HAVANA, Cuba. – The Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, in Havana, acquired recently state-of-the-art equipment to fight cancer, which in Cuba occupies the second leading cause of death.

Luis Curbelo, director of the Institute, said in Cuba there is a tendency in malignant tumors to rise and there are 22 thousand patients, and for that reason, some eighteen thousand Cubans die annually.

Curbelo emphasized that the new equipment, already in operation, includes the unit number two of HDR brachytherapy with high frequency, which promotes localized radiations and protects the healthy organs.

The head of the Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology explained this modern equipment has radioactive sources of cobalt, has a high durability, and is very useful not only to treat cervical cancer, but also in other locations.