Nuclear medicine unit set to rise at Riverside hospital

“A long cherished dream. Now transforming into reality.”

This was according to Riverside Medical Center, Inc. (RMCI) president and CEO Mr. Genesis D. Golingan during his opening remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Nuclear Medicine Unit at the Riverside Bacolod Cancer Care Center, RMCI, Negros Occidental, Thursday morning, August 14.

“Cancer remains one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. Through this facility, we are taking a significant step forward towards early detection, accurate diagnosis, and precise patient-centered treatments,” Mr. Golingan further said. “We will break barriers of distance, of cost, and of fear. This nuclear medicine unit will not stand as just a facility but as a hope of healing and equity where science, compassion, and faith meet.”

Nuclear medicine is crucial for diagnosing and treating various diseases by leveraging radioactive tracers to assess organ function and deliver targeted therapies. Its importance stems from its ability to provide unique, often early, insights into disease processes, complementing other imaging modalities and offering potential for minimally invasive treatments.

For Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, she extended her congratulations to RMCI on the construction of the new and first nuclear medicine unit in the Negros Island Region (NIR) at its cancer care center. “This is not just a typical groundbreaking ceremony; it’s a strong statement of RMCI’s continued commitment to innovation, excellence, and most importantly, to the health and well-being of every person you serve,” Dr. Maestral added through DOH-NIR assistant regional director Mr. Adrian Ramos.

“The nuclear medicine unit marks a huge lift in RMCI’s capability to diagnose & treat cancer and other complex illnesses. By integrating advanced molecular imaging and therapies into your already excellent services, you’re offering patients early detection, more accurate treatment, and better outcomes, all without needing to leave the province,” she stressed.

Services of nuclear medicine are increasingly aligning with DOH’s goals of improving healthcare outcomes, particularly in areas like cancer care and disease management. This alignment is achieved through various initiatives, including the development of specialized centers, the integration of nuclear medicine into comprehensive cancer care programs, and the promotion of research and development in radiopharmaceuticals.

“In nuclear medicine, patients who are given radioactive iodine has a high tendency for curative and has a high tendency to be in remission for up to 5 and plus years considering proper treatment was done,” nuclear medical consultant Dr. Kenji Ip said during the press conference Thursday afternoon.

“What our doctors are always saying is that cancer is not a death sentence there is hope but we need to know that early on. So what we are doing right now in collaboration with the hospital is go on caravans from city to city down to the barangay level and explain to the people what we have to offer,” Golingo disclosed. “There is a high probability of cure if cancer is detected in its early stages.* (James G. Toga)