Introduces 'Tumour Board’ at the Al Qusais hospital for multidisciplinary treatment planning

Dubai, October 11, 2021: Aster Hospitals UAE, a world-class facility under Aster DM Healthcare, a leading healthcare provider in the Middle East and India, today opened a state-of-the-art Department of Oncology at Aster Hospital Al Qusais, Dubai. Bringing Aster’s world-class cancer healing experience for the UAE patients, the centre adds greater value to Aster Hospitals’ existing resources as a leading tertiary care facility to meet the needs of patients. 

The oncology centre offers highly specialized, advanced cancer care therapies to patients with focus on multidisciplinary treatment planning. As part of this, the centre introduces a 'Tumour Board (TB)’, which is an integral component of the advanced treatment planning approach in cancer care. 

Ms. Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director - Aster DM Healthcare; and leading Indian film actress and inspiring cancer survivor Ms. Mamta Mohandas, jointly inaugurated the comprehensive cancer care centre in the presence of Dr. Sherbaz Bichu, CEO – Aster Hospitals & Clinics UAE. 

The Department of Oncology will be led by Dr. Pranay Taori, Specialist Medical Oncologist, and Dr. Sivaprakash Rathanaswamy, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, along with members of the ‘Tumour Board’ from around the world. 

“With the launch of the Department of Oncology, Aster Hospitals UAE is strengthening its capability to provide specialized care to the people of the UAE, alongside existing specialties. Recent studies have shown that UAE cancer rates are five times higher in younger adults than in the US and the UK and the incidence of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and leukemia remains shockingly high. In many of these cases, early detection and surgical intervention can prove to be highly effective in stalling disease progression. We sincerely believe that the multi-disciplinary approach being introduced by Aster Hospitals would prove to be highly beneficial for patients in the UAE.”  

“Mamta’s battle against cancer is an inspiration to the world, and particularly cancer patients who can learn from her courage and willpower to perhaps navigate a dangerous, uphill phase in her life and come out victorious,” Alisha Moopen added.

“I am confident that Aster Hospital’s Comprehensive Oncology Centre has the right combination of medical interventions with compassionate and personalized approach, which is what makes a difference in treating cancer patients. Frontier treatment procedures do make a huge difference in treating cancer, but each patient fights his or her own battle, and it is important to bring a human touch to any treatment that brings a world of difference,” said Mamta Mohandas.

“We aim to provide tertiary and quaternary healthcare solutions to communities leveraging on our clinical expertise both in GCC and India. The newly instituted comprehensive oncology care unit is a value addition to our existing 150-bedded Aster Hospital Al Qusais. We commit to provide quality treatment to patients battling with cancer ensuring the best clinical outcomes. The center will provide services at par with established reputation of Aster DM Healthcare’s promise “We’ll treat you well”. Accentuating the digital platforms, use of technology and innovation we are on the right track of advancing the healthcare services towards excellence,” said Dr Sherbaz Bichu. 

“The Tumour Board facilitates multidisciplinary treatment approach since it works as a sharing platform for a number of doctors from various medical faculties to review and discuss the medical condition and treatment options for a patient,” added Dr. Bichu. 

The TB is a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting in which different specialists work together closely sharing clinical decisions in cancer care. The composition is variable, depending on the type of tumour discussed. As an organizational tool, MDTs optimize patient outcomes and improves care performance. The team of doctors will review patient history to discuss the best treatment modality for the patient. 

Early detection of cancers is highly important for ensuring the best result in treatment. The need is to bring the technological advances and generate awareness about the better and cost-effective treatment options available. 

The oncology centre at Aster Hospital will provide treatment to a variety of adult and pediatric cancers such as breast, lung, liver, colon, colorectal, stomach, prostate, brain, leukemia, cervix, kidney, pancreas, esophagus, ovarian sarcomas and other common and rare cancers, among the UAE nationals, residents and medical tourists. Many of these cancers require surgical intervention, which needs to be done at an early stage to save patients’ life from progression of the disease.  

The centre offers all kinds of treatments, ranging from hormonal to immunotherapy, targeted therapy, as well as chemotherapy provided by the best-in-class available clinical expertise and medical technologies along with personalized care catering to the growing needs of patients.