Salubris Apr-June 2012 by National Cancer Centre Singapore

Issue No. 21 • MICA (P) 061/10/2010

AN NCCS QUARTERLY PUBLICATION April – June 2012

...HELPING R E A DER S TO ACHIEV E GOOD HE A LT H

PUBLIC VERSION

Salubris is a Latin word which means healthy, in good condition (body) and wholesome.

GIVING C.A.R.E. TO CAREGIVERS

SALUBRIS APRIL – JUNE 2012

GIVING C.A.R.E. TO CAREGIVERS BY AGNES TAN Medical Social Worker Department of Psychosocial Oncology NCCS

As a medical social worker, I meet a lot of caregivers of cancer patients who are very dedicated. When I ask them what gives them the driving force, the answer I commonly get is because it is their responsibility. These caregivers inspire me with their selfless giving to the point that they neglect their own well-being.

aving been a caregiver before, I know it is not easy to provide care for someone. Sometimes, just responsibility alone is not enough to sustain a caregiver in the long run, especially for caregivers of cancer patients who more often than not, go through an upheaval of emotions together with the patients. In this article, I would like to share with you some tips that might be useful for you during your caregiving journey. Read on to find out how you can give C.A.R.E. to yourself as a caregiver.

SALUBRIS APRIL – JUNE 2012

CARING for yourself

Self-care is very critical during caregiving. Being the pillar of support for your loved ones means you have to be physically and emotionally healthy to provide the necessary care. You can do so by eating well, taking a rest whenever you can, taking some time off to do your favourite activities or simply by maintaining a positive mindset.

COMMUNICATING WITH LOVED ONES Communication is essential in all relationships. It is especially important if you are caring for someone. Sometimes, it is good to share with each other the emotions that the both of you are experiencing. Often, we notice that patients and caregivers keep things from each other, fearing that it will add burden to their family members. The truth is, both the patient and caregiver care a lot for each other but this was not communicated. Through open communication, it encourages moral support for each other.

There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE

DR ELISABETH KÜBLER-ROSS

NCCS Cancer Helpline

Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross was a Swiss American psychiatrist, a pioneer in Near-death studies and the author of the ground-breaking book On Death and Dying (1969). She was also the recipient of 20 honorary degrees and encouraged the hospice care movement.

ACCEPT that you can be stressed at times

Being a caregiver, it is only natural to be stressed at times as one has to multi-task. We all get stressed and tired occasionally. The only way to help yourself when you are stressed is to accept this fact so that you can talk to someone about it. Ignoring or denying this caregiver stress or worse, caregiver fatigue will gradually cause you to have a mental breakdown. In more serious cases, it will affect your health negatively. The Department of Psychosocial Oncology at National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) has a team of well-trained medical social workers and counsellors who are able to support you if you need a listening ear.

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS Acknowledge simple achievements even if it is just a medical appointment that you have managed to arrange for your loved ones urgently. Very often, we see caregivers set very high expectations for themselves and they fail to give themselves enough credit. We also see many caregivers who battle the journey themselves. There are actually many people who can assist you, like your family members, friends and healthcare workers. If you are willing to take a step forward by giving a shout-out that you need help, you will see that you are not alone. Do also remember to acknowledge the assistance that you received with a simple thank you.

NCCS Department of Psychosocial Oncology General Line: 6436 8126/8147 Email: mss@nccs.com.sg (Mondays to Fridays: 8.30am - 5.30pm; Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)

Tel: 6225 5655 Email: cancerhelpline@ nccs.com.sg Website: www.nccs.com.sg (Mondays to Fridays: 8.30am - 5.30pm; Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)

If your loved one is a patient at NCCS, do ask for a referral from the patient’s primary doctor to the department of psychosocial oncology if you feel that you need extra support as a caregiver. SERVICES PROVIDED: Information and Referral, Practical Assistance, Counselling and Support Groups. (We will be starting our caregiver support group in the middle of this year. Please call our general line/email us to leave your name and number if you are interested.)

knowing the RESOURCES available

Caregivers are usually too busy with physical caregiving that they do not have time to find out about the resources available for caregivers.

At NCCS, our nurses are able to guide caregivers on how best they can care for their loved ones who are undergoing cancer treatment. We also have a Cancer Helpline manned by trained nurse counsellors who can assist you if you need any assistance or counselling. Every year, NCCS organises educational talks for cancer patients and caregivers. These help them to gain more knowledge and confidence in fighting cancer. Support programmes for cancer patients and caregivers are also available as we believe that emotional care is part of the holistic care given to all our patients and their caregivers. There are many other organisations like Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA), Hospice Care Association (HCA) and Touch Community Services (TOUCH Caregivers Support) that provide support for caregivers in various areas. (Please see below for a list of resources mentioned.)

AWWA Centre for Caregivers Tel: 6511 5318 Email: awwacfc@awwa.org.sg Website: www.awwa.org.sg SERVICES PROVIDED: Caregiver’s Training and Workshops, Information and Referral, Support Group.

HCA Hospice Care Tel: 6251 2561 Email: info@hcahospicecare.org.sg Website: www.hca.org.sg SERVICES PROVIDED: Caregiver’s Training for family members/caregivers of HCA patients, Hospice Day Care Service, Hospice Homecare Service.

ENCOURAGING yourself

Encouraging others may seem like a natural gesture that we always do. But when was the last time you encouraged yourself? In difficult times during caregiving, some encouragement for yourself will help boost your morale and tide you through the period.

In a nutshell, do remember that when you give care to your loved ones, you have to give C.A.R.E. to yourself as well. Through my short but meaningful few years as a medical social worker, I have met several caregivers who have left a deep impression on me. There are still many caregivers out there who are silently taking on this responsibility. To all these caregivers, I would like to say: “Thank you very much for your hard work!” With you around, our patients have been able to gain more strength and faith during their cancer journey.

“To be able to give care is one of the noblest things a human being can give to another.”

Touch Community Services (TOUCH Caregivers Support) Tel: 6258 6797 Email: caregivers@touch.org.sg Website: www.caregivers.org.sg SERVICES PROVIDED: Helpline for Caregivers, Information and Referral and Caregiver’s Training. Information is correct at the time of printing.

SALUBRIS APRIL – JUNE 2012

看护者也应得到照顾陈美静心理肿瘤科医疗社工新加坡国立癌症中心

身为一名医疗社工，我经常遇到不少乐于奉献的癌症病患看护者。当我问他们奉献的动力是什么时，他们的答案通常是责任感。令我感触的是，这些看护者的无私奉献，甚至到了忽略他们自身健康的地步。

我也曾经是一名看护者，所以我能理解照顾他人的困难。有时候，只有责任感是不足以让看护者持之以恒的，尤其是癌症病患的看护者往往同病人一起经历情绪上的起伏。我想通过这篇文章，跟看护者分享一些实用的看护贴士，帮助你在照顾亲人的同时，也照顾自己。

“一切事情都不是 There 也不是巧合， are 错误、 no mistakes, 而是上天赐给我 no coincidences.” 们的学习机会。

All events are blessings given to 伊丽莎白·库伯勒 - 罗斯医生是美 us to learn在濒死研究的 from. 国瑞士精神科医生,

— —伊丽莎白•库伯勒•罗斯医生

先驱, 是死亡和垂死 (1969) 书的作 DR ELISABETH KUBLER-ROSS 者。她收到 20 个荣誉学位也鼓励临终关怀举动。

SALUBRIS APRIL – JUNE 2012

照顾自己

接受自己偶尔会有压力的事实

认识现有资源

自我勉励

在照料亲人的过程中，照顾好自己是非常重要的。身为至亲所依赖的支柱，你必须在体力和精神上保持健康，才能为他们提供必要的照顾。

身为看护者，你必须身兼多职，自然也就会感到压力。我们每个人偶尔都会有压力和疲惫。当你感觉到压力时，唯一能帮助自己的方法是，接受这个事实，并找人倾诉。

看护者往往因忙碌而没有时间搜寻跟看护者有关的现有资源。

鼓励别人似乎是我们常做的自然举动。但你上一次鼓励自己是什么时候呢？

在国立癌症中心，我们的护士能够指导看护者如何为正在接受癌症治疗的至亲提供最好的照顾。我们设有一个癌症援助热线，由受过训练的护士辅导员负责接听。如果你需要任何援助或辅导，他们都能给予协助。

看护期间遇到困难，鼓励一下自己，将有助于增强信念，帮助你渡过艰难时期。

好好地吃饭、充分休息、让自己休假做一些喜爱的活动，或者保持积极心态，都可以让自己身心健康。

要是你不接受或不面对看护者压力，或者更严重的看护者疲乏，就会逐渐导致你精神崩溃。严重的话，将对你的健康产生负面影响。在新加坡国立癌症中心的心理肿瘤科，我们拥有一组训练有素的医疗社工和辅导员，能够在你需要倾诉对象时，提供支援。

与亲人沟通

肯定自己的成就

沟通是所有人际关系当中的一个必要因素。有效的沟通对一名看护者尤其重要。有时，跟病患互相分享彼此的感受是很好的。很多时候，我们注意到病患和看护者因为担心会加重家人的负担，而隐瞒真实的感受。其实，双方都关心彼此，却没有说出口。坦诚的沟通有助于鼓励双方成为彼此的精神支柱。

肯定自己的小功劳，即使只是成功地在短时间内为亲人安排到急需的医疗预约。

现有资源：

我们经常发现看护者对自己的要求很高，并很少表扬自己。我们也看过许多孤军作战的看护者。其实，你的身边还有很多人，如你的家人、朋友和医护人员，都能够助你一臂之力。如果你愿意站出来，向他人求助，你就会发现自己并非无依无靠。当然，也别忘了对协助你的人说一声“谢谢”。

总机： 6 436 8126/8147 电邮： mss@nccs.com.sg

电话： 6511 5318 电邮： awwacfc@awwa.org.sg 网址： w ww.awwa.org.sg

电话： 6225 5655 电邮： cancerhelpline@

如果你的至亲是国立癌症中心的病患，身为看护者的你如果需要额外协助，可要求病患的主治医生帮你转介给心理肿瘤科。

( 星期一至五：早上8点半至下午5点半；星期六、日和公共假期休息)

(以上提到的资源名单，请参阅下文)

亚洲妇女福利协会看护者中心

( 星期一至五：早上8点半至下午5点半；星期六、日和公共假期休息)

nccs.com.sg

其他机构如亚洲妇女福利协会 (AWWA)、慈怀护理协会 (HCA) 和触爱社会服务 ( 触爱看护者扶持服务)，也为看护者提供各种援助。

新加坡国立癌症中心心理肿瘤科

新加坡国立癌症中心癌症援助热线

网址： w ww.nccs.com.sg

每年，国立癌症中心也为癌症病患和看护者主办教育讲座，帮助他们获取更多知识和建立信心，以对抗癌症。我们也为癌症病患和看护者提供援助计划，因为我们相信，情绪护理是给予所有病患和他们的看护者全面护理的一部分。

服务类型：资料与转介服务、实际援助、辅导和支援小组。(我们将在今年年中成立看护者支援小组。有兴趣者，请拨打总机号码或发送电邮给我们，并留下姓名和联络号码。)

服务类型：看护训练与讲习班、资料与转介服务、支援小组。

慈怀护理中心电话： 6251 2561 电邮： info@hcahospicecare.org.sg 网址： w ww.hca.org.sg 服务类型：为慈怀护理中心病患的家人或看护者提供看护训练、日间慈怀护理服务、慈怀居家护理服务。

总而言之，切记，在照顾至亲的同时，你也要把自己照顾好。在我当医疗社工的短短几年里，我见过一些让我留下深刻印象的看护者。除了他们，还有许多看护者正在默默地付出和承担这项责任。我想对所有看护者说一声： “辛苦了，非常感谢你们！” 有了你们，我们的病患才能够拥有更多力量和信心，勇敢地对抗癌症病魔。

“能够照顾别人是一个人最高尚的美德之一。”

触爱社会服务 (触爱关看护者扶持服务) 电话：6258 6797 电邮：caregivers@touch.org.sg 网址：www.caregivers.org.sg 服务类型：看护者援助热线、资料与转介服务，以及看护训练。印刷时信息准确。

SALUBRIS APRIL – JUNE 2012

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CANCER RISK BY JENNA TEO GUAT LING Senior Nurse Manager Cancer Education & Information Service (CEIS) NCCS

There was a time in history when wellness was simply the absence of disease. People used to burn calories while earning the daily bread; and as “bread” was relatively scarce then, people consumed limited portions and remained lean. Today, very few earn the bread by the sweat of the brow. Food is abundant and excessively laden with fat, sugar, and salt. The lack of wellness in most people now seems to reflect the absence of healthy behaviours and not the presence of disease. In a society where technology has largely forced us to have to “work” on being healthy, staying active for just minutes a day can help to increase our lifespan.

hysical activity or exercise has long been known to be a critical component of maintaining health. The benefits that exercise brings seem prominent, although it is not yet widely accepted to be a preventive tool for cancer. Studies evaluating the relationship of physical activity and cancer reveal that women who are simply more active have a 38 per cent reduced risk of invasive breast cancer compared to those living a sedentary life. Research studies on the association between physical activity and cancer risk show significant results of reduced risk most consistently in colon cancer followed by breast cancer. There are, however, other studies on the interactions with body fats which indicate that a high Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer in sedentary men but not in physically-active men. Being obese (BMI of 30 or higher) increases a person’s risk of developing and dying from certain types of cancer, including postmenopausal breast cancer, colon cancer, uterine cancer, kidney cancer, and some types of oesophageal cancer.

LET’S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CANCER:

SUMMARY

STEPS TO REDUCE CANCER RISK

START SMALL

By being more active than you usually are, regardless of your current level of activity, you can yield many health benefits.

• Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity for five or more days each week.

Regular physical activity or exercise is not only known to provide health and fitness benefits (muscle strength, heart-lung and muscle endurance, flexibility, reduced body fats, improved physical function, decreased depression, anxiety etc.), it decreases the risk of chronic conditions and cancer, and contributes to the general well-being and quality of one’s life.

Physical activity refers to any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles resulting in an expenditure of energy. It is essential in the maintenance of energy balance, a term which describes how weight, diet and physical activities influence health, including cancer risk. The effects of physical activity on reducing the risk of cancer come in several ways, including lowering obesity, inflammation, and hormone levels that improve insulin resistance and immune system function.

Remember that everything you eat has calories and everything you do uses calories. If a pound of fat contains 3500 calories, to lose 1 pound of fat per week is to create a ‘deficit’ of 500 calories a day. To achieve that, you will need to burn an extra 250 calories and by eating 250 fewer calories per day.

Be realistic when choosing your game or sport as it is important that you enjoy being active instead of viewing it as a chore. There is no secret to attaining a healthy weight. It is all about striking a balance between the calories you consume and the calories you burn; when you burn less than what you eat, you gain weight.

• Make exercise work for you. An exercise programme should be based on individual preferences, age and fitness level. Some prefer to have exercise companions while some prefer to be alone. Go for whichever works for you. • Individuals with a medical condition should talk with their doctors to get suggestions on the types of exercises that are appropriate for them before starting an exercise programme. • Choose the right intensity to start with. Moderate to vigorous activities can be done at home, outside, or in the gym. Most adults choose brisk walking for moderate physical activity. One can gradually move on to vigorous activities such as jogging, which uses large muscle groups and increases the heart rate, breathing rate and frequency, and sweating.

Research has shown that people who are active are less stressed and live healthier lives. Therefore, the objective of being physically active should not only be for its ability to prevent cancer, but also for its endless benefits for total wellness of mind and body.

SALUBRIS APRIL – JUNE 2012

OUTREACH – PUBLIC FORUMS & CANCERWISE WORKSHOPS

体能活动与患癌风险张業苓高级护士经理癌症教育与资讯服务新加坡国立癌症中心

从前，只要没有生病，就算健康了。人们每天在干活的同时，已有足够的运动量燃烧热量，加上物资匮乏，大家都吃得很少，没有肥胖问题。如今，许多人都不必靠劳力来养家，加上食物也很充足，而且含有过多脂肪、糖和盐等。因此，现在大多数人面对的健康问题不是生病，而是没有健康的生活方式。科技使我们的生活变得太安逸，我们必须更努力来维持健康。如果我们每天花几分钟的时间进行体力活动，将有助于延长我们的寿命。

让我们来教你如何降低患癌风险：降低患癌风险的方法不管你目前运动多少，只要增加运动量，就会对你的健康更有好处。选择合适的运动项目，重要的是要享受运动带来的乐趣，而不是把它当作例行工作。保持健康体重并没有什么秘诀，就是在热量的摄取与消耗之间取得平衡。当热量的消耗量低于摄取量，体重就会增加。切记，你所吃的每样食物都含有热量，而你所做的每个动作都在消耗热量。如果一磅脂肪含 3500 卡路里的热量，每个星期要减去一磅脂肪，每天就必须燃烧 500 卡路里的热量。为了达到这个目标，你必须每天减少摄取 250 卡路里的热量，同时消耗 250 卡路里的热量。

不妨一步一步来， • 每周进行适度的体力活动至少五天，每次至少30 分钟。

众所周知，体力活动或运动是保持健康的重要因素。虽然运动具有防癌的效果未被公认，但它所带来的好处是显而易见的。评估体力活动与癌症关系的研究显示，与不常运动的女性相比，较活跃的女性患侵袭性乳癌的风险减少了38% 。研究报告显示，体力活动能显著降低患结肠癌和乳癌的风险。另外，有关体内脂肪的研究指出，在体脂指数高的男性当中，不常运动的男性比活跃的男性更容易患上结肠癌。肥胖 (体脂指数 30 或以上) 将增加一个人罹患或死于某些癌症的风险，其中包括绝经后乳癌、结肠癌、子宫癌、肾癌，以及某些类型的食道癌。体力活动是指任何由骨骼肌产生能量消耗的身体动作。它在维持能量平衡方面至关重要。所谓能量平衡，即体重、饮食和体力活动如何影响健康，包括患癌风险。体力活动可通过不同的方法来减少患癌风险，包括降低肥胖症、炎症反应和激素水平，从而改善胰岛素抵抗力和免疫系统功能。

• 根据个人喜好、年龄和健康水平，制定自己的运动计划。有些人喜欢结伴一起运动，有些人则喜欢单独运动。选择对你有效的方式就好。 • 有特殊健康状况的人在运动前，应先向医生咨询，看看哪些运动较适合。 • 刚开始时，选择适合自己的运动强度。适度和剧烈的运动，都可以在家里、户外或健身房进行。进行适度体力活动的成年人，多数都会选择快步行。接着，可以进行慢跑等较剧烈的运动，让自己出汗；慢跑是使用到大肌肉群的运动，会增加心跳率和呼吸率。

总结定期进行体力活动或运动不仅能带来健康益处 ( 肌肉力量、心肺功能和肌肉耐力、灵活性、减少体内脂肪、改善身体机能、消除忧郁和焦虑等 )，还能减少患上慢性疾病和癌症的风险，促进整体健康及生活素质。研究显示，活跃的人，压力比较少，生活也比较健康。因此，保持活跃的生活，不应只为了降低患癌风险，而是为了整体的身心健康。

Event

Date, Time, Venue

Registration

Bilingual Public Forum – Common Cancers Affecting Men

14 April 2012, Saturday

Free Admission

MANDARIN SESSION Time: 9.15am to 10.30am (Registration: 9am to 9.15am)

Strictly no admission for children below 12 years old. Registration is a MUST as seats are limited.

ENGLISH SESSION Time: 11.15am to 12.30pm (Registration: 11am to 11.15am)

REGISTRATION IS BY PHONE ONLY

TOPICS: a. Common cancers affecting Singaporean men b. Risk, signs & symptoms c. What cancer screening tests should a man do to detect cancer early? d. Cancer treatment options e. New development in cancer treatments f. Questions & Answers

The URA Centre Function Hall (Level 5) 45 Maxwell Road Singapore 069118

Please call: 6225 5655 / 6236 9432 / 6236 9447

Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm

21 April 2012, Saturday

Admission Fee: $5

Session will be conducted in English.

To register, please call: 6225 5655

a. Common gynaecological problems b. Contraceptive pills & hormone replacement therapy – Are there health risks? c. Cancers of the female reproductive system: cervix, ovary and uterus d. Risk, signs & symptoms e. Early detection & prevention f. What is Pap smear? g. Screening & treatment procedures h. Questions & Answers

1pm – Registration 1.30pm to 4pm – Workshop

CancerWise Workshop – Radiation Therapy & Its Advances in Cancer Treatment

28 April 2012, Saturday

Admission Fee: $5

Session will be conducted in English.

To register, please call: 6225 5655

1pm – Registration 1.30pm to 4pm – Workshop

CancerWise Workshop – Reducing Cancer Risk for Women TOPICS:

TOPICS: a. What is radiation therapy? b. Why is radiation therapy used? c. What to expect before treatment? • Simulation • Mouthpiece moulding • Shielding cutout • Mask or shell moulding d. Verification e. What are the treatment processes? f. Side effects g. Advances in radiation treatment of cancer h. Questions & Answers

Function Room, Level 4 National Cancer Centre Singapore 11 Hospital Drive Singapore 169610

or register online: www.nccs.com.sg (click events)

Continued on page 10.

SALUBRIS APRIL – JUNE 2012

OUTREACH – PUBLIC FORUMS & CANCERWISE WORKSHOPS

LOCAL TV ARTISTES SING FOR A CAUSE CLOSE TO THEIR HEARTS BY ADELINE TEO Division of Community Outreach & Philanthropy, NCCS

Continued from page 9.

Event

Date, Time, Venue

Registration

Bilingual Public Forum – Enhancing Quality of Life in Cancer

12 May 2012, Saturday

Free Admission

MANDARIN SESSION Time: 9.15am to 10.30am (Registration: 9am to 9.15am)

Strictly no admission for children below 12 years old. Registration is a MUST as seats are limited.

ENGLISH SESSION Time: 11.15am to 12.30pm (Registration: 11am to 11.15am)

REGISTRATION IS BY PHONE ONLY

TOPICS: a. Mindset in cancer b. Finding meaning – Living through & beyond cancer c. Managing physical aspects d. Managing emotional aspects e. Support factors f. Questions & Answers

The URA Centre Function Hall (Level 5) 45 Maxwell Road Singapore 069118

Please call: 6225 5655 / 6236 9432 / 6236 9447

Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm

“Keep me dry, keep me warm, Bring me light, bring me hope, I will lean on you.” Think it sounds like a love song? Think again. The above chorus is actually part of a song written from the perspective of someone who needs support and understanding. Jerry Hoh, Nat Ho and Julie Wee.

K CancerWise Workshop – Lymphoma – What You Need to Know TOPICS: a. b. c. d. e. f.

Overview of Lymphoma • Non-Hodgkin • Hodgkin Risk factors, signs & symptoms Diagnostic investigation Overview of treatment options New advances in lymphoma treatment Questions & Answers

26 May 2012, Saturday

Admission Fee: $5

Session will be conducted in English.

To register, please call: 6225 5655

1pm – Registration 1.30pm to 4pm – Workshop

Function Room, Level 4 National Cancer Centre Singapore 11 Hospital Drive Singapore 169610

or register online: www.nccs.com.sg (click events)

nowing family members or friends who have had close encounters with cancer, three local television artistes, Jerry Hoh, Nat Ho and Julie Wee came together to create a music video titled Lean On You to support cancer sufferers. The familiar faces on Channel 5 and Channel 8 TV programmes also recorded another version with 30 friends where they contributed to the video’s “virtual end-chorus” and voiced their support for cancer research and awareness through home videos. All of these were supported by a back-end team who composed the music, wrote the songs, and pieced together the video and website and more.

Cancer is an illness that affects one in three and kills one in four locally. This makes cancer a very serious topic that hardly anyone likes to broach on. Even when we know of loved ones who got diagnosed with cancer, we are often at a loss of what to say or do.

Amongst the video contributors were Catherine Sng and May Oon who also shared their thoughts on their cancer journey. You would be moved by the concerted effort from the team and friends who worked hard to reach out to people about this cause.

On this note, Jerry initiated Lean On You – to spread awareness and optimism, and to highlight the importance of cancer research and rally support for the cause in a way that connects with the masses. This was the reason why the project was done through music, song and personal videos that are message-driven or story-sharing with a touch of humour. Jerry strongly believes that he has to be part of the fight by supporting cancer patients and supporting research to help make a difference for the patients. He experienced the painful loss of his mother and several relatives to cancer in a short span of five years. He had also witnessed his brother’s and sister-in-law’s recovery from nose cancer and breast cancer respectively. The Lean On You project relies on online platforms and social media to spread the word. Visit LeanOnYou.com today to view the videos and pass it on by sharing the link on Facebook. The song and their passion speak volumes.

You can also help by giving to cancer research (via www.sggives.com/nccrf) and make a difference with us through paving the way for a cancer cure.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROJECT.

SALUBRIS APRIL – JUNE 2012

A G.R.E.A.T. STEP FORWARD BY JOE CHIA Executive, Community Partnership Division of Community Outreach & Philanthropy, NCCS

AND HAZLIN BINTE MOHAMED HEPBUN

NCCS staff supporting the “G.R.E.A.T. @ NCCS” campaign.

Officer, Marketing Communications Division of Community Outreach & Philanthropy, NCCS

Last year, the “G.R.E.A.T. @ NCCS” campaign launched on 18 May kick-started the philanthropy efforts within NCCS by encouraging staff to donate towards NCCS’ causes in cancer research and patient care initiatives.

s the saying goes, charity begins at home. It was thus very heartening that the staff of NCCS took the lead in this. Since the start of the campaign in 2011, more than $80,000 was raised. To date, 97 percent of the staff have signed up to make monthly contributions to support cancer research or patient care initiatives through the “G.R.E.A.T. @ NCCS” programme. One of the objectives of this campaign is to encourage the spirit of giving and promote a culture of kindness within the walls of NCCS. G.R.E.A.T. posters of smiling staff posing with their thumbs up can be seen on the walls and lifts within the centre. The staff also wore the G.R.E.A.T. sunflower badge proudly on their uniforms and lapels, depicting a strong sense of pride and support for the “G.R.E.A.T. @ NCCS” campaign. The funds raised from this programme will go towards two charities set up by NCCS to receive donations from corporates and individuals. Both charities are registered as Institutions of Public Character (IPC) with their own governing rules and Board of Trustees. The two charities are: NCC RESEARCH FUND – the flagship charity to receive donations for cancer research

HERE IS WHAT G.R.E.A.T. STANDS FOR:

G IRO donation in support of NCCS R ESEARCH in cancer E DUCATION for patients, caregivers and healthcare workers A SSISTANCE in welfare to patients and families T RAINING for patients, caregivers and volunteers

For the next step for G.R.E.A.T., we want to extend the giving opportunities to the community. NCCS’ research efforts have opened new vistas and added more depth to its knowledge as it develops new treatment protocols to meet patients’ needs. It has also shared knowledge with its working partners in the region to benefit the community at large. In the last five years, NCCS spent about $20 million dollars to fund 51 worthwhile cancer research projects and these projects are related to cancers of the head and neck, liver, gastrointestinal and colorectal, which affect and claim many lives each year in Singapore. To keep the research work robust and thriving, significant resources are required. NCCS needs the support from everyone in the community to carry on doing the important work it does in research, in treatment, in providing care, and in education for its patients.

COMMUNITY CANCER FUND – provides funding for financial assistance to needy cancer patients, education and training, and improvements in infrastructure for the caring of cancer patients.

At NCCS, we believe that today’s research is tomorrow’s cure and that each patient should have the best care experience while they seek treatment at our centre.

NCCS has close to 130,000 patient visits per year. Each and every staff at NCCS works hard to partner their patients through their cancer journey towards improved health, better survival and quality of life.

If you wish to be a part of our “G.R.E.A.T. @ NCCS” community, please call (65) 6236 9440 or email to: donate@nccs.com.sg. Stand up and take a step towards being G.R.E.A.T.! For more information on supporting research and patient care programmes, please visit: www.nccs.com.sg.

Editorial Advisors

Members, Editorial Board

Members, Medical Editorial Board

Prof Kon Oi Lian Prof Soo Khee Chee Dr Tan Hiang Khoon

Mr Mark Ko Ms Sharon Leow Dr Shiva Sarraf-Yazdi Ms Jenna Teo

Medical Editor

Executive Editors

Ms Lita Chew Dr Mohd Farid Dr Melissa Teo Dr Teo Tze Hern Dr Deborah Watkinson

Dr Richard Yeo

Ms Charissa Eng Ms Veronica Lee Mr Sunny Wee

SALUBRIS

is produced with you in mind. If there are other topics related to cancer that you would like to read about or if you would like to provide some feedback on the articles covered, please email to salubris@nccs.com.sg.

NATIONAL CANCER CENTRE SINGAPORE Reg No 199801562Z

11 Hospital Drive Singapore 169610 Tel: (65) 6436 8000 Fax: (65) 6225 6283 www.nccs.com.sg