Celebrating a decade of local cancer treatment
LOCAL cancer treatment hospital, Richards Bay Medical Institute (RBMI), is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month.
Zululand’s very first oncology centre was opened in 2013, boasting state-of-the-art radiation therapy equipment, which made it the most advanced unit in Africa at the time.
The centre houses a Varian TrueBeam linear reactor, thanks to the generous sponsorship by renowned local businessman Johan Schoonhoven, who underwent cancer treatment at the centre.
Schoonhoven indeed left a huge legacy and thousands of cancer patients have been able to undergo advanced treatment right here in Zululand.
Over the decade since its inception, RBMI has treated approximately 7 500 patients – not only from northern KZN, but from other provinces and even overseas.
In 2017, the centre became a subsidiary of Joint Medical Holdings (JMH).
Since then, it has grown to an allinclusive facility that boasts 40 subacute beds, two operating theatres and 25 day surgical beds.
RBMI also offers gynaecology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, a pain clinic, general surgery and urology.
The hospital has a fullyfledged radiology department showcasing four modalities, and its mammography is done with the utmost empathy and sensitivity to
patients’ needs.
The Varian TrueBeam linear reactor remains the best of the best in terms of radiation treatment on international fronts.
“RBMI has grown from strength to strength and we still aim to render only the best service to the community of Zululand,” said hospital manager Eugene Anthony.
Built on a firm foundation
The concrete that forms the foundation and walls of RBMI contains one very special element the Bible of cancer warrior Marlene Shacks.
Shacks had lost her battle 11 years prior to the building of
RBMI, but her daughter Jenney Freese donated her Bible to be encased in the concrete of the
building as a symbol of hope, faith and courage.
“Many people receiving treatment will have solace in the fact that located above their heads is a Bible, marked at Psalm 23: ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ – words of comfort and strength,” said developer Freddy Schoonhoven, whose father Johan played a pivotal role in the establishment of RBMI.
Radiotherapy options
The JMH-RBMI facility houses one of the leading radiotherapy centres in the province, consisting of the class leading Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy machine, specialising in external beam radiotherapy.
This is a method of delivering highly focused beams of highenergy
radiation through the skin to target cancer tumours. The treatment is painless and patients can continue their daily activities as normal.
The radiotherapy facility further utilises an advanced technique of external beam radiotherapy called Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT), which involves pinpoint accuracy (2mm) in delivering prescribed doses of radiation to tumours while reducing the radiation dose to the surrounding healthy tissue; lowering any potential side-effects to healthy organs.
This improves tumour control and reduces any potential side-effects when compared with traditional radiotherapy techniques.
The facility treats various
cancers using different types of radiation: electron radiation for skin surface tumours and X-ray photons for deep-seated tumours within the body, such as the brain, pelvis, abdomen, etc.
The centre is equipped with advanced radiotherapy equipment operated by highly trained radiotherapists, delivering the utmost care and precision to battle the cancer burden within the region and those who travel from afar seeking the best form of treatment.
The facility regularly sees patients travelling from distant towns within KZN, such as Durban, Port Shepstone and Pietermaritzburg, as well as Gauteng, the Western and Eastern Capes.