BLK Super Speciality Hospital launches Cancer OPD services in Jammu

Jammu, April 7: To provide world class healthcare facilities to the residents of Jammu region, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi launched its first Surgical Oncology OPD at Ganesh Daya Nursing Home, Jammu. The first OPD was launched with a multi speciality Camp where other than Oncology, Cardiology and Neuro Vascular Intervention consultations were also provided by eminent doctors of BLK Super Speciality Hospital to the locals. More than 100 people were screened and consulted during the first OPD and health checkup camp.
The rise in cancer cases in Jammu region is alarming and lack of super specialty facilities & awareness are the main reasons for higher mortality. There is a huge deficit of high quality healthcare facilities in the Jammu region. Announcing the launch here today, Dr. Ashwani Sharma, Associate Director-Surgical Oncology, BLK Cancer Centre said, “Higher burden of NCDs in the state can be gauged with the ICMR Data which reveals that in 2018 during January- July 16,480 new cases of cancer registered in Jammu & Kashmir. In 2014, 11, 815 cases with malignancies were registered. The scenario in Jammu is peculiar because the awareness level about cancer is very low. People visit specialists only at advance stages of the disease. With this initiative, we aim to provide early diagnosis, best-in-class treatment and care to cancer patients.”
The launch of this first Cancer OPD in Jammu by BLK Super Speciality Hospital was also marked by a multispeciality camp. This multi speciality camp along with OPD consultation saw more than 100 patients coming from all walks of life who seeking super speciality opinion and expert advice which is lacking in the state. Dr. Dheeraj Gandotra, Consultant Cardiology, BLK Heart Centre and Dr Arvind Nanda, Senior Consultant, Interventional Radiology, BLK Centre for Neurosciences, screened and consulted a large number of people suffering with cardiac and neurological disorders.
It was observed that apart from Cancer, the region requires special attention and treatment for various non communicable diseases. In the state, cardiovascular diseases are even a bigger challenge. As per ICMR State disease burden Report, in the age group of 49-60 years 36% deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases and 14.9% deaths were caused by cancer. Elders are vulnerable to stroke and ICMR data reveals that in the state 4.1 % deaths among 70 years and above age groups were caused by neurological disorders including stroke. Despite the rising trend of diseases like Cancer, Cardiac, Neurological disorders etc. over the years, treatment facilities in the state are limited. At present, Jammu is among the handful of states that do not have adequate cutting edge facilities dedicated to these diseases.
“Higher incidence of non communicable diseases clearly indicates that Jammu region needs special attention and advanced facilities for treatment and care. I am regularly visiting Jammu for Cardiology OPD and have treated many patients suffering with heart related ailments. Today in this camp I have seen many patients who are suffering with various heart ailments who need urgent treatment” said Dr. Dheeraj Gandotra, Consultant Cardiology, BLK Heart Centre.
Unlike Cancer and Cardiology ailments, neurological disorders are very less talked about diseases and awareness is minuscule.“People are generally not aware about the symptoms of stroke which is different from cardiac problems. It is essentially a neurological disorder and in severe cases urgently requires intervention through radiology. Today we have seen many patients who need urgent medical attention and are not even aware about the same” said Dr Arvind Nanda, Senior Consultant, Interventional Radiology, BLK Centre for Neurosciences.
During the initial phase of Specialty OPD, eminent doctors from BLK Super Speciality hospital will be available for consultation, screening and treatment for different types of cancers with cutting edge procedures and technique on fortnightly basis. The advanced facilities available at BLK Hospital includes robotic & minimal invasive surgery for thoracic and abdominal malignancies, endoscopic, laser and robotic surgery for head and neck cancers, breasts conservations, oncoplasty and sentinel node biopsy, HIPEC, radical treatment for GI, urological and gynaecological cancers and Tomotherapy – next generation image guided radiation therapy. Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, facilities and experienced faculty and staff, BLK Cancer Centre offers personalised and comprehensive cancer care. With a patient-centric multidisciplinary approach, our medical and administrative experts work seamlessly to ensure meticulous handling of the entire medical needs of our patients