Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi has launched an advanced cancer treatment using a cryoablation machine.
The treatment will initially be offered to 15 eligible cancer patients completely free of charge.
15 Patients to Receive Free Cryoablation
The hospital has received 15 cryoablation probes for the first phase.
Each probe costs around Rs1.6 million and can be used for only one patient.
Screening of eligible patients has started at four hospitals in Rawalpindi.
Patients with liver, lung, breast and kidney cancers can be considered for the procedure.
However, their tumors must not be larger than 2 centimeters.
Cancer Tumors Destroyed Using Extreme Temperatures
Cryoablation uses extreme temperatures to destroy cancerous tissue.
During the procedure, the tumor is frozen at temperatures as low as minus 180 degrees Celsius.
The affected tissue is then exposed to temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius.
The process is designed to destroy the targeted cancer cells.
Patients selected for the procedure will undergo assessment before treatment.
Specialist doctors from NORI Hospital Islamabad will also be consulted before the procedure.
More Patients Could Receive Treatment Later
Patients will be referred from Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital and PKLI.
The first phase will cover 15 patients.
After these procedures are completed, additional probes will be provided to expand the treatment.
However, patients with tumors larger than 2 centimeters will not qualify for cryoablation under the current program.
