Buddy System Part of Holistic Cancer Care

29 January 2024

 

Sunway Cancer Centre has come a long way since starting off in 2010 with only a chemotherapy daycare centre offering services on one floor.

Today, it has a dedicated space with chemotherapy daycare unit, outpatient department and radiotherapy equipment housed across two floors, reducing patients’ waiting time and affording better patient care.

The facility located within Sunway Medical Centre (SMC) in Sunway City, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, aims to be a leading one-stop cancer centre.

It offers integrated supportive and palliative care services into patient-centred care that addresses the needs of patients and their caregivers throughout their cancer journey.

Spanning over 4,000 sq m at Tower C, the centre is equipped with an expansive radiotherapy department, chemotherapy daycare unit, bone marrow transplant centre and nuclear medicine department.

It has a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team of subspecialised clinical oncologists, adult and paediatric haematologists, bone marrow transplant physicians and nuclear medicine physicians with experience in treating both solid and liquid cancers.

“One of the key pillars of Sunway Cancer Centre is its commitment to fostering a multidisciplinary approach in a patient’s care,” said SMC Sunway City chief executive officer Dr Seow Vei Ken during a media tour of the facility.

“We believe the battle against cancer requires a collaborative effort, bringing together experts from various fields to provide comprehensive and personalised care to patients.”

He said the vision for SMC’s 28 centres of excellence, including the cancer centre, was to provide holistic, patient-centred care to ensure optimal outcomes through the latest treatments, technologies and support services.

Sunway Cancer Centre general manager Dr Heng Siew Ping said, “Embracing the belief that a one-size-fits-all approach does not suffice, our 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.

“This includes having Varian TrueBeam and Leksell Gamma Knife Icon machines for precise cancer treatment and care, to diagnostics technology such as low-dose CT (computed tomography) technology, digital PET/ CT (positron emission tomography/ computed tomography) scanner technology, comprehensive genomic profiling and circulating tumour DNA.”

She said the facility, which also received referrals from other hospitals, was presently equipped with two Varian TrueBeam linear accelerators, a Leksell Gamma Knife Icon device, TomoTherapy and brachytherapy systems as well as equipment for intraoperative radiation therapy to treat patients with all types of cancer, from common to rare.

“We are looking at expanding our services and enhancing patient care through the establishment of a genetic counselling clinic for comprehensive testing and counselling as well as a survivorship clinic for post-treatment support.”

She said the facility introduced a Cancer Buddy Programme in Oct 2022 that paired cancer survivors with patients on a voluntary basis to provide emotional and psychological support to those undergoing treatment.

“This programme allows cancer patients with similar conditions to talk about their treatment journey as well as provide emotional and moral support and encouragement,” said Dr Heng.

“Some survivors also volunteer their time to talk to patients with other types of cancer.

“These volunteers will first undergo training by our psychologist to understand the importance of self-care for both cancer buddies and patients as well as what can and cannot be shared during the programme.”

The event included a patient-sharing session by Calise Teo and Filzah Farah Zainoddin, who are breast cancer fighters undergoing treatment at Sunway Cancer Centre and part of the Cancer Buddy Programme.

“I’ve been roped in by my doctor to calm new cancer patients.

“I encourage them to believe in research and science for treatment,” said Filzah Farah, 36, who was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer in October 2022.

When she was first diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in 2020, Teo, 41, said she was in a lot of pain and was wheelchair-bound, as her entire spine was infected with cancer cells.

“I’m still on my recovery journey and I’m grateful to be able to walk and even travel today.

“My cancer buddy is someone with a similar condition.

“I chat with her to share my experience. Her progress is also a reminder of my own journey,” the mother of three said.

Source: The Star

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