the APCC underscores the centre's commitment to offering the most advanced and effective cancer-fighting technologies in South Asia. With a dedicated comprehensive site-specific cancer care centre with all the latest diagnostic facilities including South Asia's first digital PET-CT and digital pathology, APCC has an experienced multi-disciplinary team of highly skilled clinicians focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for their patients with utmost care.

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, the first and only Proton Therapy Centre in South Asia & the Middle East, has launched the second edition of the International Women’s Day campaign—'Screen to Win’— for women auto drivers in Chennai. This initiative is centered to encourage women to get screened, be aware of cancer, and spot the disease at an early stage.

As a part of the initiative, the screening program will be hosted in association with ‘Enayum Kaikal’, the women auto drivers’ association in Her Excellency, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, expressed her delight in being a part of the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre's 'Screen to Win' initiative. She stated, “As a woman, I understand the importance of raising awareness about health issues that disproportionately affect women. Cancer is one such issue. The number of deaths in our country is alarming and heartbreaking, even though breast cancer is preventable and curable if detected early. We need to educate and empower women to prevent and fight cancer, which claims far too many lives each year. I congratulate the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre's efforts to address it through this campaign, particularly for auto rickshaw women drivers. I encourage the community to take benefit of the Apollo cancer screening

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) on Tuesday announced that it has successfully treated a 62-year-old woman from Delhi with proton beam therapy (PBT) for a different type of rare brain tumour.

“Nikhat Khan, a 62-year-old lady, with complaints of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, was evaluated with headache and diplopia in April 2022 and numbness on the left side of her face since June 2022. After conducting several tests, it was concluded, she had a brain tumour at the base of the skull. Ms. Khan was advised adjuvant radiation with proton therapy in view of the location of the tumor (base skull) and proximity to nearby vital structures like hippocampus, brain parenchyma, bilateral temporal lobes, optic apparatus, and parotids. Post the course of radiation therapy and surgery, the patient was discharged with a healthy report,” Dr. Sapna Nangia, Director - Head Neck & Breast, Department of Radiation Oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai said during the statement.