The first five cancer patients received life-saving radiation treatment at Health City’s Centre for Radiation Oncology in Camana Bay last week as Wednesday, May 17 became a historic day, not just for the institution but for the Cayman Islands, as for the first time, residents could access state-of-the-art cancer services without having to travel overseas.
Led by Radiation Oncologist Dr. Vikas Roshan, the team administered two radiosurgery procedures and other higher-end techniques like VMAT (Volume Modulated Arc Therapy). The patients, made up of three women and two men ranging in age from the mid-40s to late 70s, received treatment via a Siemens TruBeam Varian Linear Accelerator at the first-of-its-kind facility, one of the most advanced in the region.
Dr. Roshan was beaming with excitement at treating the first patients. “It gives us immense pleasure to introduce all the latest radiotherapy techniques here in the Cayman Islands. I am happy to share that we started with two radiosurgeries on the first day and delivered the treatment uneventfully. Other patients received radiation with higher-end radiation techniques like VMAT, enabling us to provide treatment effectively and quickly. The facility of onboard imaging helped us pinpoint the tumours with precision and accuracy.”
He further shared that the patients were pleased with their experience. “We received good feedback from them,” he said. “They loved the staff and that each session took approximately 15 minutes. This meant they could continue with their day afterward.”
Over time, the Centre for Radiation Oncology will roll out additional services, including External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT), 3-D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT), Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT). Special services will be offered, such as Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), and Total Body Irradiation (TBI), as well as Brachytherapy Services.
Health City’s Chief Business Officer Shomari Scott noted: “It’s a historic day for Health City and the Cayman Islands. We are happy that our people can stay home for advanced cancer treatment with the outstanding health care resource, the Radiation Oncology Centre. We look forward to continuing to provide this and other services while saving more lives.”
Health City’s Centre for Radiation Oncology is the first phase of the 70,000-square-foot modern, state-of-the-art medical facility being developed on three acres of land in southern Camana Bay for US$100 million. It will be officially named the Gene Thompson Radiotherapy Centre in homage to the late developer and entrepreneur, who was instrumental in establishing Health City.
Upon completion, Health City Camana Bay will feature several medical specialties not currently available in the Cayman Islands. Key among those will be a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), an emergency pavilion and critical care unit, and a robust multispecialty program that includes robotic surgery. The facility expects to be fully operational in 2024.
