Chief Medical Physicist RADIOTHERAPY SITUATION IN VIETNAM AND RESOLUTIONS Prepared by NguyEn XuAn CU Chief Medical Physicist K Hospital (National Cancer Institute) 43 Quan Su Street-HaNoi Tel: 84 48 252 143 Fax: 84 48 253 757 E-mail: Xuancu@hn.vnn.vn ---------------------------------------------------

INTRODUCTION ·      Population approximately 80 millions ·      Cancer is the second rank disease ·      About 70 000-100 000 new cases each year ·      Only 10% of these are treated by radiation.  

· Two main Cancer Centres: - National Cancer Institute in Hanoi INTRODUCTION ·      Two main Cancer Centres: - National Cancer Institute in Hanoi - Oncology Hospital in HCM City ·      One Oncology Hospital (Hanoi) and ·   Six RT Departments inprovinces ·     RT facilities are in poor conditions  

Ten common Cancers in Hanoi and HCM City (Age standard Rate-ASR/100 000 persons) Male Female   Type of cancer ASR Hanoi HCM City Liver Lung Stomach Colorectal Esophagus asopharynx Pharynx Prostate Skin Pancreas 17 38.8 34.5 13.3 3.4 9.5 2.6 2.2 5.0 1.0 38.2 32.3 24.3 14.8 6.1 5.5 4.9 4.6 4.2 3.8 Cervix Breast Ovary Uterus corpus Lymphoma 6.3 26.7 8.0 16.4 5.6 6.6 5.9 2.1 3.2 35 17.1 11.8 10.3 8.8 8.3 4.0 2.9

Distribution of Radiation Facilities in Vietnam   Institutions Cobalt & Linac Brachy. Units Sim. TPS National Cancer Institute (K Hospt.) Oncology Center (HCM City) Hanoi Oncology Hospital Oncology Dept.(Hai Phong Hospt.) Oncology Dept.(Hue Central Hospt.) Oncology Dept.(Da Nang Hospt.) Oncology Dept.(Thai Nguyen Hospt.) Cho Ray Hospital Oncology Dept.(Khanh Hoa)   3+1Linac 3 1 2 Linac 4 2

The staff are involved in RT at different Oncology centres   The staff are involved in RT at different Oncology centres Institutions Radiation Oncologists Medical Physicists Technicians National Cancer Institute (K Hospt.) Oncology Hospital (HCM City) Ha noi Oncology Hospital Oncology Dept.(Hai Phong Hospt.) Oncology Dept.(Hue Central Hospt.) Oncology Dept.(Da Nang Hospt.) Oncology Dept.(Thai Nguyen Hospt.) Oncology Dept.(NhaTrang Hospt.) Oncology Dept.(ChoRay Hospt.)   18 20 4 5 3 2 1 6 12

· Lack of RT equipment (Brachy. machines) Remarks ·      Lack of RT equipment (Brachy. machines) ·      Almost of Cobalt Units are too old ·      Activity of radiation sources are so weak ·      There is no university to train Medical Physicists ·      Few M.Physicists have qualification ·    The others are limited on Medical Physics

· Dosimetry System(s) are not available in some hospitals Remarks ·    Dosimetry System(s) are not available in some hospitals ·    Several RT Centres have no Medical Physicist, no TPS, no Simulator ·    Number of patients are overload ·    Most patients are in advanced stages ·    Treatment techniques are still simple

  RESOLUTION FOR PERIOD 2005-2010 ·   Establish new RT Departments in Hanoi and other provinces. ·   Replace the too old Cobalt Units, purchase new ones ·  Change the too weak Co-60 sources ·   Carry- out a QA-QC Program in RT in the Nationwide (K Hospital is leading centre) ·   Organise workshops and conferences to train specialists in the field of RT in Nationwide.

· One Brachytherapy System- HDR donation from IAEA (for K Hospital)   PROPOSALS ·   One Brachytherapy System- HDR donation from IAEA (for K Hospital) ·   Fellowships: one Medical Doctor, one Medical Physicist (3 months) each year.