Sunway Medical Centre Elevates The Standard For Cancer Care With Its Innovative Facility

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Held at Sunway Sanctuary of SMC, the event was attended by Chief Executive Officer of SMC Dr Seow Vei Ken and General Manager of Sunway Cancer Centre, Sunway City, Dr Heng Siew Ping, marking a new beginning in cancer care in Malaysia. 

Its focus is on patient-centred cancer care, and seamlessly integrates supportive and palliative care services to address the complex needs of cancer patients and their caregivers.

Located at SMC Tower C, the cancer centre is equipped with one of the largest radiotherapy departments, a chemotherapy daycare centre, a bone marrow transplant centre, and a nuclear medicine department. 

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

"We take pride in the existence of our Sunway Cancer Centre, Sunway City, which is a testament to our commitment to redefining healthcare excellence. SMC stands out as a hub of innovation, and the cancer centre is one of our 28 centres of excellence," he said.

With state-of-the-art machines and cutting-edge equipment, oncologists are able to come up with customisable treatment plans, perform advanced treatments, and deliver accurate diagnoses.

Here's a look at the cancer centre's latest equipment:

- 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.

- Leksell Gamma Knife Icon: A non-invasive, clinically proven radiosurgery for skull and brain conditions, preserving normal brain function with sophisticated radiation using stereotactic radiation (SRS).

- Radixact-X9 Tomotherapy: A customised radiation treatment that delivers a high dose to tumours, while minimising damage to healthy tissue. It is capable of automatically adapting to the treatment, and identifying the need to improve the precision of the treatment.

- Flexitron Brachytherapy: It delivers a higher radiation dose to a smaller area in less time than conventional external beam radiation therapy.

- Intrabeam Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT): It uses concentrated radiation during surgery to give a dose equivalent to five traditional treatments in a single session, preserving tissue and reducing side effects.

To meet the demand of increased patient capacity, SMC also equipped its cancer centre with four bunkers that are fitted with two Varian TrueBeam machines, a Leksell Gamma Knife Icon equipment, a TomoTherapy machine, brachytherapy equipment, and IORT equipment to meet the demands of increased patient capacity.

Its nuclear medicine department also houses two PET/CT scanners and one SPECT-CT scanner.

These machines play a vital role in supporting the diagnosis and monitoring cancer treatments using radiopharmaceuticals.

"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 set a new standard for comprehensive cancer treatment.

"This marks a crucial step forward in our mission to provide accessible and compassionate healthcare," said Dr Seow.

Dr Heng said, "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."

Calise Teo, a cancer patient at SMC, thought that all hope was lost when she received news that she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She consulted numerous oncologists in different hospitals before deciding to receive treatment from SMC clinical oncologist Dr John Low.

"By the time I began my treatment, my cancer cells had covered my entire spine, which left me wheel-chair bound," she said. 

If she had not sought immediate treatment, she would have lost control of her arms and become semi-paralysed. Thanks to the advanced combination treatment of targeted therapy and chemotherapy, as well as supportive palliative care at SMC, Teo was able to clear the cancer cells from her body.

While Teo is still undergoing treatment at SMC, she has since regained her mobility and returned to her usual daily activities.

"I am very thankful that I am able to be here today to share my story," said Teo.

These include the Cancer Buddy Programme, collaborations with SMC's allied healthcare teams, weekly tumour board meetings, active clinical trials, supportive and palliative care service, cancer education, and public health talks.

Dr Heng said, "At Sunway Cancer Centre, Sunway City, 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 patients are a testament to this."

The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care.