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Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre

The Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre has come as a ray of hope for the cancer patients. The hospital with its totally humanitarian approach offers awareness, availability, accessibility and affordability to the poor as well as those who are economically well off too.

Cancer needs our immediate attention. Cancer, a disease dreaded by most is the second largest killer disease. Cancer will be the major health problem in the next two decades and will pose a challenge in providing healthcare to the Indian population. Annually, 10 lakh new cancer patients are detected in India. It is estimated that the number of new cases would increase to 30 lakhs by the end of the next decade.
While head and neck cancers are more frequently seen in men, breast and cervical cancers are most common among women. In urban population, breast cancer incidence is higher than that of cervix. Cancer of the cervix affects approximately 28% of the population and is a disease related to personal hygiene, water consumption, number of children born and sexual habits.
Incidence of breast cancer is increasing in India every year. It is more common among urban women and in those who either do not have children or those who avoid feeding the child with breast milk. In fact, only 7% of breast cancer cases are hereditary.Nearly 50% of cancers in men are related to tobacco consumption. 50% of human Cancers are either totally preventable or can be detected at a very early stage when cure can be assured
Unfortunately, treatment of cancer today involves very expensive equipment and the medicines required are exorbitantly expensive limiting the scope of treatment to those who can afford. Large segments of the society, including the middle class, get excluded from effective treatment options. The institutions which are accessible to the common man are overcrowded leaving to deficient care and long waiting periods. Many of the patients who come from long distances abandon the treatment, return to their natives never to receive treatment again. In the case of rural patients, the supporting family members who accompany the patient are wage earners in rural areas, and cannot be with the patient beyond sometime. The patient loses family support soon and has to fight the battle alone.
In such gloomy scenario, the Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre has come as a ray of hope for the cancer patients. The hospital with its totally humanitarian approach offers awareness, availability, accessibility and affordability to the poor as well as those who are economically well off too. The Sri Shankara Hospital keeps the comfort of the patient as its first top priority. Not just the treatment, but the kind hospital staff also takes care of the emotional trauma that cancer patients and their families go through by being gentle, being positive, encouraging and always available with advise and suggestions.
The hospital is already functioning and is expanding. It will be the state-of-the-art, comprehensive cancer hospital built in the campus of Shankara Math in Bangalore with a built-up area of 3,50,000 sq.ft, over 9 floors offering care for cancer patients under one roof. The land for the project is given by Sri Sri Sri Jagadguru Bharathi Theerta Swamiji of Sri Sringeri Dakshinamnaya Sharada Peetham.
The Project cost is likely to be Rs. 65 crores which will be put together by Shankara Cancer Foundation through generous contributions and donations from philanthropists and well-wishers. The project is scheduled to be completed within 3 years.
The hospital infrastructure and facilities include: Diagnostic Services Department, CT scan, PET scan, 1.5 tesla MRI, Digital Mammography, Ultrasonogram, Nuclear Medicine and hot laboratory, X-ray 500mA, Laboratory with auto-analyzers, Blood Bank, Histopathology / Cytopathology, Microbiology, Clinical Pathology, Immune Histochemistry, Molecular Pathology.
These services will be supported with ample consultation chambers and waiting space.
Radiation Oncology will include High-end Linear Accelerator , Varian Rapid Arc 16MeV Dual energy; IGRT / IMRT / SRS facilities, Simulator, Brachytherapy, Radiation Physics department, Treatment planning system, CT Simulator.
Clinical Oncology specializations will include Surgical Oncology with 8 well-equipped Operation Theatres, Laser Surgical Unit, 30-bedded ICU with latest monitoring facilities, Head and Neck Oncology, Gynecologic Oncology, Urologic Oncology, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Endoscopic Surgery, Neuro-Oncology, Orthopaedic Oncology, Medical Oncology, Hematologic Oncology, Pediatric Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Anesthesiology and Pain Relief. Support Services will comprise
Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation and Speech Therapy, Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacology, Psycho-oncology, Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, Library Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics, Ambulance Services and Biorepository.
Preventive and Community Oncology Department focuses on early detection of cancer, awareness of cancer in rural areas, and promotes abstinence from tobacco and alcohol.
Telemedicine and Tele-education facilities to facilitate support in rural and semi-urban hospitals.
CAN AID programs under Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation will include publication of handbooks, fund-raising for financially challenged and needy patients.
Research and Academics will include Community Oncology, Telemedicine, Clinical Oncology and Molecular Research and Health Economics.
The hospital will have 2 floors dedicated to research in the field of oncology and its sub-specialities including clinical trials. A community oncology wing will be set up which will conduct longitudinal studies with intervention strategies in rural areas to bring down cancer incidence with lifestyle and dietary changes and regular follow-up for many years.
The hospital will collaborate with World Health Organization (WHO) and other international agencies and institutions to carry out research in the field of cancer. The hospital will be starting postgraduate DNB courses in oncology and sub-specialities to attract the best medical talent and also have fellowship programs in specialized oncology areas affiliated to health universities within the country and abroad.
Regular CME programs for doctors and specialized oncology nursing programs for nurses will be initiated soon.
Regular weekly in-house training program for all sections of staff such as front-office, pharmacists, social workers, and technicians will be conducted.
Can Aid is a wing of Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation. The main objective is to build a well-motivated team of volunteers to support and serve the cause of preventing, treating, and curing cancer. The volunteers, generally below the age of 40 years, will be educated and trained in dealing with various facets of cancer and the needs of cancer patients and their caregivers. The main tasks of CanAid are:
“¢ To educate the society about cancer.
“¢ To undertake such activities and roles as required to prevent cancer occurrence.
“¢ To support cancer patients in collaboration with Cancer Information Centre.
“¢ To provide psychological, social, and financial support to the needy/deserving cancer patients.
“¢ To work along with governmental organizations in this specific task.
Training Programs
“¢ Through series of audio-visual lectures.
“¢ Through books, booklets, and educational material.
“¢Through Cancer Information Centre library.
Wings of Can Aid
“¢ Public Education.
“¢ Fund Mobilization.
“¢ Patient Services.
“¢ Public Causes (Action Wing).
The aim is to involve large population of youth under the wings of Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation.
Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose core focus is on cure and prevention of cancer. The foundation is committed to conceive, build, and sustain programs and initiatives aimed at helping the common man. The hallmark of Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre is awareness, availability, accessibility and affordability. To be an acknowledged leader in the field of cancer cure and research by ensuring that high quality care reaches the common man.
To be a pioneer in cancer cure and research through innovation and being sensitive to the environment in which we all exist.
The hospital will be totally a not-for-profit organization and all the resources required for civil works, facilities, and equipment are expected to be raised with donations and contributions from donors, well-wishers, service organizations, corporates, NRIs and other charitable trusts.
Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre is a registered not-for-profit organization under the laws prevailing in India as a “œSecular, Social Service Society.” Requisite permissions are being obtained under FCRA. Donations made to the hospital in India are exempted under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act.
Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation is founded by Trustees with rich experience in specific developmental activities in different fields of society like Dr B.S. Srinath, MBBS, MS, FRCS, who is a reputed surgical oncologist with over 35 years of service to cancer patients. Dr Srinath currently leads the team at Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital. During the last 20 years, he has taken medical expertise right up to the patient”™s door with a major concern for the poor.
For more details: Contact;Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre: 1st Cross, Shankarapuram, Basavanagudi, Bangalore-560004. Ph:26608322. Email:[email protected]
Website:shankaracancerfoundation.com

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