Meeting The Psychological Needs Of Cancer Patients.
Thursday, 01 Sep 2005

Singapore, 1st Sep 2005 - Beyond drugs, radiotherapy and blood tests, cancer patients can attend a retreat specially catered to enhance their ability to cope with the disease, gain insight into treatment options as well as meet and support fellow cancer patients.

Developing Resilience
The EnReach Retreat on Sep 2nd -4th 05 is a three day- two nights residential seminar jointly organized by the National Cancer Centre (NCCS) and the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS). This is the 1st time this year that it is conducted in Chinese. As the only specialist cancer center offering this programme, NCCS aims to help patients and their carers cope with the different aspects of the cancer continuum by increasing knowledge, positive attitudes and skills.

Explaining his rationale for organizing the event, Mr Gilbert Fan, Manager of Psychosocial Oncology says:

'Having the diagnosis of cancer often forces patients to confront outcomes of cancer, face issues concerning meaning of life, cope with anxieties and fear of disease progression and possibly a total sense of loss of control of life. This retreat will address these issues in a supportive environment.'

At the retreat, patients learn about the choices they can still exercise, in spite of cancer. Through this they develop resilience are in greater control of their disease, and better equipped to live life fully. To many previous participants, the retreat has proven to be a live changing event.

Retreat Programme
Limited to 32 patients and caregivers, the size is kept deliberately small to ensure individualized cosy retreat will be facilitated by doctors, legal counsellors, nutritionist as well as trained medical social workers and therapists. This year the patients will enjoy rides in sports cars - courtesy of Lotus and Miata sports car owners. There will also be performances from volunteers of xinyao and circus outreach groups. The programme is attached. While the patient and his or her spouse attend the talks and group sharing, the children are not forgotten. Special fun programmes and experienced staffs are on hand to take care of the children and ensure that they too have a good time.

Background
Increasingly, there is a shift in the concerns of cancer patients and their caregivers. NCCS runs a cancer Helpline which receives over 6000 calls yearly. A growing number of cancer Helpline calls are from caregivers and patients who want to learn how to deal with cancer emotionally and psychologically.

According to Ms Flora Yong, Senior Nurse Manager, NCCS,'When Cancer Helpline first started in 1999, callers were primarily concerned about the physical aspects of cancer care- namely the diet and cancer treatment. Currently there is a shift in the concerns with many patients and care givers calling about psychological care - how to deal with the inner fears, uncertainties of cancer and communicating with their loved ones about the disease.'

Coverage opportunities


For more details, photos and media interviews on the above, please click [here].