Offering more insight into the necessity of a special ward, Dr Rao added, “We see at least 18–20 patients per week for chemotherapy. This leaves them extremely weak and affects the body in various ways, so they need special attention. Each patient is on a customised dosage of medication and chemotherapy, which must be administered precisely"
Section of the ward dedicated to breast cancer patients
In a step towards providing advanced medical services to economically disadvantaged groups and strengthening women’s healthcare in the city, King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital has inaugurated a separate ward for patients with breast ailments.
Until now, these patients were admitted to the general female ward. However, due to the high number of admissions in that ward until July 1, we decided to allocate a dedicated space for breast cancer patients. They require special attention and care because of the intense chemotherapy they undergo,” said Dr Sangeeta Rawat, Dean of KEM Hospital. While the primary focus is on breast cancer patients, the hospital has decided to admit all patients with breast-related illnesses to this ward.
The AI-powered Thermalytix breast scanning machine. PIC/Ritika Gondhalekar
“It is a 15-bed ward divided into two sections by a wall. This allows us to accommodate breast cancer patients in one section and those with other breast conditions in the other, while still being in the same ward,” explained Dr Shilpa Rao, professor of surgery and in charge of breast services.
“Back in 2010, we started OPD services focused on diagnosing breast cancer. We had submitted several proposals for a dedicated ward, but bureaucratic delays kept pushing the plan. Now that Dr Rao, who has led these efforts since 2010, has made it possible, I can say it’s a welcome move. I wish her and the hospital all the very best. The number of breast cancer cases has been steadily rising, and the need for a separate ward was evident even back then. Given the growing patient inflow, I’m glad the ward has finally started,” said Dr Sanjay Oak, former Director of KEM Hospital.
Offering more insight into the necessity of a special ward, Dr Rao added, “We see at least 18–20 patients per week for chemotherapy. This leaves them extremely weak and affects the body in various ways, so they need special attention. Each patient is on a customised dosage of medication and chemotherapy, which must be administered precisely. The staff assigned are specially trained to handle chemotherapy patients. Moreover, these patients are exposed to high levels of toxins and have compromised immunity, making them highly susceptible to infections. That’s why isolating them from other patients is essential.”
A step further
The hospital has also introduced state-of-the-art AI-powered breast cancer screening machines called Thermalytix, under MCGM’s Innovation Study Programme. “Through this project, we are offering free mammography to 7000 women above the age of 30. These women undergo mammography using both the new AI-based technology and the conventional machines, which require compressing the breasts to get a clear image. The results from Thermalytix will be compared with those from standard mammography and sonography. If they prove equally reliable or better, we will fully adopt the newer method,” said Dr Rao.
The Thermalytix machine, provided by the company Niramai, costs Rs 50 lakh, including five years of software usage, just 20 per cent of the cost of a traditional mammography machine. “Since it’s part of the innovation study, MCGM has provided the machine free of cost, and it will remain with the hospital even after the study concludes,” Dr Rao added.
Explaining the machine’s functioning, a radiologist from Niramai operating it at KEM said, “The patient simply sits in front of the machine without wearing clothes. There’s no need to press the breasts or change positions. Using AI, the machine scans the breasts from all angles and flags any lumps or cysts with a red light on the screen. Experts then analyse the report and decide the course of treatment. The entire process takes seven to eight minutes if the body is cool, and a maximum of 15 minutes otherwise, compared to the 30 minutes required for conventional mammography.”
While private hospitals charge between R5 lakh and R50 lakh for mammography and surgery, with an additional R25 lakh or more for chemotherapy and immunotherapy, all services at KEM, including mammography and surgery, will be provided free of cost. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment will be covered under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojna (MPJAY).
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