RSCM pushes for more image-based radiotherapy

The Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) encouraged other hospitals to transform their 2D radiation therapy to 3D conformal radiotherapy, known as image-based radiotherapy, to treat cancer patients to improve their patients’ quality of life.

Soehartati Gondhowiardjo, head of the radiotherapy department at RSCM, said on Monday that the 3D technology caused fewer side effects after radiation treatment.

"The 3D technology was created to mark a focused radiation target only in organs containing cancer cells,” Soehartati said.

The 3D radiotherapy is a more complex, detailed and precise treatment planning system where doctors and paramedics use computer software before performing the radiation process. The computer also outlines which part of the human organ with cancer will receive the radiation while the other healthy organs do not receive the same radiation.

“The 3D technology limits the effect of radiation doses for the healthy and normal tissues," she said.

The radiation dose was strictly supervised by The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), she added.

"We use a high level of radiation. That's why the agency monitors each usage of radiation in medical treatment," she said.

The radiotherapy department at RSCM, the first hospital to develop the 3D radiotherapy, initiated the treatment in 2003. The hospital now has four radiation treatment facilities to serve cancer patients.

"We had 1,700 patients last year. Around 300 to 400 of them opted for the 3D radiotherapy," she said.

There are 11 hospitals or cancer treatment centers using the 3D radiotherapy.

"We hope there will be a lot more. Cancer patients in Indonesia increase day by day," she said. "Hospitals willing to develop radiotherapy technology can come to us to discuss the preparations." (lfr)