Panchkula, May 04: In a complex cancer case requiring careful clinical planning, Paras Health Panchkula has successfully treated a 66-year-old patient using advanced radiation therapy while preserving her transplanted kidney.
The patient had previously suffered damage to both kidneys and had undergone a renal transplant 11 years ago. Since then, she had been on long-term immunosuppressive medication, which helps prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted organ. She was later diagnosed with rectosigmoid cancer, a type of cancer that develops in the lower part of the large intestine. However, due to her medical condition, she was not considered suitable for surgery, and chemotherapy was also challenging. This made radiation therapy the most appropriate treatment option.
The case was managed by the radiation oncology team at Paras Health Panchkula and presented a significant clinical challenge. The transplanted kidney was located in the pelvic region, the same area as the tumour. This created a complex dilemma, as delivering a radical dose to effectively treat the tumour while protecting the functioning transplanted kidney required extremely precise planning.
Sharing insights from the case, Dr. Romeeta Trehan, Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncology at Paras Health Panchkula said, “Radiation therapy is not just a science, but also an art that needs to be carefully tailored for each individual patient. Unlike chemotherapy, where treatment protocols are often standardised, radiation planning is highly personalised. With modern advancements, it is now possible to deliver highly targeted treatment with minimal side effects, even in complex situations like this. Despite this, there is still hesitation around radiation therapy among patients and even some practitioners, though current techniques have made it significantly safer and more precise.”
Adding further, Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Facility Director at Paras Health Panchkula added, “In cases like this, where conventional options are limited, precision-based radiation allows us to deliver effective treatment while preserving critical organs. With careful planning and the use of advanced technologies, we can achieve outcomes that not only control the disease but also maintain the patient’s quality of life. This is especially important in patients with complex medical histories, where every treatment decision needs to be carefully balanced.”
The team planned treatment using Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), a highly precise technique that uses imaging during treatment to accurately target the tumour while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. This approach allows doctors to deliver radiation with greater accuracy while protecting nearby organs. A total dose of 50.4 Gy, which is standard unit used to measure radiation dose, was delivered in 28 fractions over approximately 5.3 weeks, ensuring that the tumour received adequate treatment while the transplanted kidney was carefully protected.
The patient tolerated the treatment well. Her blood parameters, including Complete Blood Count and Renal Function Tests, were monitored on a weekly basis to ensure that her overall health and kidney function remained stable during treatment.
A follow-up conducted one and a half months after completion of radiation therapy showed excellent results. A PET-CT scan was performed, which helps assess the activity and spread of cancer in the body. The scan confirmed complete resolution of the disease. Importantly, the transplanted kidney remained fully functional, with no radiation-related side effects.
This case highlights the growing role of precision-based radiation therapy in managing complex cancers, particularly in patients where conventional options such as surgery or chemotherapy may not be feasible. It also reinforces the importance of personalised, organ-preserving approaches in modern oncology.
