THE Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is currently building a comprehensive new cancer centre which will offer modern care to all cancer patients in the country.
The new building will house both The Brunei Cancer Centre (TBCC) and Brunei Neuroscience, Stroke and Rehabilitation Centre.
In a press release, the TBCC said that it intends to become a Cancer Centre of Excellence in Brunei Darussalam and in the region by providing comprehensive cancer treatment, reducing the morbidity and mortality due to cancer, developing an effective cancer palliative care service and continue to collaborate with other agencies in the country in order to promote early detection of cancer and to prevent cancer through public education.
“The construction of the new TBCC building is currently underway. The new TBCC building aims to provide a comprehensive oncology service.
“Radiotherapy will be available first time in Brunei Darussalam with its new state-of-the-art linear accelerators, brachytherapy equipment, 3D planning system and CT-simulator.
The new Brunei Cancer Centre building under construction
“A cyclotron, PET-CT scan and SPECT scan will provide first ever nuclear medicine facility in this country. The building will also house six radio-iodine isolation rooms for radio-iodine treatment for thyroid diseases. There will also be three new operating theatres for cancer operations. Diagnostic imaging facilities like MRI, CT scan and Digital X-ray machines will also be available in the building. The building will also have increased facilities for outpatient consultations, inpatient patient care and day care chemotherapy.
“The new building and its provision of new treatment services and expansion of existing services aim to improve further the standard of cancer care in Brunei Darussalam. TBCC proposes to build upon its existing cancer facilities to provide the people of Brunei Darussalam with the best standard of cancer treatment locally and to become a Cancer Centre of Excellence in the region.
The TBBC said that cancer is the leading cause of deaths in Brunei Darussalam. Nearly 600 new cases of cancers are diagnosed each year in this country, with nearly 200 cancer deaths per annum.
In 2009, cancers accounted for 18.94 per cent of all deaths in the country. The incidence and prevalence of the different types of cancers vary in different parts of the world.
In Brunei Darussalam, breast cancer in females and cancer of the colon and rectum are the commonest; the incidences of which are increasing over last few years.
The TBCC situated in Jerudong Park provides diagnostic and therapeutic services including chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients in Brunei Darussalam.
The TBCC is a government entity whose overall operation is overseen by a board of directors. The running of the centre is led by an executive director and the daily function of the centre is managed by a medical director. This stand-alone Centre of Excellence is regulated by the Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam. The doctors and nurses working in the centre are registered with the Brunei Medical Board and the Brunei Nursing Board respectively.
Newly diagnosed cancer patients seen in one of the government hospitals are referred to TBCC for subsequent management. These patients are discussed in multidisciplinary team meetings which composed of different cancer specialists with specialised skills and expertise such as surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. The team members discuss the cases and make consensus treatment recommendations to provide the best care for the patients.
TBCC has been providing consultations and chemotherapy treatment for patient diagnosed with cancer. The centre provides both outpatient and inpatient services. There were 8,282 outpatient clinic attendances in TBCC in 2015, increased from 7,967 attendances in 2014 and 7,825 attendances in 2013.
Medical oncology in TBCC is a consultant-led service; a cancer patient referred to TBCC is initially seen by a consultant medical oncologist where the treatment plan, having been formulated in the multidisciplinary team meeting, is discussed with the patient and the patient’s family. If required, further tests such as blood tests and imaging tests are performed on the patient before treatment begins. Specialised nurses play an important role in TBCC. These nurses with special training and experience in certain cancer types are involved in the cancer patient care. They will provide ongoing explanation and counselling to the patients and their family.
Chemotherapy treatment is already available in TBCC. International chemotherapy protocols are used to treat the patients according to cancer-types. Trained nurses are available to administer the chemotherapy in the Day Care Unit.
In 2015, there were 5,052 patient attendances in the Day Care Unit undergoing chemotherapy; increased from 4,864 attendances in 2014 and 4,743 attendances in 2013.
TBCC also plays an important role in raising public’s awareness in the prevention and in early detection of cancer. The centre collaborates regularly with the Health Promotion Centre, Ministry of Health in conducting public awareness talks in government departments, schools and non-government organisations.
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