Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Elevates Cancer Care with Its Innovative Cancer Centre

23 January 2024

SUNWAY CITY, 23 January 2024: Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC), the largest private quaternary hospital in Malaysia, recently celebrated its state-of-the-art Cancer Centre. The event was attended by Dr Seow Vei Ken, Chief Executive Officer of SMC and Dr Heng Siew Ping, General Manager of Sunway Cancer Centre, marked a leap forward in cancer care, underlining a commitment to excellence and innovation.

Driven by a visionary mission and commitment to excellence, Sunway Cancer Centre aims to be the leading one-stop cancer centre, seamlessly integrating supportive and palliative care services into patient-centred cancer care that addresses the complex needs of cancer patients and their family caregivers throughout their cancer journey.

Spanning over 4,000 sqm, it is equipped with one of the largest radiotherapy departments, a chemotherapy daycare centre, a  bone marrow transplant centre, and a nuclear medicine department. This facility comprises a highly skilled, subspecialised, multidisciplinary team of clinical oncologists, adult and paediatric haematologists, bone marrow transplant physicians, and nuclear medicine physicians with vast experience in treating both solid and liquid cancers.   

"We take pride in the existence of our Sunway Cancer Centre, a testament to our commitment to redefining healthcare excellence. SMC stands out as a hub of innovation, and this Cancer Centre is one of our 28 centres of excellence. Our vision is to provide holistic, patient-centred care, ensuring optimal outcomes through the latest treatments, technologies, and support services," shared Dr Seow Vei Ken, Chief Executive Officer, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City.

Sunway Cancer Centre's Visionary Approach and Technological Innovation

Embracing the belief that a one-size-fits-all approach does not suffice, Sunway Cancer Centre has made significant advancements in its treatment plans and diagnostics by integrating state-of-the-art machines and cutting-edge equipment, ensuring accurate diagnostics and advanced treatment options.

The technology ranges from the Varian TrueBeam™ and Leksell Gamma Knife® Icon™ for precise cancer treatment and care to diagnostics technology such as low-dose CT technology, Digital PET/CT scanner technology, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA).

"The Cancer Centre is not merely a facility; it is a paradigm shift in how we approach cancer. With a dedicated multidisciplinary team, cutting-edge technology, and a holistic care approach, Sunway Cancer Centre sets a new standard for comprehensive cancer treatment. This marks a crucial step forward in our mission to provide accessible and compassionate healthcare," adds Dr Seow Vei Ken.

To further meet the demands of increased patient capacity, Sunway Cancer Centre is currently equipped with four bunkers that are fitted with two Varian linear accelerators, Leksell Gamma Knife® ICON™, and Tomotherapy, as well as brachytherapy and equipment for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) to treat patients with all types of cancer from common to rare. In addition, the Nuclear Medicine Centre also houses two PET/CT scanners and one SPECT-CT scanner, technologies that support the diagnosis and monitoring the cancer treatments using radiopharmaceuticals.

Breakthroughs and Success Rates in Cancer Care  

“Breakthroughs in treating challenging cancers such as Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma highlight our commitment to pushing the boundaries of all cancer care. Our clinical trials, continuous research, and dedication to innovation and personalised care contribute to these advancements in the field," shared Dr Heng Siew Ping, General Manager of Sunway Cancer Centre, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City.

Holistic Cancer Care for The Patient and Community

Sunway Cancer Centre goes beyond conventional cancer care by fostering emotional and psychological support through various holistic care and community initiatives, including:

• The Cancer Buddy Programme pairs cancer survivors with patients on a voluntary basis to provide emotional and psychological support to those undergoing cancer treatments.
• Collaborations with Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City’s allied healthcare teams in Palliative Medicine, Dietetics, Home Nursing, Speech and Hearing, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Psychiatry and Behavioural Health for well-rounded support.
• Weekly tumour board meetings with surgeons, physicians, oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists to discuss cancer cases and treatment plans for the patient.
• Active clinical trials that improve cancer treatment and patient quality of life.
• Patient to Nurse Ratio of 1:5 with experienced oncology specialists providing the best possible care for the patient.
• Supportive & Palliative Care Service that consists of a specialist-led team of doctors and nurses who have been professionally trained to care for palliative care patients.
• Prestigious Accreditation as the Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) from 2018 to 2024.
• Advocates and prioritises holistic approach in supporting cancer education, early screening and detection via public health talks.

“At Sunway Cancer Centre, we stand as a guiding light in this formidable challenge of addressing and offering patients the best possible outcomes in their cancer journey. We firmly believe that cancer is not the end. Our unwavering commitment to innovation, patient engagement, and community support is the cornerstone of our mission to redefine cancer care and offer patients support, hope and comfort. Our Cancer Buddy programme and the stories we have heard from the patients are a testament to this," adds Dr Heng Siew Ping.

Looking ahead, the Sunway Cancer Centre is poised for transformative growth, expanding services, enhancing patient care, and innovating in oncology. This includes the establishment of a Genetic Counselling Clinic for comprehensive testing and counselling, as well as a Survivorship Clinic for invaluable post-treatment support, reinforcing Tower C as a dedicated comprehensive cancer centre.

Fact Sheet

Sunway Cancer Centre's Visionary Approach and Technological Innovation

With a belief that “one size does not fit all” approach, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City has made significant advancements in its treatment plans and diagnostics by integrating state-of-the-art machines and cutting-edge equipment, ensuring accurate diagnostics and advanced treatment options.

Latest Cancer Diagnostics Technologies at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City

At Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, we use a variety of tests and procedures to diagnose cancer. This includes:

• Low-dose CT technology enables early detection and diagnosis of lung cancers. A CT scan is a diagnostic imaging test to create detailed images of internal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels. CT scanning is often the best method for detecting many different cancers since the images allow your doctor to confirm the presence of a tumour and determine its size and location. It can monitor changes in tumour size and assess patient response to cancer therapy.
• Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP) and Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) that can identify mutations, diagnose, and identify DNA mutations in a tumour, enabling personalised cancer care
• Digital PET/CT scanner technology provides precise imaging for cancer diagnosis, detecting small lesions and offering clarity and quick scan times.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI Scan) is a non-invasive test that uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency and a computer to obtain cross-sectional images of organs, soft tissues, bones and virtually all other internal body structures. It is used to evaluate a variety of conditions, including tumour detection.
• Digital Mammography is a specific type of breast imaging that uses low-dose X-rays to detect cancer early — before women experience symptoms.
• Ultrasound is a non-invasive method of obtaining images of organs and tissues using sound waves. It is also helpful to provide imaging guidance during needle biopsies or to see and evaluate conditions related to blood flow.
• 3 Tesla (3T) MRI is an advanced MRI scanner with twice the field strength of most conventional MRI scanners. It allows for faster scans, more detail, clearer images, and more accurate diagnoses. It is particularly useful in scans of the brain and spinal column, and of the musculoskeletal system.

Cutting Edge Cancer Treatment Technologies at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City

Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City prides itself on incorporating cutting-edge treatment technologies to provide the best care for our patients. This integration of advanced technologies ensures that our patients receive personalised and effective treatment strategies, furthering our mission to redefine cancer care through innovation and excellence. This includes:

• The Varian TrueBeam™, an advanced cancer treatment with 3D imaging and Linear accelerator radiation therapy (LINAC) technology for precise tumour targeting, customising radiation delivery to spare healthy tissue.
• The Leksell Gamma Knife® Icon™, a non-invasive, clinically proven radiosurgery for skull and brain conditions, preserving normal brain function with sophisticated radiation using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).
• The Radixact-X9 Tomotherapy, a customised radiation treatment with intelligent technology, delivers a high dose to tumours while minimising damage to healthy tissue, automatically adapting the treatment, and identifying when re-planning is necessary to improve treatment precision. 
• Flexitron Brachytherapy delivers a higher radiation dose to a smaller area in less time than conventional external beam radiation therapy.
• Intrabeam™ Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) uses concentrated radiation during surgery, offering a similar dose in a single session compared to traditional five treatments, preserving tissue and reducing side effects.

To further meet the demands of increased patient capacity, the hospital introduced a second Varian TrueBeam™ machine, a second PET/CT scanner technology and three 3 Telsa MRI to ensure operational efficiency and precision for the convenience of the patient.

For more information on Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City and its initiatives, please visit https://www.sunwaymedical.com/en/.

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