National Cancer Centre Singapore To Change Its Patient Support Programmes To Meet Changing Needs
Monday, 04 February 2008

Singapore, 04 February 2008 - The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) will be embarking on a number of new initiatives aim at meeting the changing needs of its patients.

These programmes often involve family caregivers so that they can give better support to the patients to help them in their recovery process from cancer. NCCS offers a holistic approach to cancer treatment and providing support services is one of the key arms in its services to these patients.

Making an announcement today to coincide with World Cancer Day, Professor Soo Khee Chee, Director of NCCS said that “We are consciously monitoring not only developments in the field of medical science and research but also the psychosocial trends to make sure that we always remain relevant to our patient needs.”

“We have started training family caregivers to equip them with the philosophy of care eg lung supportive care programme and how to address patients’ concerns.”

NCCS is also building up its pool of patient ambassadors who are cancer survivors keen to share their experience with cancer patients. “We are giving them more structured training depending on their years of experience in interfacing with cancer patients and the results have been very encouraging” added Prof Soo.

The programme is structured into three categories. The first of which is the patient ambassadors. Those with more experience will move up to be patient mentors and highest level will be programme leaders. NCCS intends to give recognition to these volunteers by giving them awards. Each training session may last between three to five hours per session. Each course may run into two to four sessions.

Since the inception of NCCS in 1999, there has been a shift in patient needs for practical assistance services such as employment and education issues, housing and shelter when in crisis to greater demand for patient education and support group programmes.

Mr Gilbert Fan, Manager at the Department of Psychosocial Oncology, NCCS with a staff strength of seven, sees an average of 1,800 new patients in a year.

However, Mr Fan noted that the psychosocial needs of patients had gradually evolved over the years. “In the past, we see about 85% of patients coming to us for practical assistance. Now, that figure has dropped to about 65%. The remaining patients will see us for counselling sessions and participate in our support group programmes.”

“There has also been a change in the type of education and support programmes for patients. Between 2001 and 2004, programmes were much simpler as they were more knowledge based and therapeutic in nature. Now, as patients are more Internet savvy, they will read about the various programmes available overseas and request for similar programmes to be conducted in NCCS,” added Mr Fan who is also Deputy Chair of Public Education.

In 2007, NCCS introduced the use of music therapy sessions for emotional and mental relaxation. Led by a certified music therapist, patients with recurring cancer learnt how to manage anxiety through music therapy interventions, how to cope with cancer-related stress, visualisation exercises, improve communication and developed a musical collage.

Primary focus of programmes this year will still centre around the arts to help the sick in their healing process. More patients at NCCS will have an opportunity to take part in the performing and visual arts activities such as drama, painting and clay art as the centre believes that these new programmes will help meet the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors and help them to achieve a quality of life.

For more information on our support group programmes, please contact our Senior Patient Education Executive at 6436 8117 or email mss@nccs.com.sg.

About National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)
The National Cancer Centre Singapore is a premier cancer research and treatment facility in Singapore and in the region. It was established in 1997 and sees about 68 per cent of the public sector medical oncology cases and 74 per cent of radiation oncology cases. NCCS not only houses the most number of oncologists in Singapore but is also equipped with the largest number of equipment to provide the latest radiation oncology care in Singapore.

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