BEST HOSPITALS
ONCOLOGY ( SURGICAL ) SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
MAHKOTA MEDICAL CENTRE
Mahkota Medical Centre ( MMC ) has perfected its cancer care by tailoring treatment to the needs of its patients and leveraging the state-of-the-art technologies in the field . “ MMC ’ s one-stop Cancer Centre offers comprehensive screening , detection , treatment , rehabilitation , psychosocial counselling and post-treatment aesthetic care and support . We are committed to strengthening our integrated , holistic approach to cancer care and investing in new medical technologies to deliver better outcomes for our cancer patients ,” said Stanley Lam , CEO of Mahkota Medical Centre .
Comprehensive patient-centred services are essential in achieving accurate , well-conceived treatment plans . The patient-centred care in MMC involves patient navigators and other personnel to help coordinate care and easement of health-related burdens , including psychosocial issues like anxiety or financial stress , as well as patient education and empowerment .
“ At Mahkota Cancer Centre , we provide a cancer patient navigator service that aims to help cancer patients on their journey towards recovery . Their role is to personalise each individual ’ s needs , conditions , treatment journey and help better manage their expectations . Our team will always be there for every step of the way from early detection , diagnosis , treatment to supportive care ,” he said .
Apart from that , the cancer team in MMC also conducts Multidisciplinary Tumour Board discussions to discuss treatment plans to achieve the best clinical outcome for the patient . The board consists of surgeons , oncologists , pathologists , radiologists , nuclear medicine specialists , and allied health personnel from the cancer centre to collabo- ratively review a patient ’ s condition for the best treatment plan . Through this multidisciplinary approach , patients have access to a diverse team of MMC cancer experts instead of relying on a single opinion .
With this comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach , patients can be assured that all potential treatment options are evaluated and considered .
“ We complemented the team with additional surgeons that specialise in gynaeoncology and surgical expertise such as Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy ( HIPEC ) for stage 4 cancers . This advanced surgery is for cancers that have spread to the peritoneum and the other cancers that originate primarily from the peritoneum , such as gastric and ovarian cancer .
“ Besides that , there is also palliative treatment available for late-stage cancer patients , whereby the chemotherapy drugs are administered in the form of a pressurised aerosol into the abdominal cavity via a minimally invasive surgical procedure . This treatment is known as Pressurised Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy ( PIPAC ),” he said , adding that PIPAC is a palliative treatment that helps control peritoneal disease and reduces symptoms for patients who are not suitable to undergo surgical intervention .
As a Joint Commission International ( JCI ) - accredited hospital , MMC is fully committed to consistently following high quality and safety standards to safeguard its patients . “ We produce good surgical outcomes through our experienced team of surgeons and anaesthetists with zero surgical site infection rate .
“ We have ten operating theatres and two-day surgery units , equipped with PACS ( picture archiving and communication
Stanley Lam , CEO
system ) and EMR ( electronic medical record ) systems . These features allow the surgeons to access imaging and other investigation information at any time ,” he continued .
MMC is also equipped with the PET-CT scan , enabling the surgical team to identify and localise the cancer lesion before the surgery compared to CT-scan / MRI for good surgical outcomes . It is one of the latest services introduced to complement the cancer care services in the hospital .
In clinical care , patients benefit from the other allied healthcare – dietitian , clinical psychology , rehabilitation and survivorship . Patients can participate in the patient support group , keep up-to-date information about the latest treatment , diet , and activities with non-governmental organisations .
Mahkota Cancer Centre was among the first cancer centres in Southern Malaysia to offer cancer treatment in 1994 . Since then , the centre has treated more than 200,000 patients . Based on the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council ( MHTC )’ s five-year study from 2010-2015 , the overall survival rate for breast cancer patients treated in MMC is 81 %, comparable to that in the UK and Japan at 82 %.
Ultimately , the holistic services provided by Mahkota Cancer Centre aims to treat the patient as a whole and not just their cancer .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com NOVEMBER 2021
71