Meet the Tamilan who took Innovative Laparoscopic Surgery for Cancers to 4 continents
Cancer is among the leading causes of death in the world, and it claims lakhs of lives every year. WHO states that it was the reason for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths, at that time.
It also shared that today the most common cancers are breast, lung, colon and rectum and prostate cancers. If you take a good look at these cancers they are present in the torso region of the body.
Many experts share that these cancers are surgically treatable and if did as laparoscopy/keyhole surgery, it can provide better results.
In Coimbatore GEM Hospital, under the guidance of Dr.C.Palanivelu, has established itself as the globally preferred medical destination for all kinds of laparoscopic surgery, and also the center providing world class expertise to a point where its demonstration of live-surgeries are studied across the globe.
It was astonishing to note that some of the superpowers in the world like US, China, Russia, South Korea and developed countries like Japan, UK, France, Spain, Brasil use Dr.Palanivelu’s techniques and his guidelines to do keyhole surgeries for different cancers.
Speaking with the two-time Dr.BC Roy Award winning personality provided various insights about Laparoscopy and its numerous benefits, and the interaction showed us the journey of a humble man from Tamil Nadu and his historic accomplishments which led him to be known as The Legend of Laparoscopy.
Introducing Laparoscopy for Cancer
Dr.Palanivelu is the first person to introduce laparoscopic surgery for cancer in India in 1992. He introduced this for the removal of gallbladder stones and appendix earlier, and then he used it for treating rectal cancer.
He shared that when he introduced this laparoscopic surgery technique, many doubted whether treating cancer via this method would succeed, and the doubts lasted till 2000.
“I demonstrated in front of many doctors how Esophageal cancer and Stomach cancer could be treated through laparoscopy at the Adyar Cancer Institute in 2000. They were astonished at the outcomes. Soon after that many wanted to learn how it is done. I have written a text book about that, and it is now read far and wide. Today this technique has become the way of surgery for stomach-related cancers,” says Dr.Palanivelu.
Laparoscopy has the Upperhand!
Between the years 2000-2010, Laparoscopic Surgery attained prominence in the South, particularly in treating cancer thanks to the efforts of pioneers like Dr.Palanivelu. This method has become ideal for cancers of the Esophagus, Stomach, Kidney, Uterus, Prostrate, Pancreas, Liver, Rectum, etc.
“When cancer is dealt through laparoscopic surgery instead of open surgery, there is no need to externally supply blood to the patient, the visibility of the organs and the affected area is significantly better, with its magnification system, the treating area can be made very precise, after this procedure the chance of cancer’s recurrence is very low and the cure rate is high and the total outcome is much better,” he adds.
Dr.Palanivelu shared when patients come at first and second stages there is possibility for 100% cure. He said that today there are advanced techniques with which the laparoscopic surgeon can easily identify and differentiate the cancer tissues alone, and eliminate them quickly. ”Today we have Artificial Intelligence’s assistance and Robotic Surgery options, which can enhance the surgeons’ performance manifold.
Taking the technique far & wide
While many thought treating Pancreatic Cancer through Laparoscopy is impossible, Dr.Palanivelu proved it is not so, and successfully did it, and amazed the participants of a medical conference in the USA in 2000.
“I was in a medical conference in Philadelphia, USA in 1996, and my research article was recognized the Best Paper. A famous doctor from Canada was sharing how he found treating Pancreatic Cancer via surgery less productive at the same dais while he was presenting his paper. Returning home, I felt that I should take this a challenge and show the world it could be done through Laparoscopic surgery. I successfully did it and showed them the procedure, later,” he shared.
This made Dr.Palanivelu the first surgeon in the world to do Pancreatic Surgery through Laparoscopy, and immediately UK, Japan and Korea invited him to demonstrate that in their country’s conference.
This method came to be known as ’Dr.Palanivelu’s Technique’, and the guideline to do this surgery around the world was made here in Coimbatore. It was formed in a World Meet, and the venue was here in Covai, and those guidelines came to be known as ’Coimbatore Guidelines’.
Subsequently, in 2003 he was requested to visit Manchester, UK to attend a conference and share how Esophageal Cancer could be treated via Laparoscopy. The attending doctors learned from Dr.Palanivelu this technique when he operated on a live patient.
The same was requested by various countries and Governments including China, Russia, Spain, Italy and France. Today1000 pancreatic cancer operations and 1250 Esophageal cancer procedures have been done using Laparoscopy method by this doctor and his team. What the world’s top nations declared tough, an Indian did that successfully.
Making cancer surgery affordable
“Generally people think that a new medical technology would be expensive, and they would themselves opt out from getting it. They thought like this when I first introduced Laparoscopic Surgery for Hernia,” shares Dr.Palanivelu.
“To tell them about its affordability and benefit, we did free procedures for more than 100 patients. I wanted them to understand that if something is done free, it must be of low-cost. In one day we did 32 procedures, and all the patients went home the next day happily. This happened in 2001 during our 1st Anniversary”
Dr.Palanivelu comes from a family of farmers, and he understands how finance could stand in the way of quality treatment and care. Hence he has made Laparoscopy an affordable model at GEM.
“Science should reach the majority of the people to become successful. The reason I began practicing medicine was to make it reach the farming and financially weaker sections. So I made new techniques to suit our people’s lives.”
“GEM provides concessions to cancer patients coming from humble background. If they are still unable to meet the charges due to poverty, our hospital provides free treatment through our alliance with Rotary. In this way we have treated 60 patients in 2021”
Efforts taken by GEM Hospital is what the WHO wants the world to do this year – Close the care gap. Also his hospital has created a virtual platform ahead of World Cancer Day (Feb.4) wherein people can participate freely, and explore the causes of various cancers, their symptoms, treatments etc. Throughout this month, they can ask for free cancer guidance and consultation, and it will be provided.
Minimally Invasive Cancer Surgery Center
Dr.Palanivelu introduced a dedicated center called Dr.Palanivelu’s Minimally Invasive Cancer Surgery Center, last year.
This focuses on providing minimally invasive cancer surgery aided by advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery for cancers in esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, anus, colon, biliary tract, urogenital cancer of kidney, prostate, urinary bladder, gynec-onco surgery of uterus, cervix and ovary.
Students pursuing Surgery in India and across the globe visit this center to get to know the techniques of Dr.Palanivelu. Many surgeons around the world read his books across the world to know more about the surgeries. It is safe to say that he has been a ‘Make In India’ package even before the scheme was introduced.
A Word of Caution
“Only 6-7% of cancers occur due to genetic reasons, while majority of other various cancers occur due to our lifestyle and environment. Eating food with fatty content, using tobacco, consuming alcohol, red meat (pork, beef, mutton), food items with preservatives, junk foods all can create high risk of cancer.”
He shared that in the recent years there has been a rise in Rectal Cancer and Intestinal cancer, which happens due to poor intake of right food (which is also among the reasons).
Even WHO says that around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.
He cautioned that being overweight can also elevate one’s risk of cancer, hence he advised all to eat vegetables, fruits, fiber rich food, maintain ideal body weight and engage in physical exercises to keep cancer-risks low and far.
The Moment with Dr.A.P.J
“You have developed many novel techniques to treat cancer, but can you cure a cancer patient who comes in its advanced stage?” this was the question that puzzled one of the most celebrated gastroenterology and laparoscopic surgeons in the world, Dr.Palanivelu, for a moment.
Dr.Palanivelu stood confused because everyone in the medical world know that curing cancers in their advanced stage is not possible, and this question was from one of the brightest minds in India, Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He asked this while he was appreciating Dr.Palanivelu for receiving the prestigious Dr. BC Roy National Award in 2008.
He then shared that all these novel and life-saving techniques Dr.Palanivelu has developed could benefit larger number of people if greater awareness about cancer is created. He expressed that with awareness, many patients could come for treatment in early stages of cancer and get cured.
GEM Hospital was already educating public about various life-threatening diseases, and after this interaction, it widened the hospital’s cancer awareness initiatives.
After few years, when Dr.Kalam visited the hospital in 2013 as the Chief Guest of GEM Cancer Awareness Initiative program, he was very much elated to see higher number of patients of GEM share their testimony following their cancer-survival. At that moment Dr.Palanivelu said to Dr.Kalam, “Sir, I did what you wished me to do, and your words made this possible”.