IAEA/RCA Regional Training Course on Improvements in Brachytherapy for the Most Common Cancers is to be held in Mumbai, India on 4-8 August 2008 in cooperation with the Government of India through the Tata Memorial Hospital.

This Course is to be held under the RCA Project “Improvement in Quality of Radiotherapy for Frequent Cancers in the Region,” the objective of which is to improve the quality of the radiotherapy in the RCA Member States. In order to achieve this objective, the project focuses on improving brachytherapy treatment; training radiotherapy technologists (RTTs); and building the regional capability for radiotherapy equipment maintenance and repairs. Brachytherapy (from the Greek brachy, meaning "short"), also known as sealed source radiotherapy or endocurietherapy, is a form of radiotherapy where a radioactive source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. Brachytherapy is commonly used to treat localized prostate cancer and cancers of the head and neck.

This Course will provide information on current developments in brachytherapy treatment of most common cancers in the region. By sharing up-to-date evidence based information and latest advances in state-of-the-art management of brachytherapy techniques, the participants of the Course are expected to share the knowledge gained with their colleagues in their home countries and to apply the knowledge gained in the management cancer patients undergoing brachytherapy treatment.

For more information contact Dr S K Srivastaba, Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, at shrivastavask@tmcmail.org or radonco@vsnl.net.