The cancer centre was built within the Caritas Hospital Campus. It initially started functioning as a surgical oncology department in January 2000. Under Metropolitan Mar Kuriakose Kunnasserry, the then Director Rev. Fr. Simon Pazhukayil and Rev. Fr. Jacob Kollaparampil, the cancer centre was redesigned and relaunched as Caritas Cancer Institute on 24th February 2003.
The Caritas Cancer Hospital in Kerala is equipped with 40 beds which include a 20-bedded daycare chemo suite, surgical oncology theatre and ICU. Top-notch medical equipment that characterizes this cancer centre consists of varian unique performance Linear Accelerator and Selectron HDR for Brachytherapy and the soon-to-be-added Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator with image guided radiotheraphy, stereotactic radiosurgery and surface guided radiotherapy facilities
Adding new facilities such as the advanced blood separation and apheresis therapy, bone marrow transplant unit and transplant ICU and the Nuclear Medicine Department with PET-CT scan and radioiodine therapy, among others, have resulted in Caritas Cancer Institute emerging as the one-stop cancer diagnosis and treatment centre in Kerala.
Treatment and Procedures
Caritas Cancer Institute provides comprehensive oncology services, including diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for all types of cancers and supportive care such as patient education and support for people diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. The scope of treatments and procedures can be broadly divided into:
- Medical Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Psycho-oncology
- Pain and Palliative Care
- Community Oncology
Medical Oncology
It is one of the oldest departments of this cancer hospital in Kerala. The medical oncology department comprises a team of highly specialized doctors, nurses and support staff who provide targeted and evidence-based diagnosis and treatment regimens to treat adult and pediatric malignancies.
Facilities and Services
The facilities and services provided at the medical oncology department include -
- Day Care Chemotherapy
- Diagnosis/Screening of Cancer
- Counselling including emotional support
- Stem Cell Transplantation
- End-of-Life Care
- Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
Radiation Oncology
The radiation oncology department is tasked to dispense radiation practices that are strictly compliant with AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board) guidelines. The department houses experienced and certified Radiation oncologists, physicists including radiation safety officer, nurses, radiation therapists and nutritionists.
Facilities and Services
Here’s a look at the facilities and services provided at the radiation oncology department:
Teletherapy
- 2D Conventional
- 3D Conformal
- Static and Dynamic IMRT
- RapidArc
Brachytherapy
- Interstitial
- Intracavitary
- Intraluminal
- Mould
Concurrent Chemotherapy
Surgical Oncology
This was the first specialized cancer department launched in the Caritas Hospital 22 years ago. The surgical oncology team has successfully conducted over 16,000 minor and major surgeries to date
Facilities and Services
Here’s looking at the facilities and services provided at the surgical oncology department:
- Dedicated operation theatres
- Postoperative care ICUs, wards, and rooms
- Diagnosis and staging workup
- Surgical management for the following cancer types:
- Head and neck cancer
- Breast cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Hepatobiliary cancer
- Genitourinary cancer
- Gynaecological cancer
- Lung, oesophageal and mediastinal cancer
- Musculoskeletal cancer
Nuclear Medicine
World-class infrastructure characterise the nuclear medicine department, including a unique molecular imaging facility, PET-CT and gamma camera imaging, and a team of highly-experienced specialists. This department is known to provide personalised medical care by precisely understanding the molecular processes at the cellular level. It improves the diagnosis and treatment outcomes significantly. The department is among very few across Kerala to provide radionuclide therapy.
Facilities and Services
Enlisting below are the facilities and services provided at the nuclear medicine department:
- Brain Scan Including Cerebral
- Perfusion Study
- Thyroid Gland Scintigraphy and
- Thyroid Uptake Study
- Renogram Studies Using Diuretic and ACE
- Inhibitor Interventions
- Parathyroid Gland Scintigraphy
- Salivary Gland Scintigraphy
- Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Imaging
- MUGA Scan
- Lung Ventilation - Perfusion Study
- Gastric Emptying Study
- Gastrointestinal Bleed Study
- Liver Scan
- Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy
- GFR Evaluation
- Renal Scans
- Bone Scan
- Lymphoscintigraphy
- MIBG Scans for Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Whole-body FDG PET-CT Scan for Oncology Patients
- Radioactive Iodine Therapy to Treat Hyperthyroidism and Thyroid Cancer
- Whole-body Ga DOTA PET-CT Scan for Neuroendocrine Tumor Imaging
- Lu PRRT for Neuroendocrine Tumors 131I Lipiodol Therapy for Liver Cancer
- Myocardial FDG PET Scan for Viability Assessment in Patients with Cardiac Disorders
- Lu PSMA Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer
- Radioactive Therapy Using 32P, 89Sr, 153Sm to Treat Bone Pains from Tumor Metastasis to the Bone
- MIBG for Adrenal Gland Tumors in Adults & Adrenal Gland/Nerve Tissue Tumors in Children
Psycho-Oncology Department
The department comprises psycho-oncologists, psychiatrists and counsellors who provide the right kind of emotional support to both adults and children diagnosed with cancer. It helps the patient and their family cope with the emotional turmoil while fighting this disease. The experts ensure the utmost patient privacy during counselling.
Facilities and Services
Here’s the list of the facilities and services provided at the psycho-oncology department:
- Family Counselling
- Couple Therapy
- Individual Counselling and Therapy
- Diagnosis and bereavement
- (Bereavement Counselling)
- Pre and Post Treatment
- Follow-up/Support
Pain and Palliative Care
This department started functioning in 2004, catering to patients who could no longer respond to curative treatments. The services helped patients to manage their cancer-related pains and help in symptom management, thereby leading a comfortable life. The department also catered to patients suffering from incurable diseases like chronic rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, Stroke, Paraplegia, Spine Injury, Old Age, etc.
Facilities and Services
Here’s the list of the facilities and services provided at the pain and palliative care department:
- Inpatient Care (Symptomatic Care and Terminal Care for Cancer Patients)
- Palliative Home Care (Free Services Supported by the Community)
- Community-based programs on Cancer Awareness and Palliative Care
- Financial Assistance to the Deserving Poor Patients
- Provides Free Hospital Equipment such as Air Bed, Wheel Chair, etc. for the Needy
- Outpatient Care
- Pain Management
- Integrative Oncology Care
Community Oncology Department
The community oncology department aims to propagate awareness about types of cancers that can be cured if detected at early stages. The department team conducts mass education and cancer detection camps and distributes patient education and support to spread this awareness. Such awareness facilitates early and appropriate cancer screening and prevention.
Facilities and Services
Here’s looking at the facilities and services provided at the community oncology department:
- Cancer Registry
- Cancer Awareness
- Cancer Prevention
- Early Cancer Detection
- Cancer Screening
- Tobacco Control