Apollo Hospitals launched South Asia’s first proton therapy centre, equipped with the path-breaking pencil beam technology, last month.
Built at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) located in Taramani will offer world-class proton therapy to cancer patients using pencil-beam scanning technology with the highest degree of precision. This gives hope to not only Indians but patients from abroad too as very few countries offer this treatment. 
The centre was inaugurated by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in the presence Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Apollo Hospitals Group chairman Dr Prathap C. Reddy. Proton therapy, which is a pioneering treatment, has marked a new milestone in India’s medical journey too. UK also launched its first proton therapy centre just two months back.
Proton Therapy
Proton therapy, one of the most advanced forms of radiation treatment, attacks tumours with more precision, minimising damage to the healthy surrounding tissues.
Proton therapy is particularly effective for pediatric cancers and tumours affecting the brain, eye, colon, breast, gastrointestinal area, pelvis, and prostate and those close to the spinal cord, brain stem and other vital organs and re-radiation in cases of relapse. It is beneficial in cases where conventional treatment presents an unacceptable risk to the patient. Proton Therapy is particularly effective in curing pediatric cancers and is a boon for young patients.
Facilities
The 150-bed cancer care centre has three proton therapy rooms, advanced radiation oncology centre, medical oncology and immunotherapy facility and high-end day care chemo wards.
The facility will also have five modular digital MRI integrated operation theatres, besides a high-end diagnostic imaging centre for genomic profiling of cancers including DNA sequencing and digital pathology services.
