Innovative cancer treatments, the most modern technology and the possibility of traceability with patients and family members to prevent the disease, will be provided by the Ciudad de la Salud Cancerology Hospital.
More than 70% of cancer patients in the country will be able to be treated at the Cancerology Hospital, which will combine prevention, early diagnosis and appropriate treatments.
Dr. Oduardo Ortega Barría, medical director of the Cancerology Hospital, explained that in Panama more than five thousand new cases of cancer are registered each year.
In this hospital, brachytherapy treatments will be offered, which is the latest and most modern technology worldwide, to treat the tumor without damaging the tissues that surround it, Dr. Ortega stressed.
“Brachytherapy consists of placing a radioactive element inside or very close to the tumor. This is done on an outpatient basis and allows, with external radiotherapy, a high percentage of cure in patients,” he explained.
In addition, genetic studies will allow traceability of cancer patients and their relatives to know what is happening in each province. “This will allow us to do prevention and properly treat patients,” he explained.
Initially, it will open with 132 beds, but will have capacity for more than 200 for hospitalization and outpatient management of patients.
It will also have oncological surgery, medical oncology and radiation oncology services.
Dr. Ortega explained that in radio-oncology four state-of-the-art linear accelerators and a tomograph will be installed for the simulation and planning of treatments.
“There are 4 bunkers with linear accelerators (a device that generates X-rays to treat cancer using radiation). In each one, more than 100 patients can be treated per day, which in total would be more than 400 per day,” he indicated.
All of these areas have radiological protection and health, which requires measures in each of the bunkers so that radiation does not go outside.
Dr. Ortega expressed that it is important to work together with the National Cancer Institute, but the Social Security Fund may refer patients to Ciudad de la Salud from any of its executing units.
