NCCS Radiation Therapist combines love for tech with compassionate care

NCCS Senior Radiation Therapist Alice Kor is passionate about making her patients’ treatment experience as comfortable as possible.

Wondered what it's like to be a radiation therapist for cancer? Meet Alice Kor, Senior Radiation Therapist at the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS). She takes us behind the scenes of her typical day and shares more about an initiative to reduce young patients’ anxiety.

Mornings at the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre

Alice performing quality assurance checks on the proton therapy machines to ensure treatment is precise and safe.

At 7.30am, Alice and her colleagues are already busy at the Centre, performing quality assurance checks on the proton therapy machines to ensure that the radiation therapy is delivered accurately and safely. 

"Before we treat any patient, we ensure everything is working perfectly. Patients trust us with their health, so safety and precision are crucial,” explained Alice.

By 8am, the first patient is ready for treatment. Alice and her colleagues facilitate treatment for 8 to 15 patients per proton machine every day, with each session taking 30 to 60 minutes depending on the treatment site. There are currently four proton machines in use to treat patients at the GCLPTC, run by a large multi-disciplinary team.

"Everyone on the team has a role. Good communication is essential because patient care plans and treatment delivery depend on close collaboration between the radiation oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, nurses, speech therapists and dietitians," shared Alice.

A desire to combine tech and care

After her A-levels, Alice decided that she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare so that she could make a difference in patients’ lives and work alongside professionals with varied expertise.

"I had always enjoyed being able to support people through difficult times when I did volunteer and mission work in the past,” said Alice.

She found out about the Radiation Therapy Diploma course at Nanyang Polytechnic and was excited that it offered a mix of technology and patient care.

After completing her diploma, Alice started working at NCCS in 2016. A year later she was awarded the SingHealth In-Service-Scholarship to pursue a degree in Radiation Therapy jointly awarded by the Singapore Institute of Technology and Trinity College Dublin

"Being a radiation therapist in a cancer centre is unique because it combines the use of advanced technology and the opportunity to care for patients with empathy during one of the most challenging periods of their lives,” said Alice.

Alice and her colleagues, who work in the basement of NCCS, get their daily dose of vitamin D while enjoying lunch at a hawker centre close to work.

For safety to contain any radiation, the GCLPTC is located in the basement of the NCCS building.

"Our team likes to joke that we live without sunlight most of the day. That's why at lunchtime, we make it a point to go outdoors and get our daily vitamin D fix!" she laughed.

Now in her ninth year of working at NCCS, Alice shares that the physicality of her work surprises many. Radiation therapists need to position patient in their customised immobilisation devices, move and adjust heavy treatment tables for different treatment sites and navigate maze-like corridors designed to shield radiation. 

"I definitely get to log my daily steps!"

Supporting patients on their treatment journey

On a patient’s first day of treatment, radiation therapists take extra time to explain what they can expect before, during and after treatment.

"We tell them about potential side effects, answer questions and mostly try to reassure them. Many come in anxious, so listening and acknowledging their worries make a difference. Patients need to feel confident and prepared to complete the treatment session as stopping radiation midway is not advisable."

During the course of radiation therapy, patients usually come every weekday for three to seven weeks. Over time, bonds are formed with their care team.

"Every morning, I check in with them. They tell me how they feel and sometimes talk about their families or even what they had for breakfast! I’ve come to realise how important it is to listen and build rapport with my patients, as it’s often the conversations that happen before or after treatment that really help patients feel cared for,” said Alice.

Helping children feel safe and ready for treatment

NCCS' VR module for proton therapy helps young patients and their caregivers familiarise themselves with proton treatment in a fun and engaging way.

Undergoing proton treatment can be overwhelming for children. The treatment machines are large and loud, and the sterile treatment rooms can feel intimidating.

To help kids cope, the NCCS’ Radiation Oncology team worked with students from Nanyang Polytechnic School of Design and Media to develop virtual reality (VR) patient education modules, for young patients to experience an animated version of the proton therapy treatment process. By wearing a VR headset, they will experience an immersive environment of radiation therapy and educated on what to expect during treatment – from the pre-treatment CT scan to the actual proton therapy.

"It helps children and their caregivers know what to expect. They can 'interact' with the machine in a safe and immersive way, so that when they walk into the real treatment room, it feels familiar and not frightening," explained Alice.

The virtual reality modules were developed with input from child specialists from the Children's Cancer Foundation and are offered to all young patients and their caregivers who come for proton therapy and conventional radiation therapy treatment. The team also developed resources such as posters and videos on the radiation treatment journey and simple exercises patients can do to combat treatment-related side effects like fatigue. These are available in the toy-filled playroom at NCCS, where young patients can relax before treatment.  

The playroom at the NCCS’ GCLPTC has a range of toys and fun activities to help children relax before treatment.

Busting a common myth

A common myth associated with radiation therapy that Alice wants to debunk is, "People sometimes worry that radiation therapy makes them radioactive but that's not true at all! You don't pose any risk to loved ones, so after treatment please feel free to go home and hug your parents, children or grandparents."

Job satisfaction keeps her going

Alice's workday typically ends around 4.45pm. After packing up, she heads home for a comforting home-cooked dinner prepared by her mother most days. Some evenings, she attends pilates classes and on weekends she enjoys hiking and reading.

Next year, she will mark 10 years of working as a radiation therapist. We asked Alice if she still finds satisfaction in the job that she chose right after school. "I see my patients every day, share their struggles, and it’s tough to say goodbye when it's their last treatment session. But when they leave our Centre with a smile, I know I’ve done my part. That's what keeps me going,” shared Alice.