New cancer center opens

CEBU, Philippines — In its dedication to provide world-class cancer care in Cebu, the Singapore Cancer Center Inc. officially opened last Friday at the Visayas Medical Center along Osme a Boulevard in Cebu City.

Located at the sixth floor of the hospital, the new center offers cutting-edge therapies and expert care in partnership with Curie Oncology, a leading oncology institution in Southeast Asia.

The center has been in development for a year and a half, aiming to address the gaps in cancer care.

According to the chairman and CEO of Singapore Cancer Center Inc., Dr. Ellie May Villegas, this first-ever standalone cancer center s goal is to make sure that no Filipino patient has to leave the country for cancer treatment.

 We are cost-effective but needless to say beyond economics, what are lacking in some cancer centers, we will offer here,  said Villegas.

Other officers of SCCI, chief financial officer Dr. Alex Alegrado and chief operating officer Dr. Omid Etemadi, are both sons of a cancer patient.

 It s very hard to treat your own family, as it s challenging to remain rational and objective during such a personal experience,  said Alegrado.

That is why both doctors have used their experiences in coming up with a facility that offers not just medical care but also emotional and psychological support for patients and their families.

The new center is equipped with some of the most advanced technology and treatments available today, one of which is the Molecular Oncology Hub which will offer precision cancer diagnostics, allowing for highly-individualized treatment plans based on the unique genetic makeup of each patient s cancer.

Another one that they highlighted is the facility s MERV 17 air purification system, ensuring that the environment remains clean and safe for patients undergoing treatment. This system filters out nearly all airborne particles.

Additionally, the center is home to the Philippines' first InBody BWA machine, an advanced body composition analyzer that helps doctors determine the best course of treatment for cancer patients.

With all the advanced systems they have in the center, Etemadi assured that they will provide access to life-saving treatments that were previously unavailable in the Philippines.

By partnering with Curie Oncology, the center gained access to medications and treatments that are US FDA-approved, including targeted and immune therapies.

 Patients don't need to travel to Singapore or any other countries. All patients coming in will have psychological care, nutrition and pain management done,  Etemadi noted.

The center provides psychological care, nutritional support, and pain management to ensure that patients  mental and emotional health is prioritized throughout their cancer journey.

The center's 10-bed capacity ensures that each patient receives personalized attention, with staff and nurses to patient ratios are well-improved in order to put a good level of care to each one of them.

Right now, medical consultations are ongoing while the center s phase two plans include the addition of a day surgery unit for oncology.

By March, the center expects to have its infusion services fully operational, while pharmacy and laboratory services are already underway.

 At the end of it all, we will already have comprehensive end-to-end care whereby the patient just steps on one facility and everything is there,  Alegrado assured. -   BRP (CEBU NEWS)