Cancer Care at Uniclinic Siliguri

Introduction:

Cancer Care (Oncology) is the multidisciplinary medical specialty dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and palliative management of malignant neoplasms — diseases in which abnormal cells grow, divide uncontrollably, and invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant organs (metastasis). Cancer is not a single disease but a collective term for over 200 distinct malignancies, each with its own biology, behaviour, risk factors, and treatment approach. The three pillars of oncology are Medical Oncology (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy), Surgical Oncology (curative and palliative tumour resection), and Radiation Oncology (external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery). Cancer arises from genetic mutations — acquired (environmental, lifestyle, infectious) or inherited (BRCA1/2, Lynch syndrome, APC) — that disrupt normal cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. Key oncological principles include the TNM staging system (Tumour size, Node involvement, Metastasis), multidisciplinary tumour boards that plan individualised treatment, and the concept of intent of treatment — curative versus palliative. Modern oncology has been transformed by precision medicine, next-generation molecular sequencing, CAR-T cell therapy, checkpoint inhibitors, and liquid biopsies — delivering targeted, personalised treatments with dramatically improved survival rates across many cancers.

Symptoms:

Cancer symptoms can vary depending on the affected area and may develop gradually over time.

• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fatigue
• Lumps or swelling
• Long-lasting pain
• Changes in skin or moles
• Persistent cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Unusual bleeding or discharge
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent infections
• Changes in bowel or bladder habits
• Non-healing sores
• Hoarseness or voice changes
• Night sweats or fever
• Swollen lymph nodes

Treatments:

Cancer care treatments focus on controlling cancer growth, reducing symptoms, and improving quality of life.

• Chemotherapy - Uses medicines to destroy cancer cells.
• Radiation Therapy - Uses high-energy rays to target and shrink cancer cells.
• Cancer Surgery - Removes tumors or affected tissues from the body.
• Immunotherapy - Helps the immune system fight cancer cells.
• Targeted Therapy - Attacks specific cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells.
• Hormone Therapy - Controls cancers affected by hormones.
• Bone Marrow Transplant - Replaces damaged blood-forming cells with healthy ones.
• Palliative Care - Helps manage pain and improve comfort during treatment.
• Rehabilitation & Recovery Care - Supports physical and emotional recovery after treatment.
• Regular Cancer Screening & Monitoring - Helps detect cancer early and track treatment progress.