Bikas Sinha addressing the convocation at Tagore School of Art. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Dec. 24: Cancer treatment using cobalt radiation could soon become safer.

The director of Calcutta-based Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Bikash Sinha, said the present system of treating cancer cells using cobalt radiation puts healthy cells around the affected one at risk. They are working on a project that will use proton therapy, thus minimising the risk to the healthy cells, he said.

Sinha, who also heads the Regional Cyclotron Institute, explained the therapy uses high-energy protons, which are useful in treating brain tumour and abdominal cancer.

“The present system of radiation therapy uses radioactive cobalt which destroys health cells around the malignant part. The surface that gets exposed to radiation also gets damaged to a great extent. In proton therapy the chances of damaging health cells are eliminated,” he said while delivering the convocation address at the Tagore School of Arts at Rabindra Kala Mandir here today.

The new therapy uses high-energy protons of 250-mega-electron volt to act only on the target cell. “The proton is very much focused and targets the malignant area, even if it is deep inside the brain or the abdomen. Even after travelling long distances, the proton will not leaves the target path. I am very sure about the success of this therapy as it is already in use in a number of countries,” he said.

If funds were available, the therapy could be operational within the next couple of years. “I know that this is a very expensive affair and will cost a few hundred crores. Keeping in mind the benefit to cancer patients who have to suffer the pain, this cost is nothing. Even if one centre in the country has this facility, it will be of great help and will take care of the treatment for more than 50 years,” said Sinha.

The chief of Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, who has been working in the field of nuclear physics for more than three decades, put to rest fears of radiation due to Ucil’s uranium mining in East Singhbhum. “People living in the mining areas (abroad) are not suffering from any harmful effect of radiation. We in India have nothing to worry about the harmful effects either,” he added.