The King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) is the only specialized cancer center in the Middle East that treats both adult and pediatric patients. Founded in 1997, KHCC is a non-governmental, non-profit comprehensive center dedicated entirely to cancer care.
It's highly qualified oncologists and healthcare professionals, 102 oncologists and 440 oncology nurses work tirelessly to ensure that patients receive the latest in comprehensive cancer care. In addition, KHCC’s commitment to continuous education for its entire medical team and healthcare personnel as well as a strong fellowship program makes KHCC a world-class institution.
KHCC has achieved several international and national recognitions and attained the following accreditations.
- Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCI) – First Institution in Jordan – (February 2006).
- JCI Disease Specific Certification (DSC) – First Cancer Center outside of the US – (November 2007).
- Hazardous Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems and Guidelines for its Application- (April 2008).
- College of American Pathologists Accreditation (CAP) – (July 2009).
- Heath Care Accreditation Council of Jordan (August 2009).
These certifications and accreditations affirm that KHCC has met the international healthcare quality standards for patient care and organization management.
KHCC treats over 3500 new cancer patients each year from Jordan and its surrounding region. It is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and services including 8 operating rooms and 170 beds, 12 adult intensive care unit beds and 6 ICU beds specialized for pediatric care.
KHCC Comprehensive Cancer Care
In line with the stated mission of the Center the following set of goals and objectives have been defined:
Excellence in Clinical Care
At the King Hussein Cancer Center, the primary goal is to insure excellence in clinical care by treating the patient as a “whole”, focusing on the physical, emotional, social and environmental needs of each individual patient. KHCC’s approach is based on team methodology.
Clinical Faculty
KHCC has recruited back to Jordan highly qualified oncology health professionals from the United States, Europe and the Arab World to add to the current talent at the Center. The wealth of knowledge and expertise now housed within KHCC enable the center to provide highly specialized unique programs in cancer care such as Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation.
Multimodality Clinics
For the first time in the Middle East, KHCC has pioneered the concept of Multi-Modality Clinics (MMCs). MMCs are highly specialized clinics in specific types of cancer. Each Multi-Modality Clinic is comprised of a team of health care specialists that include a minimum of a medical oncologist, a surgical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist who together set the patient’s treatment plan, and supervise their care.
To date, the Center has established the following Multi- Modality Clinics
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Clinic
- Breast Cancer Clinic
- Lung Cancer Clinic
- Thyroid Cancer Clinic
- Sarcoma Clinic
- Head and Neck Cancer Clinic
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies
- Gynecological Malignancies
- Ocular- Oncology
- Lymphoma Clinic
- General Nervous System
- Genitourinary Malignancies
- Orthopedic Oncology
Excellence in Clinical Research
Cancer research is an instrumental tool to the advancement of clinical cancer care and is integral to the mission of the King Hussein Cancer Center. KHCC is now equipped to lead the region into clinical research while ensuring improvements and patient’s outcomes. By integrating clinical care, clinical research, and forming partnerships with leading academic institutions, scientist and pharmaceutical industries worldwide, KHCC will be able to treat cancer patients more effectively and efficiently.
Excellence in Cancer Education and Training
In addition to providing the highest quality patient care, King Hussein Cancer Center is a leader in Jordan and the Middle East in providing training, education, research and other services to physicians, nurses, other healthcare practitioners and administrative personnel. Our professional services range from curriculum development to conferences, interactive videoconferences, online training, and a variety of certifications.
KHCC has begun professional education and training programs which are the first of their kind in the country, including training in clinical pharmacy, oncologic nursing, and medical and surgical oncology fellowships for physicians. These programs prepare future generations of specialized healthcare providers and equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to deal with the complex issues involved in oncologic patient care in the twenty-first century.
The remarkable performances of KHCC training programs prepare our resident physicians to achieve the highest scores among 21,129 North American resident physicians on the competency exam of the American College of Physicians. This proves KHCC’s exceptional residency program is one of the best among 400 North American residency programs.
KHCC Specialized Services
At KHCC, we strive to provide our patients with the highest levels of care using the most up-to-date technologies. Following are unique services depend on special training of the staff and availability of equipment. Others highlight the special position of KHCC as a leader in cancer research. Everything at KHCC is directed to improving our patients’ care delivered in the highest ethical standards.
Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplantation
KHCC’s BMT program is one of the largest and most successful programs in the Middle East, achieving success rates compatible with international standards. Transplants are performed in 12 dedicated, specially equipped rooms. It oversees both matched allogeneic and autologous transplants.
The BMT program performs transplants utilizing cord blood, making it the only program in Jordan and the second in the region that offers such a highly specialized procedure. Other non-cancer cases are also treated through the KHCC BMT program including thalassemia, aplastic anemia and other metabolic diseases.
There were 432 transplants performed between 2003 and 2009 with 70% 5-year survival rate. Although transplantation in pediatrics was more successful than in adults, the survival rates for both were comparable to the ones in literature, placing KHCC as one of the leading institutions in transplantation in the region.
Please include info above in a simple graph – Thank you Dinier!!
Conformal Radiation Therapy
KHCC provides state-of-the-art conformal/precision radiation therapy, also known as 3-D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT). This treatment may be used for tumors throughout the body. The therapy uses multiple carefully positioned beams of radiation that allow the high dose region of the radiation plan to closely “conform” to the shape of the tumor, thereby minimizing the radiation to adjacent normal structures. 3DCRT is used extensively for patients needing treatment for cancers of the prostate, lung, head and neck, brain, GI tract and others.
3DCRT is made possible by the use of modern tumor imaging and advanced software tools. A detailed CT scan, with the patient in the treatment position, is obtained for the treatment planning process. On each CT image, the tumor and normal tissues are carefully outlined by the radiation oncologist.
These outlines are then reconstructed and displayed as a 3 dimensional image on the computer monitor. This 3-D visualization allows the radiation oncologist to choose various radiation beam arrangements, and to carefully shape each beam to maximally cover the tumor with radiation, and minimize the radiation.
Limb Salvage Surgery
When bone or soft tissue cancer (sarcoma) affects a limb, the traditional treatment is to amputate that limb. At KHCC, we do everything possible to save the limb and restore its function without the need for amputation. To do this, we enlist the skills of an orthopedic surgeon trained in musculoskeletal oncology and the proper management of the patient using other modalities including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Most important are the use of reliable prostheses and the implementation of aggressive rehabilitation therapy after surgery. At KHCC, all cases of bone tumors are discussed in a multidisciplinary clinic where the input of all disciplines is taken in consideration as part of the decision making process.
MIS: Minimal Invasive and Laparoscopic Surgery
MIS is a new approach in the field of surgery. Through small incisions, the surgeon is able to perform major surgeries (including: radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, radical prostatectomy, radical adrenalectomy, RPLND, and radical cystectomy). Many patients may benefit from this technology irrespective of their age or body habits.
This technology is particularly useful in dealing with genitourinary tumors where rigid and flexible nephroureteroscopies (instruments that visualize the ureters and bladder) enable us to reach and treat upper tract and ureteric tumors in a less invasive and organ sparing way.
The day case endoscopy unit, for flexible cystoscopic procedures, offers minor procedures like check cystoscopy, biopsies, fulguration of small tumors and the removal of DJ stents on a day basis without the need for anesthesia of hospital stays. Many of these services have only recently been introduced at KHCC.
Any patient who has early and localized tumors is a candidate for such treatment, irrespective of his age or body habitus. This comprehensive service is the only one of its kind locally and among very few in the region. It is a comprehensive MIS service with state-of-the-art facilities and adequate expertise to make it feasible and reproducible.
PET/CT Scan
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a noninvasive imaging technique that creates three-dimensional images of the heart, brain, and entire body. PET scans are mostly used in the diagnosis of cancer, especially lung cancer, colon cancer, head and neck cancers and lymphoma. PET scans can show cancers before anatomical changes are visible and can distinguish scar tissue from active tumors.
Primarily used as a diagnostic tool, PET scans allow physicians to measure a variety of body functions and chemistry in a safe way. If surgery is indicated, PET scanning can show physicians where to operate. Unlike X-ray, CT or MRI scans that show the shape, size or position of organs or tissues, PET shows their chemical activity and can be used along with these other diagnostic tools to give physicians more detailed information about their patients.
RET Camera
This highly sophisticated camera enables ophthalmologists to take pictures of tumors inside the eye. The machine has a special lens with a light source, connected through fiber optic cords to a sensor and a computer. Images taken are used to document the progress and effects of therapy.
Patient images are retained and may be used for future comparisons. The images are frequently sent via the internet to specialists all over the world for consultation. This machine is available in Jordan only at KHCC.
Telemedicine/Telesynergy
This technology is used at KHCC to deliver the highest level of care. Telesynergy is available in few centers in the world and is used to conduct real-time consultations between medical specialists in two or more different countries. Practically speaking, telemedicine offers physicians in need of expert assistance an opportunity to consult other physicians with more skills, experience and/or resources.
Doctors may submit inquiries, along with patient X-rays, other imaging studies, actual pictures and/or microscopic images via an internet connection or special phone lines. The partnering physician(s) usually provides advice to the consulting physician that may potentially pose significant changes to the treatment plan, hopefully resulting in better outcomes for patients.
International Agreements & Scientific Collaborations
The King Hussein Cancer Center has developed cooperative relationships with several world-renowned cancer centers. This enables the Center to benefit from the latest in treatment protocols, and exchange expertise and staff with these prominent institutions. Such partnerships include:
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) ~ Texas, USA
- National Cancer Institute ~ Cairo, Egypt
- St-Jude’s Children’s Hospital ~ Tennessee, USA
- MOFFIT Cancer Center ~ Florida, USA
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) ~ Georgetown University USA
- Hospital for Sick Children ~ Toronto, Canada
- Augusta Victoria Hospital ~ Jerusalem, Palestine
In addition, KHCC has made a huge effort to ensure that all staff members have access to the latest educational resources by organizing and supporting attendance at lectures, conferences, and workshops both locally and abroad. The new KHCC medical library and many cutting-edge electronic resources are tremendous assets to the promotion of health education.
KHCC stands out as an icon for cancer treatments in the Middle East and throughout the world.
Dr. Mahmoud Sarhan is the Chief Executive Officer and General Director of the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) since March 2006. The Board of Trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation entrusted Dr. Sarhan to lead the King Hussein Cancer Center in its daily operations in addition to ensuring the provision of the state of the art and quality medical services to patients attending at the KHCC. He earned his M.D. from the University of Jordan in 1980 and went on to attain three different American Boards in Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation, as well as being trained in infectious diseases. Dr. Sarhan is also a Professor in Pediatric Hematology & Oncology and in Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT). He is a renowned expert and researcher in the field of stem cell and bone marrow transplantation and has been the leader of successful BMT units in several hospitals in both the Arab world and the United States.
You may visit http://www.khcc.jo/ for additional information about King Hussein Cancer Center.
