Patient Journey

• Oncology Consultation
  Before oncology treatment, you will meet a clinical oncologist who is a specialist doctor using radiotherapy or medical therapy in the treatment of cancer. They will recommend the best treatment strategy for you.

  
• Cancer Investigation
  The workup of unusual symptom at our centre involves an oncology consultation followed by appropriate testing such as laboratory and diagnostic test. Our centre provides the latest diagnostic imaging modalities including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scanning (whole body PET/CT or PET/MRI scans) and high resolution ultrasound, etc.
  Biopsy of suspected cancerous tumours can be done by endoscopy, bronchoscopy, ultrasound-guided, CT scan guided or MRI-guided procedures. Minimally invasive procedure is preferable for better recovery. Biopsy specimen can be used for pathology and genetic test, those test results can help to formulate patient’s treatment plan and method.
  Your oncologist may recommend the appropriate investigations, which will depend on your age, the type of cancer, the stage of your disease and the results of previous tests. You might be having one or a number of the tests (‘investigations’) before your cancer treatment.
• Medication Treatment
  Cancer medication treatment is the use of medications to cure or control a cancer. Many cancer medication exists such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and etc. Depending on your particular situation, you may receive one treatment or a combination of treatments.
• Oncology Follow Up
  Regular follow up will be arranged during medication treatment for monitoring prognosis and managing side effect.
• RT Simulation
  RT simulation is the first step in radiotherapy. We will design different customized immobilization devices such as thermoplastic cast and vacuum bag according to the region of your treatment. These devices, together with skin marks, are used to assist positioning for future treatment. For 3D treatment planning, computed tomography (CT) images will be acquired for target and organ contouring and radiation dose calculation.
• RT Planning
  

  
  1. Image fusion
     Before target delineation, radiation therapist or medical physicist will fuse the diagnostic images (e.g. PET-CT and MRI) with planning CT images for better visualization of the treatment site.
  2. Target Delineation and Dose Prescription
     Your oncologist will outline the target or determine the treatment region on the planning CT, prescribe the treatment dose and the total number of fractions.
  3. Treatment Planning and Plan Evaluation
     Radiation therapist or medical physicist will contour organs in the treatment region. Treatment plan will be designed according to the oncologist’s requirements. We aim to deliver high dose to the target region and keep surrounding healthy tissue at low dose. The treatment plan will be evaluated to ensure the prescribed criteria are met.
  4. Dosimetric Verification & Quality Assurance
     The finalized plan will be verified by medical physicist to ensure correct and precise dose is delivered.
• Plan Approval by Doctor and Treatment Verification
  Your oncologist will carefully review the treatment plan to ensure all the criteria are satisfied before the commencement of treatment. In addition, he/she will check the verification images taken for treatment to monitor the treatment accuracy.
• RT Treatment
  You will be positioned by radiation therapists on the treatment couch. Treatment position will be verified by either x-ray planar images or CT. The radiation therapists will carefully monitor your treatment through CCTV in the control room. During treatment delivery, you will stay inside the treatment room where you can still communicate with the radiation therapists through intercom. Treatment delivery can be interrupted if you need any assistance. You could also play your music to help you keep calm and relax.
• Oncology Follow Up
  When the whole course of RT is completed, your oncologist will arrange a follow-up appointment for you to evaluate the treatment outcome and monitor your health progress.