HealthCare Global Enterprises (HCG) Ltd., has received the consent from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Body (AERB) to use the Flattening Free Filter Mode technology to treat  caner patients. The oncology major has now utilised the same to treat a patient at its facility at Ahmedabad who was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In August 2011, HCG invested around Rs. 15 crore to install the Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beam Linear Accelerator which is used globally to provide more precise treatment for the disease. The advanced system is able to deliver tumour residual dose allowing less exposure to normal tissues, fewer side effects and is viewed as a more effective option stated Dr BS Ajai Kumar, chairman, HCG.

While there are several hospitals in the country which have similar installations, HCG is the first to have received the consent from AERB to use it for cancer treatment.

Dr Vivek Bansal, director, Radiation Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre Ahmedabad, said, “The cancer patients will benefit with the introduction of FFF technology. With FFF dose rates of 2400 as compared to 600 or below in filtered beams which during the course of treatment gets  reduced by one third to one fourth.

“This probably is the biggest add on as of today adding to patients comfort and minimizes the effect of movement during treatment or during respiration also. The treatment time in delivering doses will come down from minutes to seconds. The high doses are delivered with precision and accuracy not affecting the normal tissues and thereby reducing the chances of secondary cancers, and optimizing medical outcomes,” stated Dr Bansal.

Dr Bharath Ghadvi, CEO, HCG Cancer Centre Ahmedabad, said, “We are the first hospital in India to get approval to use the FFF Flattening Free Filter Mode, technology. This is only possible because we are a centre of excellence for cancer treatment. The introduction of FFF is to ensure precision and quality of life to the patients.”

The Bengaluru-based HCG has over 25 cancer centres and is South Asia’s largest cancer care network. Its Ahmedabad unit is also an advanced cancer centre which also houses the another latest technology, TrueBeam, an advanced radiotherapy machine.