IHH Healthcare’s proton therapy centre emphasises precise target treatment for cancer

The facility offers accurate tumour targeting with minimised damage to healthy tissue.

PUSHING forward with its “Care for Good” mission, IHH Healthcare unveiled the Mount Elizabeth Proton Therapy Centre for precise procedures with minimal side effects. This marks an expansion of IHH’s portfolio of advanced cancer treatments across Singapore.

The group’s new facility focuses on providing a radiation treatment that targets tumours whilst minimising potential damage to surrounding healthy tissues, a particularly crucial aspect when dealing with complex and hard-to-treat cancers.

To ensure the treatment’s effectiveness, IHH Healthcare Singapore CEO Peter Chow touted the centre’s use of a compact single-room Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) system called the Proteus®ONE solution.

“It also contains Ion Beam Applications’ latest Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) technology to target tumours precisely with an accuracy level of +/=0.2mm, along with isocentre volumetric imaging (Cone Beam CT), and stereotactic x-ray imaging capabilities for more accurate patient positioning before starting treatment,” Chow said.

Moreover, the facility takes on a patient-centric approach to care, equipped with features such as an open gantry for easier access, prompt imaging technology for comprehensive image verification, and ambient surroundings to relieve anxiety whilst providing comfort.

“The new centre has enabled us to not only provide patients and their families more hope but also improve their quality of life during and post-treatment,” Chow said.

Diverse patient range

Having treated over 100 patients since its opening in May 2023, the centre’s demographic includes a wide age range, varying from 18 months to 85 years, and diverse geographical origins.

“(About) 28% of patients to date have been female, and 72% male, with more than half from Singapore, whilst 35% of patients came from Southeast Asia,” Chow said.

The CEO noted that an additional 14% of their patients came from the US, Canada, and the UK.

Meanwhile, he cited some statistics on the specific cancer types the facility has treated and how it underscores their approach to care. 

“About 40% of cases treated were related to head and neck cancers, 20% to brain cancer, another 20% to prostate cancer, with the remaining 20% treating other cancer types,” Chow said.

An advanced cancer care team

Another key element IHH upholds in maintaining quality cancer care services is its skilled team of doctors, nurses, medical physicists, and radiation therapists who are supported by modern technology.

“Our medical teams have been providing radiotherapy services for more than 30 years in our system by using linear accelerators, TomoTherapy, Gamma Knife, and brachytherapy to help cancer patients achieve their treatment goals,” Chow said.

He also emphasised that during the centre’s preparation phase, the IHH’s proton therapy team underwent extensive training in the US and Europe to enhance their knowledge and skills in the said treatment.

“They were trained by institutions including the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Centre, the University of Florida’s Health Proton Therapy Institute, and Aarhus University Hospital’s Danish Centre for Particle Therapy,” Chow noted.

Furthermore, the centre’s core team continues to engage in international conferences to exchange learnings with other experts and keep up with the latest advancements in proton therapy.

Meanwhile, the CEO expressed enthusiasm when asked about IHH’s future plans, aiming to expand their treatment range by exploring new technologies and investments.

“We will continue to see how we can enhance the scope and quality of cancer care for the benefit of our patients and residents in Singapore and the region,” Chow added.