Nuclear technology is not only used for the purpose of constructing war technologies such as nuclear weapons but can also be utilized in a way that can be for the common good of medical treatments. Completing its position as the center of cancer treatment in Indonesia, Universitas Hasanuddin Hospital (RS Unhas) introduced the “Brachy Therapy” (BT) equipment from German, with the sole function of curing cancer by the use of nuclear radiation. The emissions are injected into the cancer tissues with the dosage adapting with the size of cancer.
“The power is higher. The working system is based on the radiation that are shot to the cancer cells using an active radio iridium with three dimension technology,” stated dr. Suherman Hadi Saputra, Sp.Onk.Rad., an oncology radiology specialist doctor of Unhas Hospital, accompanied by the President Director of Unhas Hospital Dr. dr. Andi Fachruddin Benyamin, Sp.PD, KHOM, when met in the Unhas Hospital, Tuesday (14/6).
The use of BT is still known as rare in Indonesia. The tumor located on the inside of one’s body is then shot with active radio iridium with the power of 10 Linac. Until now, Linac is utilized for the treatment of cervical cancer. In South Sulawesi, based on the existing data, most of the patients have a neck head. Viruses that developed by eating patterns cause Cancer itself. Besides that, there are a substantial amount of breast cancer, lung cancer, and gut cancer.
According to Suherman, BT is mostly appropriate for cervical cancer and sarcoma classifications, which are tumors that occur on the muscle. BT indicated the patients in need of high dosages and becomes more straightforward. In Indonesia besides the Unhas Hospital, only RS Sutomo Surabaya, and Siloam Jakarta own the equipment.
The advantages of the BT stated Suherman, is that the radio diagnostic equipment and CT Scan operates with an accelerated speed. The scan itself is essential for the agitated patients, and patients with head injuries, the example from car accidents. With the use of the two X-ray tubes, the equipment is known as the fastest in the world in regards to CT scanning of cancer objects. This is supported with the robotic guidance Injector that increases its capacity and precision.
Other equipment utilized for the purpose of cancer therapy in the RS Unhas includes the radio tool using Linier Accelerator (Linac). The equipment is still new, made in America, and used by Unhas since 2013.
“There are varieties of cancer that are sensitive to rays, but also some that are immune to it.” For example leukemia cancer lymph gland, lung cancer,” stated Suherman that was employed in RS Unhas since 2012.
With the use of the Linac equipment, we can make use of the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMR) in three dimensions. The precision is accurate compared to the other similar equipment, the Linac two dimension. The three dimension Linac stated dr. Suherman Hadi Saputra, Sp. Onk. Rad., is both safer and more accurate.
“Safety, as everything is measured using a computer. In the Eastern part of Indonesia, only Unhas Hospital is equipped with such a technology,” added the graduate of Medical Faculty Universitas Brawijaya 2006.
The use of the equipment is more efficient to treat tumors. For example, there is cancer hidden behind the nasal cavity. The equipment will do its job by treating the tissue of cancer but coincide with the protection of the healthtissues around it. With the technology, tissues with no issues will be prevented from radiation effects.
“But it still depends on the size of the cancer. The figures of patients treated in a year can accumulate to 600-700 individuals,” stated Suherman, Oncological Radiology Specialist from Surabaya, 23 June 1980.
Suherman said, that the amount of cancer patients that come usually are during the last stadium therefore leading to what is called a delayed treatment, making the size of the tumor enlarged significantly. For effective treatment, patients with cancer need to treat their disease in the first or second stadium.
This Specialist Doctor that graduated from Universitas Indonesia in 2011 explained there was a Garuda Indonesia pilot of American nationality. He suffered from a small cancer in his nose while piloting an airplane. In 2014 he reported this to the RS Unhas. While being checked, through a telephone he consulted with a doctor in the United States. The Doctor asked what equipment was used by the hospital in Indonesia. He then replied it was an equipment made by America. The Doctor was then assured of the quality of the treatment.
