Retrospective Analysis of Cancer Care Performance and Survival Outcome for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma at a leading Cancer Treatment Centre in Malaysia 2008-2012

OBJECTIVE: This report focuses on a private medical centre cancer care performance as measured by patient survival outcome for up to 5 years. METHODS: All patients with nasopharyngeal cancer treated at SJMC between 2008 and 2012 were enrolled for this observational cohort study. Mortality outcome was ascertained through record linkage with national death register, linkage with hospital registration system and finally through direct contact by phone. RESULT: 266 patients treated between 2008 and 2012 were included for survival analysis. 31% of patients were diagnosed with Early NPC Cancer (Stage I or II), another 44% with Locally Advanced Cancer (Stage III) and 25% with late stage IV metastatic cancer. 2%, 27% and 67% had WHO Class I, II and III NPC respectively. The overall survival at 5 years was 100% for patients with Stage I disease, 91% for Stage II disease, 72% for Stage III disease, and decreasing to 44% for Stage IV disease. Overall survival at 5 years for all stages was 73%. CONCLUSION: SJMC is among the first hospitals in Malaysia to embark on routine measurement of the performance of its cancer care services and its results are comparable to any leading centers in developed countries.