December 2013/January 2014

Stories ofHOPE

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A keen badminton player, Mr Jose Luis Aspiras thought he was losing weight because of the many hours he spent on the court as well as

his new diet.But when his complexion started turning a dark

grey, he realised there was more to it. His family doctor found lumps in his stomach and suggested he get an ultrasound.

The results were far worse than anything he had imagined. “They found tumours in four organs, my liver, my stomach, my lungs and my pancreas,” recalled the retired single businessman and former Mayor of Agoo, a city in the province of Northern Luzon in the Philippines.

Surprisingly, he received the devastating news calmly. “I was in a surrendered state. I just accepted it. There was no emotion. I was 59 at the time,” he explained, “and I felt I had had a good run. I didn’t want to be over-dramatic. I didn’t want to hassle anyone.”

For a month following his diagnosis, he told no one. As his condition worsened, he tried to carry on as normal. “I even played badminton after I found out, just to deflect any thinking.”

But he could not keep up the act. “I was declining and the pain was becoming more pronounced and not tolerable anymore.”

He decided to plan for the end and choose someone to help him sort out his final wishes. “I was getting worse and I wanted to make sure that I had somebody at my back, to tide me over.”

At a family lunch at his home in Manila, he took his brother-in-law aside and swore him to secrecy, then told him everything.

His brother-in-law Mario Oreta was shocked, at first, by the news. Unlike Mr Aspiras though, he refused to accept that there was nothing more to be done and immediately took him to St Luke’s Hospital in Makati, the next morning.

An oncologist ordered a PET-CT scan which confirmed that Mr Aspiras had cancer. The doctor then ordered a biopsy but this could not be done immediately.

However, the weight of keeping such a big secret bore down heavily on his brother-in-law. Said Mr Aspiras: “He called me in the morning and he said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’”

Mr Oreta asked Mr Aspiras to come over to his house and when he arrived, his sister Babot

Strong support from his family gave Mr Jose Luis Aspiras the strength to fight lymphoma

HealthNewsInspiring and informative stories for patients MCI (P) 040/01/2013

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Stories of Hope

Editorial teamChua Hwee LengLim Woan FeiVincent TanJimmy YapPublisherPreston Communications PrinterImpress Printing

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From cover page

immediately took charge. “She said: ‘You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to stay with me!’” She called the other sisters, Aida, Cristy, Reggie and Bella, and together, they planned the next course of action.

The next step, a biopsy, was delayed because there was no one at the hospital available to do the procedure. So his sisters went out to talk to everyone they knew for alternative solutions. They met Ms Gina Albert, a long-time cancer survivor, who recommended Dr Ang Peng Tiam of Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC) in Singapore.

Mr Aspiras’ condition began deteriorating rapidly. “I was flat on the bed. I had just collapsed and all of a sudden I turned yellow.”

His family made the decision to go to Singapore. They called PCC and less than 24 hours later they had an appointment with Dr Ang.

They were in such a rush to get to Singapore that when they arrived on Sunday afternoon, they had not even booked a hotel. The next morning, 28 October 2010, they were at Dr Ang’s clinic.

Said Dr Ang: “The PET-CT scans done in the Philippines showed that he had an advanced cancer of one form or another. There was literally disease everywhere – in the lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm, both kidneys, the liver, pancreas, lungs and even in various muscles of the body.

“I immediately arranged for Mr Aspiras to have a biopsy of the lymph nodes in the abdomen. This was done under direct imaging of the CT scan to ensure that we obtained tissue from the correct site and also ensure that this was done safely.”

A core of the lymph node was dispatched the same day to the pathologist and by the next day, they had confirmed that Mr Aspiras had malignant lymphoma, a primary cancer of the lymph nodes. Treatment began immediately.

During his stay of over a month in Singapore, Mr Aspiras’ sisters took turns to come down and help him. “They absented themselves from work

“Familial love cannot be overstated. When you feel it, it changes you. The moment my sisters took over my condition, they took up the cudgel. The fight I didn’t have, they gave.”

Mr Aspiras, here with his nephew, attributing his recovery to the support

of his family

and other responsibilities just to be able to stay with me,” he recalled. He is also grateful to his nephew Tonton Madarang, a nurse who took leave from his job to take care of him, his young nephew Diego who came to see him, and a boyhood friend, Leo Saddam, now living in the US, who stayed with him for a few weeks during the treatment.

Fortunately, he responded well to the treatment. Said Dr Ang: “All patients with aggressive lymphoma need to have chemotherapy. One of the ‘tricks’ to keep in mind when treating a patient who is very ill and having a bulky disease, is to start slow. Very often, the doctor treats the disease too aggressively from the word ‘go’ and this puts the patient at risk of dying from the toxicity of the dying cancer cells.”

“By and large, all lymphomas respond well to treatment. The art of caring for a lymphoma patient lies in the management of the immediate side-effects caused by rapid death of the lymphoma cells. When the cells die, they can release by-products that can block up the kidneys causing kidney failure. Being aware of these possible side effects allows us to pre-empt them from occurring by taking the necessary prophylactic measures.”

Mr Aspiras’ cancer is currently in remission. Said Dr Ang: “I remain cautiously optimistic that he’s cured, but one can never be sure until he passes his five-year milestone without any recurrence of his disease.”

While the medical care from Dr Ang was crucial, Mr Aspiras believes that his family also played a major role in his recovery. “Familial love cannot be overstated. When you feel it, it changes you. The moment they (his sisters) took over my condition, they took up the cudgel. The fight I didn’t have, they gave.”

Looking back, Mr Aspiras added that he was struck by the difference between how a diagnosis of cancer is seen in Singapore. “In some places, when you have cancer, it’s like the kiss of death. Here, after seeing Dr Ang, it seems like just another activity in their daily calendar and they proceed to do what is next.”

希望的故事

战胜淋巴瘤热衷羽球运动的卓斯路易斯阿斯彼拉还以为自己因为勤于练球，加上饮食有所节制，是导致他身材变好、体重减轻的原因。但当他开始意识到皮肤越发暗淡并呈现暗灰色时，他知道事情并没有想象中那么单纯。阿斯彼拉的家庭医生发现他的胃部有些肿块，建议他接受超声波扫描。

扫描的结果是他始料未及的。这名曾是菲律宾吕宋岛北部一个城市市长的退休商人说：“他们发现我体内的四个器官 - 肝脏、胃部、肺部和胰脏都有肿瘤。”

阿斯彼拉很冷静地接受了这个消息，冷静地让人意想不到。他说：“我当时处于认命的状态。我认为自己什么也做不了，只好接受这个事实。我基本上是麻木的。当年我59岁。在这个年龄来说，我的一生算是活的很精彩了。我不想过分煽情，也不想麻烦任何人。”

在他的病情获得诊断后的一个月里，他对于病情只字不提，没有任何人知道他病倒了。虽然他的身体健康每况愈下，但他仍然努力不让生活受影响。他说：“我还是一如往常地打羽球，为的就是不要引起他人的猜疑，也避免自己胡思乱想。” 但他硬撑不了多久。“我开始不赴约，癌症所引起的疼痛真的越来越剧烈，我再也没有办法忍受。”

他决定为自己的善终做准备，并安排一个指定的人选帮他完成身后事。“我的病情越来越严重。我希望有人可以在我身旁支持我，陪我走完最后一程。”

在一次于他马尼拉家中举行的家庭聚餐后，他把姐夫拉到一旁，要他发誓保守秘密后，才把所有的经历倾囊相告。

一开始，他的姐夫马利奥乌瑞塔也为自己刚听到的消息感到吃惊。但跟 阿斯彼拉的消极态度相反，他不愿意认为病情的结果已经无法扭转。隔天早上，他带阿斯彼拉到位于马卡蒂的圣路克医院做进一步的检查。

肿瘤专科医生让阿斯彼拉进行正电子发射断层扫描，再次证实了他患有癌症。医生接着让他排期接受活体组织检查。

另一方面，他的姐夫再也无法承受保守这么一个重大秘密的压力。阿斯彼拉说：“他早上打电话给我，跟我说，‘我没有办法再守住这个秘密了。’”

乌瑞塔要阿斯彼拉到他家里去。当他抵达时，他的姐姐芭波特马上向他下命令。阿斯彼拉转述说：“她说‘你哪里都不准去。从今天开始，你就搬进来跟我一起住！’”她打电话通知其他姐妹爱达、克里斯楴、利绮和贝拉，跟她们商量下一步应该怎么做。

下一步，也就是活体组织切片检查的排期因为医院内没有人手可以为病人而被延后了。姐妹们因此开始向所有亲友寻求意见，看看是否有其他解决方法。他们遇到了吉娜阿伯特，一个癌症生存者。吉娜介绍他们到新加坡的百汇癌症中心找洪炳添医生。

阿斯彼拉的病情突然急转直下，他说：“我根本没有办法下床，甚至连在床上翻身的力气都没有。我昏倒了，而且皮肤突然变黄。”

他的家人决定飞往新加坡。他们打电话给百汇癌

症中心，他们同洪医生约在24小时内见面。

他们的行程安排得很匆忙，当他们下午抵达新加坡时，连酒店都没有订。2010年10月28日，也就是他们抵新的隔天早上，一行人已经在洪医生的诊所里。

洪医生说：“菲律宾的正电子放射电脑断层扫描报告显示他患有某种晚期癌症。基本上，只要我们说的出的身体部位—隔膜上下方的淋巴瘤、两边的肾脏、肝脏、胰脏、肺部，甚至是肌肉，都已经受到癌症的影响。”

“我马上安排阿斯彼拉进行腹部淋巴瘤的活体组织检查。这项检查在电脑断层检查的直接照影下进行，以确保我们采取正确部位的组织样本。这样的安排也能确保病人的安全。”

被采取的淋巴结在阿斯彼拉接受检查的同一天就被运送给了病理学家。隔天，出炉的报告显示阿斯彼拉患有恶性淋巴瘤 - 一个源自淋巴结的癌症。阿斯彼拉立刻开始接受治疗。

在阿斯彼拉逗留在新加坡接受治疗的一个月内，他的姐妹轮流来新为他打点一切。他回想说：“为了照顾我，他们得要向公司请假，也得放下家里的其他事情。” 他也很感激当护士的侄儿请了一个月的假期来照顾他，他的另一个小侄儿迪亚高也飞来探病。就连现在旅居美国的儿时玩伴也在他治疗期间飞来新加坡陪他住了几个星期。

值得庆幸的是，阿斯彼拉对治疗的反应相当良好。洪医生说：“所有恶性淋巴瘤病人都需要接受化疗。我们必须注意，如果病人的病情已经恶化到非常严重的程度，而且肿瘤已经扩散到多处，我们不可以一开始就给他们很重的治疗，必须循序渐进。”很多时候，医生就是因为太急进了，病人可能因为体内癌细胞死去所产生的毒素，面对死亡的危险。

“总的来说，所有的淋巴瘤病人只要有适当的治疗，都会有不错的成效。治疗淋巴瘤病人的关键在于掌控好淋巴瘤细胞快速死亡多造成的副作用。当这些细胞死亡时，它们可能释放一些物质导致肾脏阻塞，进而引发肾衰竭。只要我们清楚病人可能面对哪些副作用，就可以采取预防措施，避免副作用的出现。”

阿斯彼拉的癌症目前已经进入缓解期。洪医生说：“从乐观的角度来看，我可以说他是已经痊愈了，但只要他还没有渡过五年的关键期，谁也无法肯定癌症不会再次复发。”

虽然洪医生的专科照顾肯定是阿斯彼拉康复的关键，但他认为，如果没有家人的关怀，他的进展也可能没有现在那么好。他说：“家人的关爱是无止尽的。当您感觉到家人对你的爱时，你也会察觉到自己出现一些变化。从我的姐妹们决定担任我的病情的指挥官时，她们也拿起了备战的武器。我原本就注定要打败仗，是她们让我反败为胜。”

回想当初，阿斯彼拉才意识到自己刚到新加坡时其实是有被本地对待癌症的态度所震撼的。他说：“在一些国家，一旦你患上癌症，就等同是遭受到死神之吻。但在这里，洪医生却把它当成日常作息的一部分，做完了这样就接着做应该做的下一个步骤。”

家人的无限支持是卓斯路易斯阿斯彼拉对抗淋巴瘤的动力

Community Outreach

Screening to improve the oddsIn the game of life, more people are betting on

winning the lottery than getting cancer. But they are not calculating the odds right. “Probably more people are buying toto and 4D

in Singapore compared to the people who are going for colorectal screening, and yet your risk of getting cancer is higher,” says Dr Patricia Kho, a medical oncologist with Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC).

“The chance of winning toto or 4D is unknown or virtually zero, but it has been shown that screening can reduce the risk of getting colorectal cancer by 33 per cent.”

She was speaking at PCC’s “I am Cancer Warrior” initiative to reach out to the community, where she used colorectal cancer as an example on how screening can save you some pain in your life.

In Singapore, one in three Singaporeans will be diagnosed with cancer, yet not many people are stepping forward to be screened. The reasons are

plenty, including thinking that they will be the lucky two out of three who escape the tumour’s invasion, and being worried about the prognosis that follows, or simply worrying about the pain involved in the screening process.

But Dr Kho offers a different perspective. “If you know you can save yourself a whole

block of hassle later on should the disease progress, you probably won’t find screening a troublesome affair,” she says.

Cervical cancer is another good evidence of how screening works. The woman cancer moves from the sixth most common cancer to become 10th after screening.

Another example is a Pap smear. Screening has also helped to improve the cure rate for colorectal and breast cancer by 52 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively. Breast cancer death rate fell by 25 per cent through screening.

Courage in art

Screenings have cut the incidences of some cancers, while advance-ments have improved the efficacy of treatment

At a recent talk under PCC’s “I am Cancer Warrior” initiative to reach out to the community, library patrons at Bukit Merah Public Library were invited to sketch their well wishes for cancer patients.

Community Outreach

Screening to improve the oddsCurrently, only these three types of cancer

screenings are recommended by the Health Promotion Board.

According to Dr Kho, not all types of cancer can be screened, as some early stage tumours, such as lung tumours, may be too small to be checked. She also said that vaccinations and blood tests for cancer markers cannot replace screening as even if they give the tested individuals the all-clear, it does not mean that they are not at risk of getting cancer any more.

PCC dietitian Ms Chloe Ong spoke about how one should take note of one’s diet to cut down cancer risk. Some tips: Eat food that are lower in energy density, eat five servings of plant food a day, eat less red meat and processed meat, avoid alcohol, cut down on salt, etc.

Besides the talks, library patrons were also invited to sketch their well wishes over the three-day roadshow held at Bukit Merah Public Library.

Mr Tan Hwee Leong, 41, who brought his daughter to the library, was impressed by the event.

He said: “This is a good way to reach out to the young and educate them about cancer early. It will help them to deal with the emotions that come along with the disease.”

Mr Stanly Tan, 31, made a special trip to present his artwork. His mother had died two years ago from lung cancer, a mere two months after the diagnosis. His mum took the prognosis in her stride but during her last days, she was worried about how her loved ones will go on in life.

Knowing her worries, Stanly and his family made sure to reassure her that they would stay well, which helped ease her mind. Speaking of his personal encounter with cancer, Stanly said: “One of the key things that can help a cancer patient is the love of the family. Even when she is at the terminal stage, it helps and it is the only thing that we can give them.”

Mr Stanly Tan (above), whose mother died from lung cancer, made a special trip to present his artwork (left).

Fighting cancer

Breast cancer:Reduce your riskShould women go on hormone replacement

therapy (HRT) if this leads to an increase in the likelihood of breast cancer? Should women go

for mammograms regularly given that some research that says mammograms are not useful?

These were some of the questions that Dr Khoo Kei Siong, the Deputy Medical Director at Parkway Cancer Centre dealt with in a talk entitled “Do your lifestyle choices put you at a higher risk of breast cancer?” The talk was held at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Centre on 9 November.

In his welcome address, Mr Edmund Kwok, the Chief Executive of NKF said that the talks were to thank donors and supporters of the NKF for their contribution.

Dr Khoo noted that using a combination of oestrogen and progestin menopausal hormone therapy for more than five years leads to a 26 per cent increased chance of developing breast cancer. “However, HRT is still useful,” he noted. “Menopause comes with a lot of symptoms like hot flushes, mood changes. These are real issues. There is a role for HRT; it just has to be used judiciously.”

He also addressed the question of whether mammograms are useful. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year showed that mammograms have not done very much to catch cancer before it spreads.

Dr Khoo noted that metastasis is the main cause of death from breast cancer. “Screening reduces the risk of dying of breast cancer by 20 to 30 per cent,” he said. “We still believe it is useful. The downside is not enough for us to say the mammogram is not useful.”

He also spoke about the harmful genetic mutations BRCA1 and BRCA2 which have entered the spotlight – thanks to Hollywood star Angelina Jolie who went through a pre-emptive double mastectomy earlier this year. He noted that Ms Jolie had a harmful mutation in her BRCA1 gene that made her more likely to develop breast cancer. The genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 produce proteins that help to suppress tumours and repair DNA. Specific inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase the risk of female breast and ovarian cancers. Apart from having the mutation, Ms Jolie’s mother also developed breast cancer in her 40s.

As a result of all these factors, her doctors estimated that she had an 87 per cent risk of breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer. That is why she had a preventive double mastectomy and why she is planning a preventive oophorectomy, an operation to remove her ovaries, later.

However, just because she had had a double

mastectomy done, it did not mean that other women with the same defective mutation and similar family history ought to simply follow suit, Dr Khoo said. Other factors should be considered before such a radical option. For younger women who have the mutation and a family history of breast cancer, close surveillance (using MRIs or ultrasounds) are options. Chemoprevention such as tamoxifen was also possible, he said.

“For women who are considering bilateral mastectomies, I would advise them to have children early, have full-term pregnancies, and then encourage them to have ovaries removed after they have families,” he said.

Research has found that a full-term pregnancy before the age of 30 decreases the risk of breast cancer. There is a 50 per cent decrease in breast cancer rates compared with women who have never given birth or those who give birth after age 35, he noted. In addition, women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast cancer, 4.3 per cent less for

every 12 months of breast feeding.

Other things that women can do include c u t t i n g d o w n t h e i r alcohol intake. Women who consume about four alcoholic drinks per day are 1.32 times more likely to have breast cancer

compared with non-drinkers. Being at a healthy weight is also a good way to

reduce risk. Among post-menopausal women who have not used menopausal hormone therapy, the chance of getting breast cancer is higher in women who are overweight than in women who are healthy. “Women weighing more than 82.2 kg are 2.85 times more likely to have breast cancer than those weighing less than 58.2kg,” he said.

Exercise is also good for women. “Exercising strenuously for more than four hours a week is associated with reduced breast cancer risk,” he noted. “The average risk reduction is 30 to 40 per cent and the effect may be greatest for pre-menopausal women at normal or low body weight.”

In summary, to reduce the risk of breast cancer, women should have a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid excessive weight gain, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, have children early, breastfeed for a year or longer and rely on HRT for less than five years, he said.

Dr Christopher Goh, a senior ear, nose and throat surgeon, was the other speaker at the talk. He spoke on the topic “Growth in your neck and throat, is it always cancer?”

In his talk, he described various types of lumps in the neck and throat region to demonstrate how not all lumps in the area are cancerous.

PCC’s Dr Khoo Kei Siong talks about how lifestyle choices can affect the risk of breast cancer

What lowers risk A healthy dietRegular exercise Avoid excessive weight gainAvoid excessive alcohol consumptionHave children early

Serving You

Food on her mindDietitian Chloe Ong makes sure that patients get the best advice when it comes to eating right

When you are undergoing cancer treatment, even the basic human function of eating requires extra effort. Surgery, chemotherapy,

and radiation may cause patients discomfort and dissatisfaction in food consumption.

Some patients experience a loss of appetite, an altered sense of taste or even the inability to consume solid foods. Other patients may experience water retention or weight gain from certain medications. Fortunately, CanHOPE dietitian, Chloe Ong, is on hand to help, and patients do need to tackle their dietary woes on their own.

Ms Ong’s inclination towards healthy eating was cultivated from a young age.

Being the daughter of a vegetable wholesaler in Johor, she was exposed to a diverse variety of fresh vegetables and had the opportunity to enjoy them at almost every meal. Growing up, Ms Ong was conscious about her food choices and selected healthy meal options for herself and her family.

After high school, it was no surprise to her family that she had chosen to read dietetics.

Ms Ong elaborated: “During high school, my mum had advised me to major in a topic that interests me most and well, food was my obvious choice! I love eating and I wanted to discover the secrets of eating healthily.”

She then enrolled in the American University Program (AUP) at INTI College Malaysia, subsequently travelling miles away from home to complete her education at Kansas State University.

After graduating in 2007, she worked as a dietitian for CanHOPE in Johor Bahru before taking a taking a year off to do her post-graduate diploma at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She then uprooted to Singapore, joining Mount Elizabeth Hospital as a clinical dietitian for two years before moving onto Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC) in August 2013.

“After two years with Mount Elizabeth, I wanted to experience new challenges and immerse myself in a new environment,” said the 29-year-old.

As a dietitian with CanHOPE Counselling & Support Services, Ms Ong helps cancer patients manage their diets.

Due to chemotherapy, some patients experience bouts of nausea. Ms Ong educates patients on their nutritional needs and food options that are more palatable. For patients who have lost their appetites, she plays coach and motivates them to eat as they need the energy in their battle with cancer.

“For patients with no appetite, I will encourage them to eat energy-dense foods. Some people need nutritional supplements while others just require modifications to their diet. I may, for example, suggest stir-fried vegetables instead of steamed vegetables so that they get more calories,” she said.

Some patients find difficulty swallowing after radiation therapy. For such cases, she recommends alternative food options like soft foods or blended foods. For patients who need to lose weight, she advises them to do so without drastically changing their lifestyles.

“Instead of eating fried chicken, I will suggest

they have roast chicken,” she says. Every patient is different and so the advice is

tailored to his/her condition and needs. Ms Ong first obtains a history of the patient’s regular eating habits and based upon what the patient eats, she locates the problem and suggests options.

Says Ms Ong: “For example, I may find that the patient drinks five cups of milk tea a day. I will then suggest that he cuts down the amount to half a cup, rather than a full cup each time, or perhaps reduce the frequency to three cups a day. Alternatively, he may change the way that the tea is prepared by using low-fat milk.

“There is no one diet that fits all. It is really personalised.”

Ms Ong enjoys her work at Parkway Cancer Centre because it allows her to reach out to patients. “PCC has a suite of support group activities for patients,” she said.

She also enjoys her involvement in the support groups, presenting nutrition talks and interacting with patients outside a clinical setting. Patients and their families often send her thank-you cards and Christmas cards. These tokens of appreciation truly make her work life meaningful.

“I get satisfaction from making a difference,” she said.

“There is no one diet that fits all. It is really personalised.”

Ms Ong, on how she works with cancer patients’ diets

Serving You

A celebration of teamwork

Strong bonds in the PCC family enable it to give patients an unmatched quality of care and service

When the staff of Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC) got together to celebrate their seventh anniversary at Royal Plaza on

Scotts on 6 November, it was more than a festive celebration.

In dining together and raising their glasses to toast to PCC’s future, they were reflecting the unity that lay behind the success that the centre has forged in its seven-year journey.

More than just medical expertise and skilful organisation, it is the cohesiveness of the PCC family and the bonds that its members have formed, that have seen the centre through to this day.

By working hand in hand, doctors, nurses, counsellors and all the other support staff have been able to help patients along on their healing journey.

It is teamwork that has enabled PCC’s multi-disciplinary experts to operate across different hospitals and clinics.

And it is cooperation, that has enabled these professionals to work together to ensure that patients get the full range of personalised care.

In working together as a family, PCC has also been able to bring a special measure of heart to its service, so that patients find themselves included in this extended household when they come to the centre for treatment. It is an approach that PCC will hold on to, even as it strengthens its family to include a growing base of patients.

As its Medical Director Dr Ang Peng Tiam notes, what sets PCC apart is its wide range of professionals covering the full suite of services that a cancer patient needs – not just a high-powered team of oncologists, but also experts to follow up with the psychosocial

support crucial to recovery.“We now see doctors wanting to join us,” he says.

“We have interest in being part of the team from doctors because they feel there is something that we are doing is right for the cancer patient.”

One of his greatest sources of satisfaction is the fast diagnosis that PCC can offer. Often, it is able to diagnose the cancer, establish the extent of the spread of the disease, and draw up a treatment plan – all within 24 to 48 hours.

“We are able to deliver that care because we work in a very comprehensive manner where we include our radiologists, our radiotherapists and our surgeons coming together in tumour boards,” he says.

Another distinguishing feature of PCC is its suite of psychosocial support that all patients have access to. Nurses, palliative teams and CanHOPE counsellors are on hand to walk alongside them as they take their journey, so that their mental, emotional and spiritual needs are seen to, even as the oncologists focus on the medical aspects of their battle with cancer.

This is very much embodied in PCC’s support group, which it calls CanHOPE. It has offices in many of the countries whose patients the cancer centre takes care of, from Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia to Vietnam, the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. This allows the cancer centre to reach out to patients – often in their own language – to ensure that they feel comfortable.

Says Dr Ang: “Even though they had their treatment in Singapore, when they go back to the home country, there is a point of contact, someone they can talk to in their own language and culture, who can understand their problems.”

Parkway Cancer Centre staff celebrating their 7th anniversary celebration at Royal Plaza on Scotts in November.