NEWS

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), the first and only proton therapy centre in South Asia and the Middle East and India's first JCI accredited Cancer hospital, shared detailed insights and facts about the most successful focused therapy for cancer – Proton Beam Therapy. True to the Apollo pillars of expertise and excellence, Proton Beam Therapy with focused and trained cancer management teams provides optimal solutions to treat cancer. Apollo Proton Cancer Centre has been successfully treating cancer patients from Bangladesh through the most advanced new-age technology.

This Sarcoma Awareness Month, Apollo Cancer Centres, India’s best cancer hospitals, hosted ‘Winners on Wheels’ cyclothon to spread awareness about Sarcoma cancer. This initiative was aimed to create awareness and encourage positivity about cancer treatment for a better quality of life. To shed light on how a well-treated cancer patient can lead a successful life, people volunteered to participate in the cyclothon as Apollo’s brand ambassador. Regional Cyclothons across 5 cities – Bangalore, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Chennai are also being conducted to create awareness about Sarcoma Cancer & its symptoms. Over 100 volunteers in each of these cities participated in the event.

The event was flagged off by Ms. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals at Chennai, by Dr. Manish Mattoo, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka region, by Mr. P Shivakumar, Managing Director - Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and Dr. Shanthi Bansal, Director Medical Services, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals (Delhi), by Ms Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals at Hyderabad, Mr. Santosh Marathe, Regional CEO – Western Region, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai and Dr. Anil D’Cruz, Director – Oncology Services, Apollo Cancer Centres at Mumbai . The clinicians, doctors and medical staff were present for the event. Local cyclist associations and children from schools - Sudharshan Vidhyamandir, Bangalore; Jubilee Hills Public School, Hyderabad; JS Global School, Sholinganallur and Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mylapore also took part in this activity along with Sarcoma cancer winners.

Sarcoma is one of the cancers which affects the soft tissues or bone. Bone Sarcomas constitute as the third most common cause of mortality in adolescents. In addition to raising awareness around Sarcoma cancer, the cyclothon also promoted the need for a healthy lifestyle to ensure a future with less cancer risk. The gathering discussed the primary topic of reasoning on the forgotten disease.

On the occasion, Ms Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals said, “In the era of a sedentary lifestyle, old and young, living on the verge of increasing all causes of mortality, double the risk of cardiovascular diseases and increase the risks of cancers. It is imperative to understand the diseases that are growing and gripping our society. One such, forgotten disease is Sarcoma cancer, a type of cancer that begins in the bone or in the soft tissues of the body, including cartilage or other connective or supportive tissue, which has seen a rise worldwide. This July—Sarcoma Awareness Month—we hope to raise awareness on the same and encourage adoption of a healthy lifestyle in day-to-day life. Apollo Cancer Centres have been at the forefront of the battle with cancer by arming the teams with the latest technology and initiatives to enhance care standards for cancer patients. I would also thank Aishwarya Rajinikanth and Ramya Bharathi for supporting us with their gracious presence today and wholehearted encouragement.”

Ms Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals said, “Apollo Cancer Centres have always been at the forefront of the cancer battle in India. Our larger idea aligns with our mission with each passing year to spread awareness about cancer and constantly speak on the need to aware of cancer and timely treatment to ensure healthy life after healing. Cycling, in my past, gave me strength and made me believe that women can do anything they set their mind to. Today. This cyclothon imbibes confidence in each cancer survivor to be a strong and healthy person enroute a cancer free life.”

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Srimanth B S, Lead Orthopedic Onco-surgeon at Apollo Cancer Centre, Bengaluru said, “Bone sarcomas are rare. They account to 1-2 % of all cancers in the adult population, but up to a whopping 20 % or more in the pediatric population. So, identifying these aggressively, initiating prompt multi-disciplinary treatment and aiming for saving the limb is paramount. Today, with surgical expertise, support system and technological advancements, it is not only about saving one’s limb, but also providing them with a solution to get back to doing what they loved to be it their hobby or indulge in sports.”

Dr. Anil D’Cruz, Director – Oncology Services, Apollo Cancer Centres, said, “Sarcoma are relatively rare cancers and arise from the bones (bone sarcomas) or connective tissues (soft tissue sarcomas). Soft tissue sarcomas occur in the muscle, fat, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, joint lining of our body. They occur at all ages and in any location within the body. Raising awareness and early diagnosis are important as often these present as innocuous swellings and are ignored. Surgery is the prime modality of treatment and therefore the larger the tumor the more the associated loss of function.”

Sarcoma survivors share their perspectives: "I am glad Apollo Hospitals has organized this event in the Sarcoma Awareness Month to spread awareness about it. Being a survivor myself I can understand the severity about being a sarcoma patient.” "I would like to thank and acknowledge the team at Apollo Hospitals for helping me feel healthy again. We had lost all hope when I was detected with cancer, but it was because of the support and efforts of the team here that I was able to stay resilient through this journey of recovery.”

"I am glad to have my leg saved. Able to ride with other winners allowed me to share our strength, ordeals, and the positivity from others. And yes, I am back on the seat of my cycle, Motorbike to start exploring what life is all about again”.

Cancer care today means 360-degree comprehensive care, which requires commitment, expertise and an indomitable spirit from the cancer specialists Apollo Cancer Centres- are present across 14 cities and has 1000 dedicated beds, over 250 oncologists to oversee 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.