‘New laser therapy can check spread of cancer’

A new technology for treating lung cancer patients, Laser Assisted Metastasectomy Pulmonale (LAMP), developed by Germans, has been introduced in the city by Dr Tushar Shah, senior cardiothoracic surgeon associated with SAL hospital. Dr Shah uses the 1318-NM diode laser to remove cancerous growth in the lungs.

Dr Shah said with LAMP, cancerous growth in the lungs can be easily removed and the surgery required for this does not take more than 4-5 hours. "The patient is discharged within 2-4 days of the surgery and the procedure can be repeated if necessary," he said. "LAMP can also be used to treat cancers of the kidney, skin, pancreas, or for that matter, any primary form of cancer that has spread to the lungs. Moreover, it does not require blood transfusion."

Dr Shah added that around 30% of cancer cases are of lung cancer. "With this technology, 20% of the lung cancer cases can be cured," he said. "The life span of 30 to 50% of the remaining lung cancer patients can be extended by as much as 5 years."

Chairman and managing trustee, SAL, Rajendra Shah, said that, till now, there was nothing that could stop cancers from spreading to the lungs. "But we are happy that Dr Shah has introduced the new technology here," he said. "In Germany and other countries, the average cost of treatment of lung cancer with the new technology is around Rs10-11 lakh but we will provide this treatment for as little as Rs1 lakh at our hospital so that an average Indian can afford it."

Shah said the exact period of time by which a patient's life can be extended is yet to be established.