Reinforcing its commitment to making specialised cancer care more accessible across Northeast India, Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd. (HCG), India’s largest dedicated cancer hospital network, today launched its Expert Cancer OPD services in Shillong in collaboration with Woodland Hospitals, Shillong.
The press conference was addressed by Ms. Manisha Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Karnataka HCG Cancer Hospitals; Dr. Kirthi Koushik A.S., Consultant – Radiation Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru; and Dr. K.S. Nataraj, Senior Consultant – BMT Hemato-Oncology & Stem Cell Transplant Physician, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru.The speakers highlighted HCG’s commitment to expanding access to advanced cancer care and bringing world-class oncology expertise closer to patients in Meghalaya through regular specialist consultations.
As part of this initiative, the HCG Expert Cancer OPD will be conducted at Woodland Hospitals, Shillong, every 15 days from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The service will enable patients to consult HCG’s multidisciplinary team of oncology specialists without having to travel outside the state. The initiative is designed to facilitate early diagnosis, timely referrals, personalised treatment planning, and seamless continuity of cancer care, significantly improving access to specialised oncology services for patients across Meghalaya.The Expert Cancer OPD will also provide specialist consultation for blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, including assessment for stem cell transplantation where appropriate.
HCG team also shared a successful treatment journey of a 66-year-old woman from Meghalaya diagnosed with Vestibular Schwannoma (Koos Grade III)—a rare, benign brain tumour that develops on the vestibulocochlear nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain. For nearly a year, she experienced progressive hearing loss in her right ear, persistent giddiness, and difficulty maintaining balance while walking, symptoms that significantly impacted her daily life and quality of living.
After detailed evaluation at HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru, Dr. Kirthi Koushik A.S. and her team treated the tumour using the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, delivering Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) with advanced 6D Skull Tracking technology. The highly precise treatment enabled accurate radiation delivery while protecting the surrounding healthy brain tissue and critical neurological structures. The patient completed the treatment without significant side effects and has since experienced considerable improvement in her symptoms.
Dr. Kirthi Koushik A.S Senior Consultant – Radiation Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru, said, “Vestibular Schwannoma is a rare tumour located in one of the most delicate areas of the brain, making precision the cornerstone of treatment. CyberKnife allowed us to deliver highly targeted radiation with sub-millimetre accuracy while continuously tracking the patient’s movement in real time. This enabled us to effectively treat the tumour, preserve surrounding critical structures and help the patient recover without undergoing open surgery.”
The patient, said, “When my hearing started reducing and I began losing my balance, I was worried about what lay ahead. I am thankful to Dr. Kirthi Koushik and the entire HCG team for treating me with such care and compassion. Today, I feel healthier, more confident and grateful that I received the right treatment at the right time.”
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Manisha Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Karnataka HCG Cancer Hospitals, said,”As cancer cases continue to rise, timely access to specialised oncology expertise is critical to improving patient outcomes. Through our Expert Cancer OPD in Shillong, we are bringing HCG’s multidisciplinary cancer care closer to patients in Meghalaya, ensuring they have access to early diagnosis, expert clinical guidance, personalised treatment planning, and seamless referrals to advanced cancer care when needed. Our partnership with Woodland Hospitals reflects HCG’s commitment to expanding access to world-class oncology services and reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for specialist consultations.”
Dr. K.S. Nataraj, Senior Consultant – BMT Hemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Physician, HCG Cancer Hospital, KR Road, Bengaluru, said,“Many patients with blood cancers and other complex malignancies lose valuable time because specialist care is not easily accessible. Through the Expert Cancer OPD, we aim to provide early expert evaluation, guide patients to evidence-based treatment and ensure that those requiring advanced therapies—including stem cell transplantation—are referred without delay.”
The launch represents another step in HCG’s strategy of bringing advanced cancer expertise closer to patients across Northeast India while ensuring seamless access to comprehensive treatment at its tertiary centres whenever required.
About HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru
HCG Cancer Centre, located in Bangalore, has been revolutionising cancer care since its inception and has helped patients achieve longer and better lives. Since its inception in Bangalore, it has grown to become the largest network of Cancer Care Hospitals in India. HCG Cancer Centre Bangalore is equipped with the world’s latest technology for the diagnosis and treatment of all cancers—from high-end nuclear medicine and PET-CT to Genomics for diagnosis, CyberKnife, Adaptive Radiotherapy, Robotic Onco-surgery, Gene Therapy, CAR-T Cell Therapy, coupled with Precision Oncology treatment protocols with a multidisciplinary approach for patient care by experts.