Sunway Cancer Centre A Beacon of Hope and Innovation
05 February 2024
Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC), the largest private quaternary hospital in Malaysia, recently celebrated its state-of-the-art Cancer Centre to mark a pivotal leap forward in cancer care, underscoring the institution’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation.
Dedicated to delivering holistic, patient-centred care, Sunway Cancer Centre aspires to lead as the premier one-stop cancer facility.
Spanning over 4,000 sq m, the centre houses one of the largest radiotherapy departments, a chemotherapy daycare centre, a bone marrow transplant centre, as well as a nuclear medicine department.
Manned by a highly-skilled, sub-specialised, multidisciplinary team, the facility aims to address the intricate needs of cancer patients and their families throughout their challenging journey.
Sunway Cancer Centre also distinguishes itself through a visionary approach and technological innovation. Acknowledging that a one-size-fits-all strategy is inadequate, the centre integrates state-of-the-art machines and advanced equipment for precise diagnostics and treatment.
Technologies such as Varian TrueBeam and Leksell Gamma Knife Icon enhance cancer treatment accuracy, complemented by diagnostic tools like low-dose CT technology, Digital PET/CT scanner technology, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA).
“Our vision is to provide holistic, patient-centred care, ensuring optimal outcomes through the latest treatments, technologies, and support services.
“The Cancer Centre is not merely a facility; it is a paradigm shift in how we approach cancer. With a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, cutting-edge technology, and a holistic care approach, Sunway Cancer Centre sets a new standard for comprehensive cancer treatment,” he said.
Breakthroughs, Success Rates and Patient Support
Breakthroughs in treating challenging cancers, including Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, exemplify the commitment to pushing boundaries in cancer care.
Sunway Cancer Centre general manager Dr Heng Siew Ping highlighted the centre’s dedication to continuous research, clinical trials, innovation and personalised care.
Beyond conventional cancer care, Sunway Cancer Centre champions emotional and psychological support through initiatives like the Cancer Buddy Programme, collaborations with SMC’s allied healthcare teams, weekly tumour board meetings, active clinical trials and prestigious accreditation as the Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) from 2018 to 2024.
Dr Heng emphasised the commitment to innovation, patient engagement, as well as community support, serving as the cornerstone of their mission to redefine cancer care and offer patients support, hope and comfort.
As Sunway Cancer Centre looks ahead, transformative growth is on the horizon, with plans for a Genetic Counselling Clinic and Survivorship Clinic, reinforcing its standing as a comprehensive cancer centre.
Innovations Redefining Cancer Care at SMC
In the pursuit of personalised and effective cancer care, SMC has ushered in a new era of diagnostics and treatment technologies, overcoming the notion of a one-size-fits-all approach.
The commitment to innovation ensures accurate diagnostics, advanced treatment options and a patient-centric approach.
SMC boasts a state-of-the-art diagnostic suite featuring cutting-edge technologies at the forefront of cancer detection.
At the heart of these capabilities is Low-dose CT Technology, empowering early detection of lung cancers by creating detailed images for confirming tumour presence, size, and location.
This diagnostic method is crucial for monitoring changes in tumour size and assessing patient responses to cancer therapy.
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) play a pivotal role in personalised cancer care, identifying DNA mutations in tumours for accurate diagnoses.
The Digital PET/CT scanner technology provides precise imaging for cancer diagnosis, excelling in detecting small lesions with clarity and efficiency.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI Scan), a non-invasive test, offers cross-sectional images of internal structures, aiding in tumour detection.
Digital Mammography utilises low-dose X-rays for crucial early detection of breast cancer in women.
Ultrasound, a non-invasive method using sound waves, provides images of organs and tissues, guiding needle biopsies and assessing conditions related to blood flow.
The advanced 3 Tesla (3T) MRI scanner, with twice the field strength of conventional scanners, delivers faster scans, clearer images, and accurate diagnoses, particularly beneficial for brain, spinal column, and musculoskeletal system scans.
In terms of cutting-edge cancer treatment technologies, SMC stands at the forefront of cancer treatment with a suite of advanced technologies.
It includes Varian TrueBeam, the advanced cancer treatment that employs 3D imaging and Linear Accelerator Radiation Therapy (LINAC) technology, ensuring precise tumour targeting while sparing healthy tissue.
Leksell Gamma Knife Icon is a clinically proven radiosurgery for skull and brain conditions, preserving normal brain function through sophisticated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).
Radixact-X9 Tomotherapy, customised radiation treatment with intelligent technology, delivers a high dose to tumours while minimising damage to healthy tissue and automatically adapting the treatment for improved precision.
Flexitron Brachytherapy offers a higher radiation dose to a smaller area in less time than conventional external beam radiation therapy.
Intrabeam Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT), concentrated radiation during surgery, provides a similar dose in a single session compared to traditional five treatments, preserving tissue and reducing side effects.
Precision Medicine and Future Hopes in Cancer Treatment at SMC
During the media tour to the Sunway Cancer Centre recently, the Clinical Director (Oncology Services)/Consultant Clinical Oncologist of Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Dr John Low Seng Hooi highlighted SMC’s commitment to precision medicine.
The institution aims to target treatment with precision, minimising side effects from chemotherapy and radiation while focusing solely on cancer cells.
Dr Low expressed optimism about the direction of precision medicine, emphasising the continuous pursuit of finding a cure for cancer.
The goal is to transform cancer into a manageable chronic disease with potential cures in the future.
“Precision medicine is the direction that we are heading to, coupled with cancer therapy and there is no turning back. We hope to finally find a cure for cancer,” he said.
Enhanced Breast Cancer Prevention Measures
Dr Heng highlighted the preventive measures for breast cancer that SMC offers, especially among younger women.
She said SMC encourages breast cancer screening for high-risk individuals.
Recognising the need for increased awareness, SMC plans a new awareness campaign in 2024, offering complimentary screenings specifically for breast cancer and extending services to Penang and Sunway Velocity branches.
Comprehensive Patient Support and Collaboration With Public Hospitals
Dato’ Dr Chang Kian Meng, Special Haematology Laboratory Director/Consultant Haematologist and Transplant Medicine, highlighted SMC’s close collaboration with the Health Ministry (MoH) hospitals, especially in the field of haematology.
“For example, the absence of a dedicated stem cell collection facility in another city results in a challenging situation for the transplant centre there in collecting the cells.
“In such cases, these facilities may send the patients to us for assistance in collecting and storing the stem cells. Subsequently, when they proceed with transplants, we transmit the stored stem cells back to different locations for the procedure,” he said.
Dr Chang added: “During the Covid-19 period, when facilities were strained, we managed patients by coordinating between chemotherapy and other treatments.
“In situations where the transplants are too complex or cannot be done elsewhere, we conduct them here and later provide the results to the respective institutions”.
This underscores SMC’s close collaboration in patient care, he concluded.
Source: The Malaysian Reserve
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