New and cheaper pain reliever for cancer patients
By P. T. Bopanna, in Bangalore
The Pioneer
Saturday, November 30, 2002
A Bangalore doctor has developed a new technology to
relieve cancer-related pain, as a replacement for drug-
based management of pain.
The intra-oral prosthesis developed by Dr N Anantha,
former director of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology,
helps cancer patients by improving their appetite, sleep
and bowel movement.
Dr Anantha who is currently professor of radiation
oncology at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, told
The Pioneer that he had already obtained a patent for the
prosthesis which he claimed was the first of its kind.
He presented a paper on the new technology at the
recently concluded All-India Cancer Conference held at
the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and the paper
was accepted by the association of radiation oncologists.
According to him, the prosthesis when placed in the mouth
of a cancer patient, immobilises the tongue, which in
turn reduces the pain.
In the normal course, he said the tongue receives
constant messages from the brain and transfers them to
the affected parts of the body, thereby triggering pain.
However, when the tongue is immobilised, the pain ceases
to bother the patient.
Dr Anantha clarified that the prosthesis does not cure or
control the course of the disease, but relieves pain and
enhances the patient's quality of life till the last
breath.
For a cancer patient, bearing the pain is the toughest
part of the disease which is controlled by costly drugs,
including morphine which is expensive and not easily
available. Moreover, the drugs have side-effects.
On the new technique, Dr Anantha said, "It's a one-time
treatment.
The prosthesis is tailor-made for each patient which has
to be kept in the mouth throughout, except while eating
or talking."
Clinical trial of the cost-effective procedure has been
completed. He stated that the prosthesis has already been
successfully tried on 15 patients so far and 10 more
patients were currently undergoing the procedure.
The cost of the prosthesis made of acrylic, is Rs 200
apiece. The material is said to be free from any
reactions as similar material is also used by dentists.
Dr Anatha believes the prosthesis could be effective in
the treatment of diabetes and hypertension casesas these
ailments are caused by mental stress.
He said the technology could be transferred to other
cancer institutes on a commercial basis.
However, he clarified that the prosthesis could not be
mass-produced as it was custom-made to fit into the mouth
of each individual patient.
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