Evolution of Radiotherapy in BPKMCH

Radiotherapy is one of the established modality of cancer management. Technology in radiotherapy is growing rapidly. In modern decades, radiotherapy has become a standard treatment option for a wide range of malignancies both for curative and palliative. Radiation therapy is a clinical modality dealing with the use of ionizing radiations in the treatment of patient with malignant neoplasia and occasionally for benign diseases. The aim of radiation therapy is to deliver a precisely measured dose of radiation to a defined tumour volume with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissues, resulting in eradication of the tumour, improving quality of life and prolongation of survival at competitive cost. It plays a major role in palliation or prevention of symptoms of the disease. It alleviates pain,restores luminal patency and preserves skeletal integrity.As a learned profession, radiation therapy is concerned with clinical care, scientific research, and education of professionals within the discipline. Our institute’s radiation department is technologically well equipped, professionally developed and dedicated to patients care.

Old Building

B. P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital started it’s service as Day Care Centre in 11 October 1995 (2052.07.30 BS) with limited manpower to provide service for cancer patients. In 6 June 1999, OPD service was started and indoor service by July 1999. Radiotherapy service was started in June 1999 with Simulator, Tele-cobalt, Deep Therapy donated by People’s Republic of China.

In August 1999, Telecobalt machine was replaced with Theraton Elite 100 Cobalt 60. The, department was enriched with two Linear Accelerators, one with dual energy photon and multiple energy electron, portal vision, Simulator (Xima vision), Cadplan, HDR Brachytherapy, Brachyvision in 2002.

It was new era for cancer management in Nepal. Cadplan was replaced by Eclipse Treatment Planning System with Conformal Radiotherpy in 2007. IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) has been installed in 2012 and we are going to be first and only centre to offer this advanced cancer treatment in Nepal.

From Deep Therapy to IMRT in BPKMCH 

1999 Deep Therapy, Cobalt 60 and Simulator

2001 Old Cobalt 60 replaced by Elite Cobalt2001 Linac, Brachytherapy and Cadplan

2007 Eclipse Planning System replaced cadplan

2007 3-D CRT with CT film scanning

2008 3-D CRT with DICOM

2012 IMRT services started.