Latest news with #IORT
Sinar Daily
3 days ago
- Health
- Sinar Daily
High time for government hospitals to introduce IORT for early cancer detection
At the moment, IORT is only available in university hospitals and private hospitals. Photo illustrated by Sinar Daily It is time for government hospitals to include intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) in their services, said Tun Dr Hasmah Mohd Ali. She emphasised the need for accessible cancer treatment options, particularly for women who are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. "Government hospitals should have IORT facilities because there are so many women out there who need them,' she said while sharing her experience as breast cancer survivor at Prince Court recently. According to Prince Court Medical Centre Consultant Breast and Endocrine Surgeon Dr Harjit Kaur, IORT is not available in government hospitals. "At the moment, IORT is only available in university hospitals and private hospitals. It's a costly piece of equipment, but it is highly effective for early cancer cases. It's about time the government considers equipping hospitals with this technology," she said. IORT is a form of targeted radiation therapy delivered directly to the tumor site during surgery. It is particularly effective for small tumors less than three cm in size and in cases where lymph nodes are negative. Dr Harjit explained that it is ideal for strongly hormone-positive and HER2-negative cancers in women over the age of 45. One of the major advantages of IORT is its ability to cut down waiting times and reduce the duration of external radiation therapy. 'Women often wait for weeks or months for radiation treatments. With IORT, we can significantly shorten that time,' Dr Harjit said. In cases where patients do not fully meet the criteria for IORT, it can still be used in conjunction with external radiation therapy to reduce the overall treatment duration. 'Instead of five weeks, external radiation can be shortened to two weeks when combined with IORT,' she explained. Moreover, IORT offers nearly equal results to external beam radiation therapy while causing fewer side effects. 'It's a very useful tool, but not everyone is suitable for it. That's why careful evaluation of the tumor type, biology and patient age is critical,' Dr Harjit added. The introduction of IORT in government hospitals could be a game-changer for cancer care in Malaysia. By investing in this technology, the government can ensure that women from all walks of life have access to effective and timely treatment for early-stage cancers. 'The results show that IORT is the way forward. We urge the government to consider this seriously and make these facilities available in government hospitals,' Dr Harjit said. More Like This
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Dr M's wife beats big C
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, 98, wife of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, picked up the violin again after a 70-year hiatus, at the age of 86. Hasmah said she had put it aside for seven decades after marriage, having last played the violin at the age of 16. She said she found fresh inspiration when she was appointed patron of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and was invited to take part in a fundraising concert. 'At first, I said I'd sing – your voice is an instrument too!' she laughed. 'But they told me to do something different. I was 86 then. I said, 'I can't tap dance, I'm too old!' Then they brought up the violin. I said, 'No way. I haven't played in 70 years!' But they insisted. So I found a teacher,' Hasmah recounted during a forum titled 'A Cancer Survivor's Journey'. Although she can no longer read music due to poor vision, she now plays by ear and practises almost every day. 'It doesn't matter what song – Malay, Chinese, Japanese, English – just something to keep my mind happy. 'I picked up the violin again not to be perfect, but to find joy. I just want to be happy.' Her story of resilience and lifelong learning is a poignant reminder that ageing gracefully is not about how long we live, but how fully. Speaking candidly about her private battle with breast cancer, Hasmah shed light on the emotional and cultural barriers that prevent many Malaysian women, especially older ones, from seeking timely medical care. She recalled how persistent pain in her breast during an official trip to the Philippines in 2019 led to a life-saving diagnosis. She said despite being a doctor, it wasn't medical training that prompted her to get tested, it was gut instinct. 'People assume I went for check-ups because I'm a doctor. But that's not true. It was a feeling deep inside, I knew something wasn't right.' She said many women in her age group avoid seeking help out of fear or shame, often delaying critical diagnoses. 'But these feelings shouldn't hold us back. Your life is more important.' She also revealed that she kept her symptoms from her husband until she was certain of the diagnosis. 'I didn't want to trouble him until I knew for sure. It was painful, physically and emotionally. But I'm glad I acted quickly.' Her attending doctor, Prince Court Medical Centre senior consultant and breast and endocrine surgeon Dr Harjit Kaur Perdamen shared a striking coincidence – Hasmah had officiated the hospital's intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) machine just months before becoming a patient herself. 'The irony was striking,' said Harjit. She said Hasmah had demonstrated how the IORT machine worked. 'Later, her tumour matched the ideal criteria – small, hormone-positive and no lymph node involvement. She was a perfect candidate.' Hasmah underwent surgery under a pseudonym to avoid publicity and was discharged the next day. She completed five years of hormone therapy and is now cancer-free. She urged women to take charge of their health and not ignore warning signs. 'Don't wait for pain. Don't let fear or shame silence you. 'Go for your checks. Catch it early. Don't play with your life.'
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Siti Hasmah urges women to overcome fear, embarrassment in breast cancer screenings
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's former first lady and cancer survivor, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, has urged women nationwide not to let fear or embarrassment prevent them from undergoing breast cancer screenings. She said many women, particularly older ones, avoided screenings due to shame and fear of receiving bad news, often waiting until symptoms worsened. "Some women are reluctant because these involve private parts of the body, and if the doctor is male, they won't go. "But you must get examined, even if it's by a male doctor. A professional is a professional," she said during an awareness programme at Prince Court Medical Centre, where Hasmah shared her personal journey to promote early detection. Hasmah was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2019 after experiencing persistent pain during an official visit to the Philippines. Recalling the discomfort that kept her awake at night, she said she knew something was wrong. "I couldn't stand the pain. I kept trying to ease it, but it just wouldn't go away. "I told my personal assistant to arrange an appointment with the hospital while we were still overseas," she said. Upon her return to Malaysia, she discreetly visited Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC) without informing her husband, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "I didn't want to worry him. He was busy, and I didn't even know for sure what it was," she said. Following an ultrasound examination, her doctor recommended a biopsy, which was performed under local anaesthesia. The results, received three days later, confirmed the presence of breast cancer. "I knew it was going to be positive. But those few days waiting for confirmation were filled with anxiety. "It was only after receiving the diagnosis that I broke the news to my husband and children." Hasmah later underwent a successful surgery and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) at PCMC, a treatment she had launched just months earlier, never expecting she would one day undergo it herself. "It was all done within an hour, and I went home the next day. I was so relieved the seven-millimetre tumour was removed and the pain was gone," she said. Now six years cancer-free, she continues her annual check-ups and urges women of all ages to do the same. "Don't wait for pain. Early detection saves lives. Modern mammogram machines are now less painful and more efficient," she said. She called on healthcare authorities to improve access to screenings, particularly for older women, and expressed hope that IORT, currently available only in select private and university hospitals, would one day be widely offered in government facilities.
