Proton Therapy, the most advanced form of radiation treatment available in the world, has become more accessible and affordable for cancer patients in Sri Lanka following the appointment of Ceylinco Healthcare Services Limited (CHSL) as a Medical Affiliate of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL) of India, which operates the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai, the first and only Proton Therapy facility in the South East Asian region.
Announcing the milestone and the enrolment of CHSL in the Apollo Proton Partners Network Initiative, the Company said patients undergoing treatment at CHSL’s two radiation treatment centres in Colombo can now be referred to the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai if proton therapy is recommended, and undergo treatment at a preferred partner programme specified under the agreement between the two institutions.
Over the last decade, Proton Therapy has gained tremendous momentum globally due to its superior dose distribution and minimal side effects. It is increasingly being used to treat cancers, particularly those where treatment options are limited, or conventional radiation therapy presents risks to patients, as well as for many childhood cancers, due to these unique advantages.
As it lessens the chance of harming healthy, growing tissue, children may receive Proton Therapy for cancers of the brain and spinal cord. The current technology and expertise available worldwide and at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, is now helping to expand the scope of indications from traditionally well-recognised cancers such as cancers of childhood and skull-base tumours and re-treatments, to increasingly accepted areas such as cancers of the head and neck, liver/GI, sarcomas, left-sided breast and prostate, with the aim of significantly improving survival rates and equally if not more importantly, the quality of life and long-term survivorship.
The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai is the most advanced cancer care centre with pencil beam technology and the ability to deliver intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) image-guided and patient positioning systems, and is aided by the most sophisticated proton treatment planning systems. The centre also has excellent clinical, physics and therapy teams to plan and deliver the treatments appropriately.
“We already offer advanced radiation oncology in Sri Lanka via TomoTherapy and Linear Accelerator ensuring patients have the latest and most comprehensive treatment at the most affordable price,” CHSL Chairman Mr R. Renganathan said. “We are not providing proton therapy currently or in the near future, and therefore decided to partner with APCC and provide access to patients who will need this form of treatment.”
“We are pleased to have entered into a clinical partnership with Ceylinco Healthcare as part of the access to proton therapy programme at Apollo Proto Cancer Centre. Patients that would benefit from Proton therapy will now be able to access the most advanced care cancer centre and thus strengthen their battle against cancer and improve their quality of life,” Mr Dinesh Madhavan, President, Group Oncology and International at AHEL said.
A ‘Proton Collaboration Agreement’ entered into by Ceylinco Healthcare Services and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise in October 2019 paves the way for the two institutions to collaborate seamlessly in evaluating patient requirements, referrals to the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre for treatment and post treatment care.
The Apollo Proton Partners Network Initiative of which CHSL is now a member also has provision for Apollo specialists to work with physicians, consult and share resources to complement physician expertise at partner companies. Such companies can connect with Apollo through tele-consultation and interact with a patient-centric Cancer Management Team with organ-specific tumour boards and the Apollo Proton Advisory Board. Patients requiring Proton Therapy have access to comprehensive 360° cancer care management, Genomics Molecular Profiling, Digital Pathology, access to a vast pool of medical resources and centralised planning for radiation treatment, while medical staff of partner companies can engage in academic collaborations for multi-centric clinical research programmes.
The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) in Chennai is a 150-bed integrated cancer hospital that offers state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer care. South East Asia’s first Proton Therapy Centre, the APCC is powered by a cutting-edge multi-room Proton Centre, and is revolutionising radiation oncology not just in India, but across the region. Multi-room Proton Centres are at the very pinnacle of radiation oncology. Powerful cyclotrons, fully revolving gantries and state-of-the-art delivery modes ensure unprecedented precision and success rates that are redefining global benchmarks.
With over 26 years of experience in delivering world class cancer care and now with Proton Therapy, the hospital stands as a beacon of new hope for over 3.5 billion people in developing nations.
The owner of the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country, Ceylinco Healthcare Services has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients in Sri Lanka over the past decade. The treatment facilities offered by the Company are estimated to generate a saving of US$ 500,000 in foreign exchange per year. The Company operates two radiation treatment units – the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, which is the only TomoTherapy unit in the country.