HE Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani,along with HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud al-Thani,HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani and Dr. Hanan al-Kuwari, managing director along with other guests at the openig event.

Doha

The region’s first CyberKnife M6 FIM Suite that facilitates state-of-the-art treatment was opened at the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research of the Hamad Medical Corporation ( HMC).

The facility was opened by HE Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani, Minister for Public Health, along with HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud al-Thani, Governor of Qatar Central Bank and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sports and Social Activities Support Fund (Daam), HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, chairman and CEO of Al Faisal Holdings, Dr. Hanan al-Kuwari, managing director, HMC and other officials of HMC and Daam.

CyberKnife is a state-of-the-art, revolutionary treatment technology for cancer - effectively a compact radiotherapy linear accelerator mounted on a computer-controlled robot that can move in three dimensions around the patient. It is able to treat tumours anywhere in the body more accurately than any other treatment machine so that higher doses can be delivered with less effect on surrounding tissue.

Dr. al-Kuwari pointed out: “ This facility adds to our already comprehensive range of radiation treatments for cancer and will mean a speedier recovery with fewer side effects for our patients.Our mission is to continually ensure that cancer patients in Qatar have access to the most advanced radiotherapy treatments, in line with those offered within the best cancer centers in the world.”

Noora al-Hammadi, senior consultant radiation oncologist and chair of Radiation Oncology explained: “CyberKnife allows us to treat tumours that were previously difficult or sometimes dangerous to treat with conventional radiotherapy or surgery, such as tumours close to the spine. By targeting the tumour from many different directions, the correct dose can be delivered without damaging the surrounding organs at risk. This is a major advance in cancer treatment and we are pleased to be able to offer the service to our patients.”

CyberKnife, the region’s first and one of the few worldwide, will work in conjunction with state-of-the-art CT, MRI and PET machines that provide three dimensional imaging technology and are available at the NCCCR, to accurately map the location and extent of the tumours. This imaging is used by radiation oncologists to precisely map the tumour in three dimensions and determine the dose required.

This information is then fed into the CyberKnife computer to programme the robotic arm so that it delivers radiotherapy doses from many directions, always with a laser focus on the tumour site. During the treatment procedure, a separate integrated image guidance system works with the robotic arm so that it moves in synchronisation with the patient's breathing, ensuring sub-millimeter accuracy of treatment delivery.

“Because the machine is continually recording images throughout the treatment and moves with the patient's breathing, any movement changes will be recorded and the system can correct itself,” noted Dr. al-Hammadi. “This means tumours can be targeted with greater accuracy than was previously possible.”

The CyberKnife M6 FIM system at the NCCCR is equipped with the M6 Incise Multileaf Collimator - tiny computer controlled leaves that allow for precise radiation beam shaping, further increasing the ability to target the dose distribution closely to the tumour and spare normal tissue.

HE Sheikh Abdulla said: “Daam is passionate about furthering the National Vision 2030 by enhancing the quality of life for everyone, including those living with cancer in Qatar.”