STRONG: Supportive Care, Integrated Treatment, and Rehabilitation to Improve Outcomes in Gastrointestinal Cancer

What is STRONG?

Supportive Care, Integrated Treatment, and Rehabilitation to Improve Outcomes in Gastrointestinal Cancer (STRONG) is a multidisciplinary programme designed to provide holistic, personalised care for patients undergoing treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

Cancer treatment can be physically, emotionally, and psychologically challenging. Beyond treating the cancer itself, it is equally important to maintain your strength, nutrition, emotional well-being, and quality of life throughout treatment and recovery.

The STRONG programme brings together healthcare professionals from different specialties to provide proactive, coordinated, and comprehensive support throughout your cancer journey.

Our Multidisciplinary Team

STRONG is delivered by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals working closely together to address your individual needs.

Our team includes:

Surgeons, Medical Oncologists, and Radiation Oncologists – Oversee your cancer treatment and coordinate care across different stages of treatment.
Geriatricians – Provide specialised care for older adults, addressing age-related health concerns and optimising their overall well-being during cancer treatment.
Rehabilitation Specialists and Physiotherapists – Help maintain and improve your physical strength, mobility, and functional independence.
Dietitians – Provide personalised nutritional guidance to support your health during treatment and recovery.
Pharmacists – Help optimise your medications, manage potential drug interactions, and provide advice on the safe and effective use of medicines.
Medical Social Workers – Support your emotional, social, and practical needs, including financial and caregiving concerns.
Advanced Practice Nurses and Clinical Care Coordinators – Guide you through your care journey, coordinate appointments, and connect you with appropriate support services.

Together, we aim to ensure that your care is not only focused on treating cancer, but also on supporting your overall well-being.

How STRONG Supports You

Early Identification of Your Needs

Identifying challenges early so that we can provide timely support.

Throughout your treatment, our team conducts regular assessments of your physical function, nutritional status, emotional well-being, and other important aspects of your health.

These assessments help us identify potential problems early and provide appropriate interventions before they become more serious.
Holistic Support Throughout Your Cancer Journey

Supporting your physical, nutritional, and psychological well-being.

Cancer and its treatment can affect many aspects of your daily life. STRONG provides coordinated supportive care to help you maintain your strength, manage treatment-related challenges, and improve your quality of life.

Depending on your individual needs, our team can provide:
- Nutritional Support: Personalised dietary assessments and advice to help maintain adequate nutrition, manage treatment-related eating difficulties, and support recovery.
- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation: Tailored exercises and rehabilitation programmes to maintain muscle strength, improve mobility, reduce physical decline, and support recovery before and after treatment.
- Psychological and Emotional Support: Guidance and support to help you and your caregivers cope with the emotional challenges of cancer, including anxiety, stress, and changes in daily life.Our multidisciplinary team works together to ensure that these needs are addressed alongside your cancer treatment.
A Dedicated Care Coordinator

One point of contact to guide you through your cancer journey.

Navigating cancer treatment can be complex, especially when care involves multiple healthcare professionals and appointments.

Through STRONG, you will be assigned a Clinical Care Coordinator who serves as your dedicated care navigator.

Your coordinator will help facilitate communication between your healthcare teams, guide you through different stages of treatment, and connect you with the support services you may need.
Empowering You to Take Charge of Your Health

Helping you make informed decisions and actively participate in your care.

We believe that patients play an important role in their own treatment and recovery.

STRONG provides accessible, easy-to-understand educational resources to help you better understand your condition, prepare for treatment, recognise potential complications, and adopt healthy practices.

By equipping you and your caregivers with the right knowledge, we hope to empower you to take an active role in your cancer care.
Specialised Support for Older Adults

Personalised care that recognises the unique needs of older patients.

Older adults undergoing cancer treatment may face additional challenges related to physical function, other medical conditions, medications, cognition, and social support.

For patients aged 70 years and above, STRONG works closely with the Geriatric Oncology team to provide a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment.

This assessment helps identify individual needs and guide personalised interventions to optimise treatment, preserve independence, and support quality of life.

Our Goals

Through STRONG, we aim to improve both the cancer treatment experience and health outcomes of our patients.

Our key goals are to:

Support holistic well-being by addressing patients’ physical, nutritional, emotional, and psychosocial needs.
Improve treatment completion by helping patients better tolerate and complete their planned chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.
Reduce complications by optimising patients’ health before surgery and supporting recovery after surgery.
Enhance quality of life by preserving physical function, independence, and overall well-being throughout the cancer journey.

Stronger Together, Every Step of the Way

At STRONG, we believe that good cancer care goes beyond treating the disease.

By bringing together multidisciplinary expertise, proactive assessments, personalised support, and patient empowerment, we strive to help every patient navigate cancer treatment with greater confidence, strength, and dignity.