Ceylinco Cancer surpasses 12,000 Radiation treatments
for cancer
Sri Lanka’s pioneer private sector cancer treatment provider Ceylinco Cancer Centre Services Ltd. (CHSL) has announced it has crossed the milestone of treating 12,000 cancer patients via a combination of cutting-edge radiation therapy and other forms of treatments.
This milestone in care was reached in September 2021; 14 years after CHSL introduced radiation treatment via Linear Accelerator to Sri Lanka, enabling patients to receive the treatment they required without having to travel overseas.
CHSL subsequently introduced TomoTherapy, another form of ultra-precise radiation treatment to Sri Lanka and now offers patients the options of two treatments via TomoTherapy and Linear Accelerator in addition to Radioactive Iodine Treatment and Brachytherapy.
TomoTherapy is the most advanced form of cancer therapy for the treatment of brain tumours, head and neck cancers, and prostate cancer and is preferred by clinicians, as it allows them to see what they plan to treat immediately before beginning each treatment fraction. The treatment ensures that tumours are not under-dosed, and that radiation exposure to surrounding tissue is minimised. The unique feature of TomoTherapy is that patients are exposed to shorter beam times with better targeting of tumours.
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) that safely delivers precise radiation to a tumour combined with the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) scanning technology, and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) that helps doctors make immediate adjustments to allow for tumour movement or shrinkage, weight loss and other changes, are among the advanced radiation treatment options available at CHSL’s TomoTheraphy unit.
CHSL upgraded its Radiation Treatment Centre in 2018 with the acquisition of a new Linear Accelerator from Varian Medical Systems. The new Clinac® iX linear accelerator delivers radiation with pinpoint precision at any angle to any location in the body. This unit also offers IMRT, IGRT, and 3D Conformal Radiotherapy which ensure shorter beam times for patients and better targeting of tumours. Known as the most stable machine for cancer treatment, the Linear Accelerator treats cancers of the breast, abdomen, lungs, and prostate.
Ceylinco Cancer care Services is also the only private hospital in the country to offer Brachytherapy (internal radiation) and recently upgraded its treatment planning and delivery systems with an investment of Rs 15 million. Brachytherapy is used in the treatment of cervical and endometrial cancer as well as oesophageal, head and neck, vaginal, rectal and lung cancers. With the upgrade, cancer patients experience more precise treatments offered by the new software which has 3D contouring and margin tools for anatomy definitions and image registration, fast catheter reconstruction algorithms for implant reconstructions, dose point optimisation and geometric optimisation.
Radioactive Iodine Treatment at the Centre is offered to patients with hyperthyroidism. It is delivered in a single dose and has minimal or no side effects.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka’s leading life insurance company Ceylinco Life, Ceylinco Cancer Care Services Limited operates the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country. The treatment facilities offered by the Company are estimated to generate a saving of US$ 500,000 in foreign exchange per year.
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§ Discounts on cost of Radiation Treatment for Cancer
§ Discounts extended to immediate family members of policyholders
Ceylinco Cancercare Services Limited (CHSL) has announced that life insurance policyholders of Ceylinco Life will be provided discounts of up to 50 per cent for radiation treatment at the Company’s two state-of-the-art cancer treatment centres in Colombo.
Ceylinco Life policyholders whose life insurance policies have been active for more than three years would be eligible for a discount of 50 per cent, while other life policyholders would receive a discount of 25 per cent, the Company said.
These generous discounts, which can represent savings of up to Rs 400,000 or more, will be offered for radiation treatment via the Varian Clinac® iX linear accelerator or via the Accuray TomoHD™ TomoTherapy treatment system. Both treatment centres are located at separate addresses at Park Street, Colombo 2.
Immediate family members of Ceylinco Life’s life policyholders are also entitled to receive these discounts, CHSL said. For the purpose of this offer, immediate family members are identified as the spouse and children of a married policyholder, or the parents of an unmarried policyholder.
“These discounts translate to a very substantial additional benefit to our life policyholders at no added cost, and are an articulation of Ceylinco Life’s commitment to the wellbeing of its policyholders,” CHSL director and Ceylinco Life Managing Director Mr Thushara Ranasinghe said. “They also demonstrate another facet of how Ceylinco Life helps de-risk the future of its policyholders. The Company has invested heavily in cutting-edge cancer treatment equipment and we are happy to be able to pass on the benefit of these investments to our customers, in addition to enhancing the treatment options for the general public.”
The state-of-the-art Clinac® iX linear accelerator purchased by CHSL from Varian Medical Systems, a global leader in Radiation Oncology, and commissioned in December 2018, replaced the original linear accelerator unit which when commissioned in 2007, was the first linear accelerator in the country. The new linear accelerator delivers significant improvements in precision and reduced treatment times, enabling the CHSL’s Radiation Treatment Centre to efficiently deliver wide-ranging radiation therapy treatments including 3D Conformal Radiotherapy, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and MV based Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) to treat many forms of cancer.
CHSL’s TomoTherapy Centre is the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka. TomoTherapy is an integrated, advanced form of 3-dimensional image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Because a patient’s anatomy can change from day-to-day, image-guided radiation therapy helps doctors make immediate adjustments to allow for tumor movement or shrinkage, weight loss and other changes. TomoTherapy can provide significantly more accurate radiation therapy for even the smallest tumours and reduce treatment times. It can be used to treat cancers all over the body, but is especially effective for prostate cancers, head and neck, pancreatic, left-sided breast, anal and rectal cancers.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Ceylinco Life, Ceylinco Cancercare Services Limited operates the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country. These centres have successfully administered radiation therapy to over 7,000 patients in Sri Lanka over the past decade.
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The Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre, the only private hospital in the country to offer Brachytherapy (internal radiation) for the treatment of cancer, has announced upgrades to its treatment planning and delivery systems to further improve accuracy and efficiency.
An investment of Rs 15 million, the upgrade offers Consultant Oncologists and Medical Physicists involved in treatment planning enhanced capabilities to plan and deliver the required precision treatments, the Centre said.
Brachytherapy is a treatment that involves placing radioactive material in the body of the cancer patient. It is used for treating cervical and endometrial cancer as well as oesophageal, head and neck, vaginal, rectal and lung cancers.
Elaborating on the upgrade, the Centre said the installation of new Treatment Planning System (TPS) hardware using the latest Oncentra Brachy 4.6 version upgrade and a Treatment Delivery System upgrade with the newest Treatment Console System (TCS) hardware running on the MHDR V3 TCS 3.1.6 upgrade, was undertaken by DIMO, the local agent for Elekta Medical Systems of the Netherlands.
Components such as the GYN Transfer Tube sets, X-Ray Catheter sets, and the Fletcher-Williamson applicator sets were also replaced with the upgrade, the Centre said.
With the upgrade, cancer patients can experience more precise treatments offered by the new software which has 3D contouring and margin tools for anatomy definitions and image registration, fast catheter reconstruction algorithms for implant reconstructions, dose point optimisation and geometric optimisation. Plan analysis tools such as synchronized plan evaluation for comparison are also an advantage.
Owned and managed by Ceylinco Cancercare Services Ltd. (CHSL), the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre has a Selectron HDR Brachytherapy System which was installed in 2007 and has successfully provided brachytherapy treatment over the past 13 years. The Centre also offers radiation treatment via linear accelerator, radioactive iodine treatment and chemotherapy, while the Ceylinco Tomotherapy Centre also owned by CHSL is the only facility offering tomotherapy in Sri Lanka.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka’s leading life insurance company Ceylinco Life, Ceylinco Cancercare Services Limited operates the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country. These centres have successfully administered radiation therapy to over 7,000 patients in Sri Lanka over the past decade.
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Ceylinco Cancercare Services Limited and Kings Hospital Colombo have announced a collaboration to provide comprehensive medical care at concessionary rates to benefit patients of both institutions.
With the new partnership, Ceylinco Cancercare will provide state-of-the-art cancer-related treatments to patients of Kings Hospital and the latter will provide comprehensive medical care including top end diagnostics, surgery and rehabilitation programs to patients through multi-disciplinary teams of highly trained and competent specialists and doctors in Sri Lanka.
“We believe that patient outcomes must take precedence over everything else, and to that end seek to collaborate with like-minded institutions,” Ceylinco Cancer care Services Chairman Mr R. Renganathan said. “We have also recently entered into a partnership with the Apollo Proton Care Centre in Chennai to facilitate treatment for our patients at the only proton beam therapy centre in South Asia. It is expected that the Ceylinco Cancer care - Kings Hospital collaboration will enhance the quality of treatment and patient comfort especially when dealing with issues such as cancer.
Kings Hospital Colombo has allocated a special counter and a help desk at its consultation lounge that will enable the two institutions to coordinate with patients and oncologists in order to ensure seamless medical care to patients.
Kings Hospital Colombo is an ultra-modern, multi-specialty corporate hospital with 120 beds. With a patient-centric contemporary design, it is committed to providing compassionate and high-quality medical care of international standards with a focus on providing the best clinical outcomes at optimum cost. King’s Hospital Colombo is the newest addition to private Cancer care in Colombo and is equipped with the most modern diagnostics such as digital mammography, MRI, CT and laboratory services.
All operating theaters are modular type conforming to highest standards in the Cancer care sector. Kings Hospital provides a comprehensive range of services including Gastroenterology, Urology, Orthopedics, Chest Medicine and Thoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Ophthalmology, Dental Surgery, Transplant Surgery and Dialysis, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatric Surgery and Cardiology. All ancillary services such as ICU, dialysis service, physiotherapy, rehabilitation facilities are set to the highest standards to ensure the best possible care to patients.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka’s leading life insurance company Ceylinco Life, Ceylinco Cancercare Services Limited operates two radiation treatment units – the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre which offers treatment via Linear Accelerator and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, which is the only TomoTherapy unit in the country. These are the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country. Ceylinco Cancercare Services has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 7,000 patients in Sri Lanka over the past decade. Customised care packages will be available through this initiative as a value addition to patients.
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‘Ceylinco Assured Care Centre’ to offer comprehensive, multidisciplinary resident & OPD care with specialists in Geriatric Medicine
The first multidisciplinary medical care centre for the elderly in Sri Lanka’s private sector was formally declared open by Ceylinco Cancer care Services Limited (CHSL) in February with the involvement of some of the country’s leading specialists in Geriatric Medicine.
Located on the first floor of the Ceylinco Cancer care Centre at No 60, Park Street, Colombo 2, the unit comprises of four rooms for residential care, as well as facilities for outpatient services and channelling of specialist doctors, physiotherapists, speech therapists and diet therapists, bringing under one roof the inter-linked, inter-disciplinary services needed for holistic care of elders.
Recognising the need for a shift from the disease-centric approach to the person-centric approach of treatment that is central to Geriatric Medicine, the Ceylinco Assured Care Centre will cater to persons who are relatively healthy after the age of 60 and will benefit from assistance for active healthy ageing, as well as for elderly patients who are weak and in need of specific medical interventions and support.
Speaking at the opening of the centre, CHSL Chairman Mr R. Renganathan pointed out that Sri Lanka has the dubious distinction of having the fastest ageing population in the world, and that elderly people, defined as persons over 60 years, will represent 50 per cent of the country’s population by 2050. These projections had led Ceylinco Life, which owns Ceylinco Cancer care Services, to invest in ‘La Serena’ – Sri Lanka’s first dedicated retirement resort – and the Ceylinco Assured Care Centre, he said.
Consultant Physician Dr Dilhar Samaraweera, founder President of the Sri Lanka Association of Geriatric Medicine, who addressed invitees at the opening of the new centre, said the Ceylinco Assured Care Centre was the result of detailed discussions between himself and other leading doctors and Ceylinco Cancer care Services. “The Board of Directors of CHSL showed great commitment to set up a centre of excellence of quality, and I have great pleasure and pride to be associated with the first multidisciplinary elderly care centre in the private sector,’ he said.
“No other centre offers services that encompass the physical, sensory, cognitive, environmental and social areas,” Dr Samaraweera said, disclosing that the centre would address the syndromes associated with ageing such as decreased mobility, instability, falls, frailty, incontinence, dementia and depression, and would also offer pre-retirement counselling to provide those approaching 60 guidance to age gracefully.
A membership programme offered by the Ceylinco Assured Care Centre provides the assurance that “we will all be with you throughout the course of your life,” Dr Samaraweera added.
Consultant Rheumatologist Dr Lalith Wijeratne, founder of the Sri Lanka Association of Geriatric Medicine, who spoke on the origins and evolution of Geriatric Medicine as a distinct specialty in Sri Lanka following the establishment of a Board of Study in Elderly Care, said Sri Lanka now has 70 postgraduate doctors who are diploma holders in Geriatric Medicine, and that the first batch of fully-qualified Geriatrics specialists would pass out in 2024.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka’s leading life insurance company Ceylinco Life, Ceylinco Cancer care Services Limited operates two radiation treatment units – the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre which offers treatment via Linear Accelerator and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, which is the only TomoTherapy unit in the country. These are the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country. Ceylinco Cancer care Services has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 7,000 patients in Sri Lanka over the past decade.
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Ceylinco Cancer care Services Limited (CHSL) together with Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, recently conducted an event at which Sri Lankan Oncologists and Cancer Specialists were introduced to the benefits of Proton Therapy Treatment and the advantages of Digital Positron Emission Tomography (Digital PET) scans.
This event follows CHSL’s appointment as a Medical Affiliate of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL) of India, which operates the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) in Chennai. The appointment made Proton Therapy as well as Digital PET scans more accessible and affordable to cancer patients in Sri Lanka.
Since October last year, specialists at CHSL have been able to refer patients requiring this treatment or Digital PET scans to the Cancer Centre in Chennai which is the first medical facility in South Asia to have these cutting-edge options for treatment and diagnosis.
The event at the Hilton, Colombo, was conducted by Dr Sapna Nangia, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist at the APCC, and Mr John Chandy, Chief Operating Officer of APCC. While the former expounded on the functions and benefits of Proton Therapy, the latter spoke about the advantages of the Digital PET-CT scan compared to other CT scans available in Sri Lanka.
About 30 Sri Lankan specialists in the field attended the event, which was followed by cocktails and dinner.
Proton Therapy is considered the most advanced form of radiation treatment available in the world, thanks 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 as it lessens the chance of harming healthy tissues.
Digital PET-CT scans at the APCC in Chennai are available to Sri Lankan patients at a lower cost than the standard analog PET scans available in Sri Lanka, even with air travel costs included. PET-CT is recommended to ascertain information regarding the stage of a cancer, so that appropriate management such as surgery or chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be advised. Owing to the digital aspect of these scans, patients are guaranteed higher sensitivity, better image quality and therefore increased accuracy in diagnosis.
The owner of the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country, Ceylinco Cancer care Services has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 7,000 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.
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First in Sri Lanka to offer advanced scanning software from Sweden
Ceylinco Cancer care Services Limited (CHSL) has announced the introduction of a digital posture, balance and movement screening service to help identify and remedy common, but poorly managed, movement-related disorders, which affect one in every three people because of musculoskeletal, neurological or age-related problems.
The software developed by Swedish technology company Qinematic, uses accurate and fast 3D marker-less motion capture for human movement analysis. CHSL is first in Sri Lanka to offer the scans in order to provide an objective assessment of posture, movement patterns and balance of patients, and assist physiotherapists in making better decisions and optimal interventions for preventing and improving problems connected to poor static and dynamic posture.
Normally reserved for research and elite sports people, motion capture was once very expensive. With the more affordable Qinematic Posture Scan, CHSL has a unique opportunity to offer clients a scan and a report at an introductory price of Rs 5000 per person at the Ceylinco Cancer care Centre at Park Street, Colombo 2.
Qinematic Posture Scan works by recording human movement using a 3D camera and advanced computer software. The process is very simple. A client follows some simple onscreen instructions such as standing posture and balance, side bending, and small squats. The software can detect any difficulties and adjust to ‘Easy Mode’ to accommodate people with more serious issues. Advanced biomechanical models in the software are used to give immediate animated feedback and accurate measurements in a report.
To support the introduction of the Qinematic Posture Scan, CHSL recently conducted a workshop for 35 Cancer care practitioners including Physiotherapists, Rheumatologists and gym instructors. The workshop was conducted by the CEO of Qinematic Mr Glenn Bilby, a Human Movement Scientist and Physiotherapist with expertise in the field for over 30 years. He instructed health workers from the CHSL network on how to interpret reports and operate the system, and elaborated on how biomechanics can be used for evidence-based health services, better decision making and measuring outcomes.
Commenting on the launch of the Qinematic Posture Scan, CHSL Director Mr Thushara Ranasinghe said: “This automated scan is quick, fun and motivating. Movement-related disorders can prevent many people from engaging in physical activities, and that can in turn contribute to metabolic and cardiovascular illness. The Qinematic Posture Scan can help many people overcome movement difficulties, exercise more and enjoy better health and an improved quality of life.”
The movements performed during the Posture Scan are carefully selected to capture the foundational building blocks of everyday activities at home, at work and in sports. The scan protocol is standardised to make the results comparable and the analysis reliable. Movements are ‘practiced’ along with the instructional video, after which the 3D recording takes place. The Posture Scan also collects some important metadata that can be linked to factors such as gender, age, discomfort, history of falling and handedness.
This scan is useful for assisting in diagnosis of movement, balance and posture-related conditions that include not only an aching back, neck, shoulders and feet; Harvard Health recently published an article that claimed that in some cases, incontinence, constipation, heartburn and slow digestion too can be associated with poor posture. Bad posture can also be associated with poor circulation, impaired lung function, constricted nerves, and issues of the spine.
Poor movement patterns are easily improved if the underlying problems are identified early, and usually respond well to corrective or preventative exercises. After a Qinematic Posture Scan at the Ceylinco Cancer care Centre, the outcome of the scan will be reported by a physiotherapist along with a recommended course of action.
Gym instructors, athletic and fitness coaches, physiotherapists, and rheumatologists who suspect dysfunction, pain or inactivity may be related to poor movement, balance and posture, can now direct clients to the Ceylinco Cancer care Centre for an objective Qinematic Posture Scan to assist with evidence based decisions and recommendations. The centre can also offer a physiotherapy consultation.
Qinematic makes software for 3D analysis of static and dynamic posture. The software turns affordable and off-the-shelf technology into an advanced movement lab, so that everyone can afford accurate and objective assessment of movement.
Ceylinco Healthcare Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre and the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre at Park Street, Colombo 2, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care. It also has two radiation treatment units - the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, that have successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients.
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Photo caption
Pictured here is Qinematic Chief Executive Officer Mr Glenn Bilby conducting the workshop.
Appointed Medical Affiliate of South East Asia's first and only Proton Cancer Centre
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 Cancer care 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 Cancer care 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 Cancer care 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 Cancer care 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.
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Photo caption:
Ceylinco Cancer Care Services Limited (CHSL) Chairman Mr R. Renganathan (2nd from left) and Apollo Hospitals Chairman Dr. Prathap Reddy (centre) exchange the agreement in the presence of (from left) Prof. Rohan Jayasekera, Medical Director CHSL, CHSL Director Mr Thushara Ranasinghe and General Manager Mr Tharuka De Silva.
The Chief Medical Physicist of Ceylinco Cancer care Services Limited (CHSL) recently completed overseas training in Milan, Italy, on the latest techniques in radiation therapy planning, becoming the third staffer of the Company’s Radiation Treatment Centre to undergo overseas training over the course of two months.
The training programme attended by Mr Samantha Gunawardena was hosted by Varian Medical Systems International AG, a global leader in Radiation Oncology, and was connected with CHSL’s recent acquisition of a new hi-precision Clinac® iX linear accelerator from the company.
The five-day programme titled ‘Varian Applied Physics: Advanced RapidArc Planning Course’ aimed to provide medical physicists with the training to approach and plan radiation treatment for complex cases with RapidArc technologies. It covered practical aspects and included extensive planning sessions with in-class training as well as practical sessions at the Humanitas Hospital in Milan, Italy.
Mr Samantha Gunawardena has been a Medical Physicist for 25 years contributing to both the public and private sector of Sri Lanka. He holds a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Kelaniya and an MSc in Medical Physics from the Post Graduate Institute of Science of the University of Peradeniya.
The provider of the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment in Sri Lanka’s private sector, CHSL operates two state-of-the-art radiation treatment centres, the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre which have successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients over the past decade. The two centres are estimated to generate a saving of US$ 500,000 in foreign exchange per year by providing treatment facilities that match those offered by regional and international centres. Ceylinco Cancer care Services also owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Mr Thilak De Silva, the Chief Radiation Therapist at Ceylinco Cancer Services Limited (CHSL) recently visited Switzerland for a training programme hosted by Varian Medical Systems International AG, a global leader in Radiation Oncology.
He is the second member of the staff of CHSL’s Radiation Treatment Centre to undergo training in Switzerland in the past two months, the Company said.
The five-day training course is linked to the acquisition of a new hi-precision Clinac iX linear accelerator for CHSL’s Radiation Treatment Centre from Varian Medical Systems.
The course titled ‘Oncology Information System Clinical Implementation’ covered a variety of topics ranging from an in-depth introduction to the system architecture to using the equipment in coordination with ARIA, a comprehensive information and image management solutions operating system that allows users to oversee all aspects of Oncology.
This programme was conducted with the aim of introducing the new Oncology Information System and to provide training on how to setup the system prior to on-site training.
Mr Thilak De Silva has been practicing in the field of Radiation Therapy for 28 years in both the private and public sector of Sri Lanka. He holds a Diploma in Radiography from the School of Radiography in Colombo, and specialised in Radiation Therapy, locally. He possesses extensive international experience too, having worked at the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) in India, USA and Singapore.
With more than 7,400 linear accelerators installed around the world, of which nearly 200 are operating in India, Varian Medical Systems has extensive global and regional experience in radiation oncology. The Varian Clinac iX linear accelerator houses a range of capabilities that not only streamline the treatment process, but also expand possibilities for clinics.
The most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centre in the country, CHSL has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients 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 from its two radiation treatment centres — the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre. Ceylinco Cancer Services also owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Ceylinco Cancer care Services Limited (CHSL) recently sent Mr Jayantha Gunaratne, a medical physicist at its Radiation Treatment Centre, for a training programme in Switzerland, arranged by Varian Medical Systems International AG, a global leader in Radiation Oncology.
Mr Gunaratne’s training follows the commissioning in December last year of a new hi-precision Clinac® iX linear accelerator to treat cancer patients at CHSL’s the Radiation Treatment Centre. The new linear accelerator was supplied by Varian Medical Systems.
Titled ‘Varian Advanced Techniques Physics IMRT /RapidArc,’ the training programme was conducted over four days and included classroom lectures and on-site training at the Municipal Hospital Triemli, Switzerland. The course was designed to provide training for medical physicists responsible for the initial system commissioning and configuration of Varian’s Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques.
The aim of this course was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the treatment technique process, quality assurance tasks and treatment planning strategies, so that attendees will be able to implement IMRT/RapidArc® and Portal Dosimetry in their clinical routines, the Company said.
“We have invested in state-of-the-art equipment for radiation therapy to enable Sri Lankans to receive the most advanced treatments available, in their own country,” CHSL Chairman Mr R. Renganathan said. “As the private sector’s Centre of Excellence in radiation treatment we also require our physicists and radiation therapists to undergo world class training that can enable them to maximise the benefits of the equipment.”
Mr Jayantha Gunaratne has been a medical physicist at CHSL for the past 11 years. He previously worked as a Scientific Officer at the Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka, for a decade. Mr Gunaratne holds a B.Sc. (Special) Degree in Physics (2nd Class, Upper division) from the University of Peradeniya, and a M.Sc. in Medical Physics from the Post Graduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Radiation Protection from the National University of Malaysia.
With more than 7,400 linear accelerators installed around the world, of which nearly 200 are operating in India, Varian Medical Systems has extensive global and regional experience in radiation oncology. The Varian Clinac iX linear accelerator houses a range of capabilities that not only streamline the treatment process, but also expand possibilities for clinics.
The most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centre in the country, CHSL has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients 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. Besides its two radiation treatment units — the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco Tomo Therapy Centre, Ceylinco Cancer care Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Offers up to 25% off for NITF's 'Agrahara' policyholders and their dependents
Ceylinco Cancer care Services Limited (CHSL) has announced that public servants holding 'Agrahara' insurance policies of the National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) and their dependents are eligible for discounts of up to 25% on cancer treatments offered by the Company.
Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between CHSL and NITF, 'Agrahara' policyholders and family members will be offered a 25 per cent discount on room charges, a 20 per cent discount on hospital charges for OPD chemotherapy, and 5 per cent discounts on all radiation treatments, lab tests and radiological investigations.
These discounts are exclusively applicable to NIT F 'Agrahara' policyholders who opt to go for radiation treatment from CHSL's Linear Accelerator or Tomotherapy unit, as well as for chemotherapy, radioactive iodine treatment and brachytherapy, the Company said.
The 'Agrahara' Insurance scheme was introduced by the Ministry of Public Administration, under the National Insurance Trust Fund. The scheme covers close to 900,000 government employees, semigovernment employees and pensioners who retired after 2016. Taking the family members and dependants of its policyholders into account, it benefits more than 2.7 million people in all. The Gold and Silver packages of 'Agrahara' cover cancer treatment costs of up to Rs 600,000/- and Rs 400,000/respectively.
CHSL offers five types of cancer treatment at its facilities in Colombo. One advanced form of radiation therapy is delivered through the Company's newly-acquired linear accelerator, which is equipped for highly precise Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT). Another form of treatment is TomoTherapy which combines IMRT with the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) scanning technology, all in one machine. CHSL is the only company that offers TomoTherapy in Sri Lanka. Other treatments are Brachytherapy, which involves placing a protected source of high energy radiation directly within the tumor; Chemotherapy, where chemical substances are used to treat the disease and Radioactive Iodine Treatment for hyperthyroidism. It is delivered in a single dose and has minimal or no side effects.
CHSL's new Clinac i)( linear accelerator delivers significant improvements in precision and reduced treatment times, enabling its Radiation Treatment Centre to efficiently deliver wide-ranging radiation therapy treatments including 3D Conformal Radiotherapy, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and MV based Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT).
The most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centre in the country, CHSL has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients 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. Besides its two radiation treatment units — the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, Ceylinco Cancer care Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes
Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Ceylinco Cancer care Services Limited (CHSL), which operates two of the most advanced radiation therapy centres in the country, has doubled its capacity to administer Radioactive Iodine (RAI) treatment to patients afflicted with thyroid cancer and thyrotoxicosis, a condition caused by an excess of thyroid hormone in the body.
Following the construction of a new delay tank system that collects waste water, the facility is now able to offer Radioactive Iodine treatments on Wednesdays and Saturdays, treating up to eight patients a week, from the four patients it could treat per week previously.
RAI treatment, the most effective and curative treatment for thyroid cancer is administered by releasing an iodine electron, or beta particle, which creates its therapeutic action. The treatment is based on the fact that the thyroid actively accumulates iodine, which it then uses to produce thyroid hormones required for normal bodily functions.
Given as a capsule or dissolved in water, the RAI is absorbed quickly by the stomach and intestines. It is then carried in the bloodstream to the thyroid and taken up by the gland. Thereafter the RAI disrupts the function of some of the thyroid cells - the more radioactive iodine, the more cells that cease to function. This results in excessive amounts of thyroid hormones ceasing to be produced and the symptoms of hyperthyroidism beginning to disappear.
Notably, the iodine capsules used at the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre are of high European quality.
The RAI treatments are administered in doses of 30 millicurie (mCi), 100mCi, 150mCi and 200mCi for thyroid cancer, and in doses of 10mCi, 15mCi, 20mCi and 25mCi for thyrotoxicosis.
Ceylinco Cancer care Centre has administered RAI treatment to more than 2,250 patients since 2007. The Centre has four luxury rooms equipped with AC, Cable TV, and attached bathrooms exclusively for iodine treatment patients who are required to stay overnight at the facility for three days. These rooms adhere to international standards and are on par with similar facilities in Singapore.
For over a decade, CHSL, a subsidiary of Ceylinco Life, has been an affordable, private cancer treatment centre in the country, and has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients. Besides two radiation treatment units – the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, Ceylinco Cancer care Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Ceylinco Cancer Services Ltd, the pioneer of cutting-edge technology in cancer treatment in Sri Lanka’s private Cancer care sector, has announced that its new TomoTherapy Centre has treated 50 patients since its opening in October last year.
Among the patients treated at the TomoTherapy Centre were six Maldivian nationals, demonstrating the potential for attracting patients from countries in the region for advanced radiation treatment, the Centre said.
The TomoTherapy Centre is the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka and offers a new dimension in high precision image - guided radiation therapy for the treatment of many forms of cancer.
“The TomoTherapy Centre is performing above even our own expectations,” CHSL Chairman R. Renganathan said. “While our principal objective was to offer Sri Lankans the latest technology in radiation treatment in their own country, it is clear that the services of the Centre will also benefit people in neighbouring countries.”
TomoTherapy is an integrated, advanced form of 3-dimentional image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Because a patient’s anatomy can change from day-to-day, image guided radiation therapy helps doctors make immediate adjustments to allow for tumor movement or shrinkage, weight loss and other changes.
The TomoTherapy system allows clinicians to see what they plan to treat immediately prior to beginning each treatment fraction and ensures that the tumor will not be under-dosed, and that radiation exposure to surrounding tissue will be minimised.
The TomoTherapy Centre is the second radiation oncology unit set up by Ceylinco Cancer Services Ltd. (CHSL). It is equipped with the latest TomoHDTM treatment system from Accuracy Inc. (USA), the global pioneer in the field of TomoTherapy. It operates alongside CHSL’s first radiation treatment unit, opened in September 2007 with Sri Lanka’s first Linear Accelerator (Linac).
Both radiation treatment facilities are located in close proximity, at Park Street, Colombo 2; the TomoTherapy Centre at No 70, and the Linear Accelerator unit at No 60.
Besides the two radiation treatment units, Ceylinco Cancer Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Cancer Centre and the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, also at Park Street, Colombo 2, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care. In its first five years of operation, the Ceylinco Cancer Centre dispensed more than 10,000 cancer treatments encompassing linear accelerator treatments, brachytherapy, radioactive iodine treatments and chemotherapy.
Ceylinco Cancer Services Ltd. (CHSL), the pioneer of cutting-edge radiation therapy in Sri Lanka, has completed 200 patient treatments at its TomoTherapy Centre in Colombo, which marked its second anniversary in October this year.
The Centre broke new ground in Sri Lanka when it performed the first Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) treatment in the country in its first year of operation, and has now carried out five such treatments, demonstrating its capability to offer highly advanced radiation solutions.
The only one of its kind in Sri Lanka, the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre offers a new dimension in high precision image-guided radiation therapy for the treatment of many forms of cancer.
“Radiation treatment courses vary in duration from patient to patient. The successful completion of the treatment of 200 patients in two years is a notable achievement, because these patients would otherwise have travelled overseas for their TomoTherapy,” said CHSL Chairman Mr R. Renganathan. “Our investments to provide Sri Lankans with world class cancer treatment facilities in their own country have been fully justified.”
The Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Unit, also owned by CHSL, introduced the Linear Accelerator to Sri Lanka in September 2007 and had treated more than 2,950 patients with it by end October 2015. The Linear Accelerator, and TomoTherapy unit which followed, represent the most advanced treatment techniques available in Sri Lanka in the sphere of radiation oncology.
TomoTherapy is an integrated, advanced form of 3-dimentional image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Because a patient’s anatomy can change from day-to-day, image guided radiation therapy helps doctors make immediate adjustments to allow for tumour movement or shrinkage, weight loss and other changes.
The TomoTherapy system allows clinicians to see what they plan to treat immediately prior to beginning each treatment fraction and ensures that the tumour will not be under-dosed, and that radiation exposure to surrounding tissue will be minimised.
The Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre is equipped with the latest TomoHDTM treatment system from Accuracy Inc. (USA), the global pioneer in the field of TomoTherapy.
Both CHSL’s radiation treatment facilities are located in close proximity, at Park Street, Colombo 2; the TomoTherapy Centre at No 70, and the Linear Accelerator unit at No 60.
Besides the two radiation treatment units, Ceylinco Cancer Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Cancer Centre and the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, also at Park Street, Colombo 2, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Ceylinco Cancer Centre Services Ltd, the pioneer of cutting-edge technology in cancer treatment in Sri Lanka’s private Cancer care sector, reached a significant milestone when it completed the treatment of the 100th patient at its TomoTherapy Centre which opened in October 2013.
The Centre has also done the first Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) treatment in Sri Lanka in this period, demonstrating its capability to provide comprehensive radiation solutions.
The Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre is the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka and offers a new dimension in high precision image - guided radiation therapy for the treatment of many forms of cancer.
“We are pleased that our investment to provide Sri Lankans with world class cancer treatment facilities in their own country has been an unqualified success,” said CHSL Chairman Mr. R. Renganathan. “Our Linear Accelerator and TomoTherapy unit represent the most advanced treatment techniques available in this country in the sphere of radiation oncology.”
The Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Unit which introduced the Linear Accelerator to Sri Lanka, has treated more than 2,600 patients over the past seven years.
TomoTherapy is an integrated, advanced form of 3-dimentional image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Because a patient’s anatomy can change from day-to-day, image guided radiation therapy helps doctors make immediate adjustments to allow for tumour movement or shrinkage, weight loss and other changes.
The TomoTherapy system allows clinicians to see what they plan to treat immediately prior to beginning each treatment fraction and ensures that the tumour will not be under-dosed, and that radiation exposure to surrounding tissue will be minimised.
The TomoTherapy Centre is the second radiation oncology unit set up by Ceylinco Cancer Services Ltd. (CHSL) in Sri Lanka. It is equipped with the latest TomoHDTM treatment system from Accuracy Inc. (USA), the global pioneer in the field of TomoTherapy. It operates alongside CHSL’s first radiation treatment unit, opened in September 2007.
Both radiation treatment facilities are located in close proximity, at Park Street, Colombo 2; the TomoTherapy Centre at No 70, and the Linear Accelerator unit at No 60.
Besides the two radiation treatment units, Ceylinco Cancer Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Cancer Centre and the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, also at Park Street, Colombo 2, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Ceylinco Cancer Services Limited (CHSL) has acquired a series of state-of-the-art immobilisation devices and a Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) package to further enhance treatment and patient care at its TomoTherapy Centre in Colombo.
The company said these devices costing Rs 10.2 million, will help to reduce patient setup time and ensure exact daily positioning of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, thereby increasing the degree of precision achieved when directing radiation beams at tumours.
The immobilisation devices supplied by QFix, a world leader in radiotherapy patient positioning and immobilisation, headquartered in USA, include a Head & Neck Device that provides superior immobilisation for a variety of brain and head and neck radiotherapy treatments, a Pelvis System that provides easy and accurate positioning for targeting pelvic organs such as in the treatment of prostate cancer and a Breast-board System – a robust mechanism that provides precise daily positioning and prevents collapse of the breast.
While the Stereotactic Radio Surgery (SRS) immobilisation device will be used to treat small brain tumours such as acoustic neuromas, the abdominal and pelvic immobilisation device will be used for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) to reduce thoracic and abdominal tumour motion during hypofractionated radiation treatment for small or moderate sized tumours of the lung, abdomen and pelvis.
“This investment reflects our commitment to offer the highest possible quality and precision in radiation treatment in Sri Lanka,” CHSL Chairman R. Renganathan said. “With the TomoTherapy Centre we have broken new ground in cancer treatment in our country, and the acquisition of key accessories of this nature will make an important difference to patients.”
He explained that new technologies and processes have allowed for advances in patient positioning. Indexed immobilisation allows clinicians to enhance treatment effectiveness and maximise clinical efficiency. When the same patient positioning system and couch are used in simulation and in the treatment room, it is possible to ensure identical patient setups between simulation and treatment.
In addition to precise patient positioning, indexed immobilisation can significantly reduce the length of treatment sessions by reducing patient movement and by standardising the placement and set-up of immobilisation devices.
The Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre is the second radiation oncology unit set up in Sri Lanka by Ceylinco Cancer Services Ltd. It is equipped with the latest TomoHD™ treatment system from Accuray Inc. (USA), the global pioneer in the field of TomoTherapy and operates alongside CHSL’s first radiation treatment unit, which opened in September 2007 with Sri Lanka’s first Linear Accelerator (Linac).
TomoTherapy is an integrated, advanced form of 3-dimensional image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Because a patient’s anatomy can change from day-to-day, image-guided radiation therapy helps doctors make immediate adjustments to allow for tumour movement or shrinkage, weight loss and other changes.
The Ceylinco Cancer Centre has announced it will offer free consultations with doctors and special cancer screening packages at concessionary rates in October, the month universally dedicated to promote breast cancer awareness.
A free consultation with doctors will be available from the 1st to 15th of October for women over 40 years of age, while a special health screening package with a breast cancer risk assessment as well as breast cancer screening packages for women either side of 40 will be available at the centre throughout the month, the Centre said.
The package for women below 40 years includes a breast scan, breast cancer risk assessment, complete physical examination and a consultation with an in-house medical officer, while the package for women above 40 years will comprise of the same tests plus a mammogram. The discounted rate for the package offered to women below 40 years is Rs.2000. The package for women over 40 years will cost Rs. 5750.
Dr. Charuky Weerasuriya, the Senior Medical Officer at the Ceylinco Cancer Centre said: “Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers among females in our country. Screening for breast cancer at an early stage helps effective treatment and reduces the risk of a life threatening situation.”
Ceylinco Cancer Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for the detection and treatment of cancer. Visitors undergo screening or treatment in a comfortable non-hospital atmosphere.
The Centre also offers moral support to cancer patients through a cancer support group, a team of professionally trained caregivers who assist cancer patients on a one-to-one basis.
The team at the Centre’s Breast Care Unit comprises of doctors, radiologists, a pathologist, breast surgeons, oncologists, nurses, radiographers and customer service staff. Located at Park Street, Colombo 02, the Centre offers services ranging from history-based risk assessment to clinical examination, mammography, ultrasound investigation as well as multi-modal treatment options.
The Ceylinco Cancer Centre is a ground-breaking project of Ceylinco Cancer Services Ltd., (CHSL) a subsidiary of Ceylinco Life, the country’s leading life insurer.
Ceylinco Cancer Services Ltd. (CHSL) has announced the appointment of Vidya Jyothi Emeritus Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo, as its Medical Director.
A pioneer in the specialty of human genetics in Sri Lanka, Prof. Jayasekara, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. (N’Cle.U.K) C.Biol. FRSB (Lond.) Hon. FCSSL, Hon. FCOSL, has had an illustrious administrative, teaching and research career spanning 41 years.
Announcing his appointment, CHSL Chairman Mr R. Renganathan said: “Prof. Jayasekara’s knowledge of medicine and his depth of administrative experience will be invaluable to the development of the three centres of excellence owned by Ceylinco Cancer Services. His expertise in genetics would also be useful to our efforts to identify and help families predisposed to cancer and diabetes to prevent or delay the onset of these diseases through regular screening and healthy lifestyles.”
An Honorary Fellow of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka and an Honorary Fellow of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka, Prof. Jayasekara was the Chair and Senior Professor of Anatomy and the Founder Director of the Colombo University’s Human Genetics Unit which he established in 1983.
He is a Fellow of the Galton Institute, London; a Chartered Biologist; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, London; a Commonwealth Scholar and a Commonwealth Senior Medical Fellow. In addition, he holds a PhD in Cytogenetics, which he obtained in 1981 while on a Commonwealth Research Scholarship.
Prof. Jayasekara acquired his postdoctoral experience as a Commonwealth Senior Medical Fellow at Guys Hospital London and the Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge. He was the recipient of numerous World Health Organisation (WHO) Fellowships and Visiting Scientist grants, with which he received further research experience in Genetics at the Centre for Birth Defects in Alabama, the National University of Singapore, Mahidol University in Bangkok, Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney and at the University of Hong Kong. As a researcher, he has published extensively and is the recipient of the President’s Award for Scientific Publications for the past six years.
His new appointment covers the two Radiation Treatment Centres and the Diabetes Centre operated by Ceylinco Cancer Services Ltd.
CHSL’s first Radiation Treatment Unit introduced the Linear Accelerator to Sri Lanka in September 2007 and has treated more than 3,600 patients to date. The Linear Accelerator, and the TomoTherapy unit which followed, represent the most advanced treatment techniques available in Sri Lanka in the sphere of radiation oncology. The only one of its kind in Sri Lanka, the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre offers a new dimension in high precision image-guided radiation therapy for the treatment of many forms of cancer, and has to date treated 440 patients.
Besides the two radiation treatment units, Ceylinco Cancer Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Offers multiple improvements in quality of radiation therapy
Ceylinco Cancer Services Limited (CHSL) has announced the acquisition of a new Linear Accelerator for its Radiation Treatment Centre in Colombo, the pioneer private sector facility of its kind in Sri Lanka.
The company has signed a Purchase Agreement with Varian Medical Systems, a global leader in Radiation Oncology, for the acquisition of the latest Clinac® iX linear accelerator to replace its existing unit, which when commissioned in 2007, was the first linear accelerator in the country.
The new linear accelerator delivers significant improvements in precision and reduced treatment times, enabling the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre to efficiently deliver wide-ranging radiation therapy treatments including 3D Conformal Radiotherapy, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and MV based Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), and with the future capability of Robotic Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), RapidArc® Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), and stereotactic radiosurgery.
The Clinac iX linear accelerator offers the choice of multiple photon beams and a range of electron beams, and also the future capability of High Intensity Mode facilitating patients to be treated faster with its ability to deliver high dose rates (up to 2,400 MU/min at 10MV High-Intensity mode), maintains better control over patient position with exact and real-time motion tracking capabilities, and keeps the treatment process connected through integration with treatment planning and management software.
Important aspects for patients are the shorter beam times they will be subjected to, better targeting of tumors and by extension, the sparing of healthy tissue, and in some cases, the possibility of a reduced number of treatments.
Commenting on this latest acquisition, CHSL Chairman Mr R. Renganathan said: “Improving patient outcomes in step with advances in technology is a primary responsibility of a Cancer care provider. At CHSL, we closely monitor developments in product and process improvements in order to be able to offer our patients the benefit of the latest equipment and techniques, as part of our commitment to help them receive treatment in their own country.”
“Varian Medical Systems has been a pioneer in the field of oncology for more than 60 years, and we are assured that with the arrival of this new and updated linear accelerator, CHSL will be able to further improve the quality of treatment offered at our radiation treatment centre,” he added.
“With this linear accelerator, Ceylinco has the opportunity to provide the people of Sri Lanka with an advanced treatment facility to and redefine the way cancer care is provided in the country,” said Mr. Ashok Kakkar, Sr. Managing Director of Varian in the India Subcontinent.
The Clinac iX linear accelerator features RapidArc® radiotherapy technology that offers the flexibility to shape the beam while controlling the dose rate and the gantry speed for a highly conformed dose; this means that the beam more accurately targets the shape and size of the tumor, while reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
High Intensity Mode delivers X-ray beams without the use of a flattening filter, resulting in high dose rates that are practical for radiosurgery, respiratory-gated or breath-hold treatments.
With more than 7,400 linear accelerators installed around the world, of which nearly 200 are operating in India, Varian Medical Systems has extensive global and regional experience in radiation oncology. The Varian Clinac linear accelerator houses a range of capabilities that not only streamline the treatment process, but also expand possibilities for clinics.
In Sri Lanka, Varian Medical Systems is represented by Technomedics International (Pvt.) Ltd, a specialist in turnkey hospital projects, medical equipment, and surgical consumables. One of the largest medical companies in the country, Technomedics is a multi-billion rupee enterprise with expert service centers covering the regions of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Batticaloa, and Jaffna.
CHSL’s first Linear Accelerator has treated more than 3,750 patients to date. Besides two radiation treatment units, Ceylinco Cancer Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.