Nation's First Brachytheraphy Available at Prince Court Medical Centre

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Cancer patients need no longer go overseas for advanced treatment as brachytheraphy, the first internal radiation therapy in Malaysia, is now available at Prince Court Medical Centre. Consultant Oncologist Dr Muhammad Azrif Ahmad Annuar said with Malaysia being a medical tourism hub in the region, it can now boast of having some of the advanced cancer treatment options for not only its citizens but overseas patients. "Brachytheraphy is a highly successful treatment for many types of cancer including prostate, cervix, breast, skin, head and neck, endometerium and soft tissue sarcomas. "The treatment, at a very affordable and competitive price, is a minimally invasive technique with a lower risk of side effects and can often be performed on an outpatient or daycare basis," he said in a statement on Friday. Dr Muhammad Azrif said the treatment delivers radiation directly to the tumours or into a body cavity or passage using an implant that comes in various shapes and sizes, which could be temporary or permanent. "The permanent implant, also called a seed, remains in the body even after treatment is finished because the implant gives small doses of radiation slowly over a period of time until there is no more radiation. "Patients need not worry as the radiation affects a very small area around the implant and does not usually affect other people. Treatments may be repeated for several days to a week or sometimes longer," he said. Dr Muhammad Azrif said brachytheraphy has several benefits including highly targeted conformal treatment for increased efficacy, improved sparing of healthy tissues, reducing duration of treatment for certain cancer types, and has potential to avoid surgery. "The treatment is also an alternative treatment for challenging cases and palliative treatment options can be simplified," he said. Prince Court Medical Centre will be initially starting its brachytherapy programme with gynaecological cancers such as cervix and endometrium and will include treatments for head, neck and breast cancer in the near future. -- BERNAMA