The first annual Northeast Oncology Summit was convened by Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) at Tezpur and hosted by Tezpur Cancer Centre – a unit of ACCF in association with National Society for Medical Oncologists, Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology (ISMPO). The two-day event was held at Tezpur Convention Centre on February 03 and 04, concluding on World Cancer Day, reflecting the theme of “Closing Care Gap” in Oncology.

In continuation with the efforts by Government of Assam and the Tata Trusts to change the demographics of cancer incidence and survival in Northeast India, ACCF - with all its oncologists, faculty from Northeast and with representation BBCI and SCI - concluded successfully the first ever Northeast Oncology Summit, NEOS 2023. The summit - symbolically conducted in the hinterland with a theme of ‘Local Challenges and Global Solutions’, is an attempt to draw the attention of pioneers in the field of oncology to focus on the high incident rate of cancers in Northeast and discuss their perspectives, opinions and suggestions.

Northeast has the highest incidence of cancer in India with three times the national average incidence of cancer, accounting for 170 cancer cases for every 1 lakh population. In Assam, the population of Kamrup Urban has the highest risk of developing cancers - as per the data of NCDIR-ICMR, with an uptrend of incidence in almost all cancers. Constant efforts and approaches are on trial by ACCF since the operations begun in April 2022, to deal with the burden. NEOS is an endeavour to come together on a common platform and discuss the unique challenges in delivering treatment in periphery - where the awareness about cancer is low, logistical constraints and misconceptions about the disease and treatment are high. Other NEOS programmes were panel discussions, debates for exercising standard of care along with learning about the latest advances in cancer care and how to adapt them for practice in hinterlands. Faculty from premier institutes like CMC Vellore, Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai and AIIMS, New Delhi had participated in the programme.

The Conference has comprehensively covered the most important aspects about the four most common cancers in Assam - Esophageal, Gall Bladder, Breast and Head and Neck cancers. Keynote lectures were delivered by National Faculty, who were pioneers and established oncology institutions and trained hundreds of Oncologists. Few of the topics were on how to integrate the fast paced research into useful clinical applications on bed side; how the team of physicians and Gynaecologists should work together to control the cancer by 2030; and how to identify the causative factors of gall bladder cancer in Assam - a hot spot in entire world. Workshops were conducted in Radiology, Pathology and Cervical cancer elimination by 2030: WHO Goals. Panel discussions on the case scenarios and palliative care sessions were also conducted.

The most interesting and innovative aspect of NEOS was a session on Cancer Advocacy, which covered the Perspectives of Cancer Survivors, their families and even the families who lost their family members to cancer. This is the first conference in Northeast to invite patients and families - to listen to their views, opinions and suggestions. In the same session, the role of media, NGOs were discussed by media personnel and NGOs who were working in close association with ACCF. This was highly appreciated by oncology community of Northeast as well as National Faculty for bringing in the new perspective.

Research papers were submitted from various medical college students and PG trainees from Assam, Karnataka and Delhi. The best papers were awarded in the conference.

The Cancer Care Day on February 4 was observed in the conference. Concluding NEOS 2023, Assam Cancer Care Foundation pledged to close the care gap by uniting the voices and taking action.

Programme Highlights

 -Keynote Lectures

- Workshops

- Research papers were invited and awarded from Post Graduate students

- Patient Advocacy session: Survivors, families stories heard directly from them

- Role of Media and NGO’s highlighted in creating awareness

- SMART Pink free mammography screening camp discussed

- Project Soundarya, to provide wigs and Padded Bras to breast cancer afflicted patients, to uplift the women’s dignity and encourage the treatment completion, was launched by ACCF

- ACCF pledged to close the Care Gap, in all fronts of Cancer Care delivery

Rotary Club of Tezpur – in association with Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), launched SMART Pink project (Sahasra Mahila Mammography Screening by ACCF and Rotary club of Tezpur) on December 21, 2022.

Breast cancer is on the rise, especially amongst younger women. With the aim to fight against breast cancer and reduce the rate of occurrence, early detection is important. SMART Pink project will provide free mammography screening to women above forty years.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sajal Sen – COO, ACCF said that - Government of Assam has brought cancer care to district levels and, also bringing international level cancer centre in Guwahati. Dr Sen emphasised that ACCF is working on various areas along with clinical care to tackle the epidemic of cancer. Patients will be simultaneously screened by Thermalytix device.

Amongst the dignitaries Ms Karabi Das - CEO ZP Sonitpur; Dr Sajal Sen – COO, ACCF; Dr Subrata Chanda – Head, Cancer Care Programme and Research, ACCF; Dr Sanjib Hazarika – Medical Superintendent, Tezpur Cancer Centre; Dr Venkata Pradeep Babu Koyyala – Medical Oncologist, Tezpur Cancer Centre and Project Chair; Dr Sanjeev Gupta – Radiation Oncologist, Tezpur Cancer Centre; Devajeet Kalita – HR, Tezpur Cancer Centre and members of Rotary Club – Tezpur attended the programme.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Aligned with the global effort to extend support to people affected with breast cancer and to create awareness on prevention and early detection, Tezpur Cancer Centre organized various events in communities. A rally, in collaboration with the District Administration was organized from DC office Sonitpur to Kanaklata Civil Hospital. It was flagged off by Mr Deba Kumar Mishra ACS - DC Sonitpur, in the presence of ADC Health, District Social Welfare and Dr Sanjeev Hazarika - Medical Superintendent, Tezpur Unit. An awareness programme including training on self-breast examination was arranged along with screening camp under Dhekiajuli and Borchola ICDS project CDPO. Awareness programmes were also held at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital (TMCH) and at Balipara Development Block. Large number of people participated in the events including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and ACCF officials. Breast Cancer is curable, if detected early. To facilitate early diagnosis, Assam Cancer Care Foundation hospitals provided free mammography for women above 45 years in the month of October. Mammography facility is available at affordable rates in all seven ACCF hospitals at Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Jorhat, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Darrang, and Kokrajhar.

Dr Venkata Pradeep Babu Koyyala, Senior Consultant and Lead, Medical Oncology - Tezpur Cancer Centre, was invited to the recently held Japanese Society for Clinical Oncology International Conference at Kobe, Japan. Dr Venkata spoke on the Scenario of Gall Bladder Cancer in Northeast India and the reasons for late stage presentation of the deadly cancer. After Chile, the highest incidence of gall bladder cancer is seen in North and Northeast India, particularly in Assam. It is seen that lack of accessibility to cancer centres has been a primary cause for delay in investigation - leading to advanced stages of gall bladder cancer, along with financial challenges and lack of awareness about cancer. Dr Venkata discussed on how the hospitals set up by Assam Cancer Care foundation (ACCF) – an initiative of the Government of Assam and the Tata Trusts, is going to fill in the gap of accessibility and financial issues for cancer care. The Chair of the session - Japan appreciated the three-tier programme of ACCF and expressed their interest in collaboration for research in cancer care.

Dr Venkata Pradeep Babu Koyyala - Senior Advisor and Head of Medical Oncology, Tezpur Cancer Centre - was felicitated with authorship appreciation award – for his contribution of two chapters to the book titled 'Devita Principles of Oncology - Review', by Union Minister Dr Harsvardhan. Dr Venkata co-authored the chapters along with his wife Dr Pavani Medisetty. Dr Harshavardhan inaugurated the first South Asian Edition of the International Oncology Book where he awarded all the authors along with editor Dr Swaroopa Mitra.

PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography Scan) is a technique to detect the extent of spread of cancer and the progress & response to treatment in cancer patients. In absence of this facility, many patients had to undertake travel to faraway places and spend considerable sum of money to avail the facility and that too after a long wait. This is a critical test for efficient and accurate treatment of cancer which is now available at the Dibrugarh Cancer Center operated by the Assam Cancer Care Foundation - a joint initiative of the Government of Assam and the Tata Trusts. PET CT involves logistics management as the isotope required for the test is procured from Kolkata and brought by regular airlines under strict radiation safety precautions. The isotope has to be used on same day since it loses its efficacy due to limited half-life. With the efforts of ACCF, all the regulatory formalities have been completed as per satisfaction of the Atomic Energy Regulation Board (AERB) and PET facilities are now available in Dibrugarh for common people at most economic price. Dr Nitin Gangrade – Consultant, Nuclear Medicine at Dibrugarh Cancer Center has stated that the PET CT is latest and state-of-the-art machine available now in Dibrugarh and can perform all those tests which are regularly carried out in big cities. Dibrugarh Cancer Center has few more firsts such as first 128 Slice CT Scan which can undertake cardiac studies, a 3 Tesla MRI machine, the highest specification available in MRI technology and most modern blood component lab which is likely to start services in a few weeks. ACCF cancer center in Dibrugarh has two Linear accelerators - again first in Upper Assam and about 60 patients get the benefitted daily from these machines with practically no waiting for their turn to start the treatment. In the last four months 950 patients have received Chemotherapy, and 5800 patients have received Radiation Therapy. “It is only because of the visionary efforts of the Government of Assam in coordination with Tata Trusts, that the Dibrugarh Cancer Center is progressing at a fast pace and bringing world class cancer treatment modalities close to patients’ home and we are confident that the center would carve a niche for itself in national cancer care landscape”, said Shri Biswajit Pegu - DC Dibrugarh.

Assam Cancer Care Foundation celebrated 75th Independence Day across its units at Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Darrang and Kokrajhar. A ceremonial programme was organized at each location beginning with flag hoisting, followed by parade and cultural show. The highlight of the day was plantation of 75 trees in each location to mark the 75th year of Indian independence and an endeavour towards protection of the environment. The event was attended by members of respective units - doctors, nurses and staff members along with their families.