Prayagraj: In a significant step towards improving cancer care, Motilal Nehru Medical College has set up a specialised “Tumor Board” to provide better treatment for patients suffering from complex and rare forms of cancer.The move is aimed at ensuring that critically ill patients receive comprehensive treatment, especially in cases where conventional approaches often fall short.Doctors say that cancer becomes extremely difficult to treat when it reaches an advanced stage or involves rare conditions. In such cases, treatment decisions based solely on routine reports like biopsy results may not be sufficient. Recognising this challenge, the institution has brought together experts from multiple disciplines to collectively decide on the best possible course of treatment.Under this new system, patients’ medical reports, including pathology findings, imaging scans and clinical history, will be reviewed jointly by a panel of specialists. For instance, in rare cases such as vaginal cancer, which are not commonly encountered, treatment will no longer rely on a single doctor’s opinion. Instead, the board will take charge and formulate a detailed and customised treatment plan.The board comprises experts from various fields, including cancer surgery, pathology, radiology, chemotherapy and plastic surgery. These specialists will analyse how the cancer originated, the extent of its spread, the type of tumor involved and its impact on vital systems before arriving at a consensus on surgery or other treatment options.The first meeting of the board is expected to be held soon. Key members include noted specialists like Dr Sapan Srivastava, Dr Pankaj Kamra, Dr Anshul Singh, Dr Kanchanar Verma, Dr Radha Kesarwani, Dr Surendra Gupta, Dr Virendra Singh, Dr B M Singhal and Dr Mohit Jain.The initiative has been launched under the guidance of principal, MLNMC, Dr V K Pandey. According to Dr Kanchanar Verma, the board will be highly beneficial for patients with complicated cancer cases, as collective expertise will lead to more accurate and effective treatment plans.Experts believe that this collaborative approach will not only enhance treatment quality but also increase survival chances for patients battling advanced-stage cancers.
