Download Fighting Ovarian Cancer

Issue 3 / 2010
A quarterly publication of National University Hospital
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05
08
New Medical
Centre
Opening 2013
Save Lives
With Clean
Hands
NUH Staff
Honoured For
Contributing
To Medical
Excellence in
Singapore
Fighting
Ovarian Cancer
Each year, 265 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in
Singapore. Among them, more than half will find themselves
at an advanced stage of the disease at the same time when
they learn about the condition. Eventually, one in three will
succumb to the disease.
These are somber facts about ovarian cancer, one of the
deadliest gynaecological cancers.
MICA(P) No. 071/09/2010
cover story
I
02
n June 2010, the National
University Cancer Institute,
Singapore (NCIS) was part of
the inaugural campaign organised
to raise awareness about ovarian
cancer. The national “Ovarian
Cancer Awareness Month” served
to remind women that for now,
early detection remains the best
chance of surviving the disease,
which is currently the fifth most
common cancer among Singapore
women, after breast, colorectal,
lung and uterine cancers.
frequently, bloating, difficulty eating
or feeling full. As the symptoms
are ambiguous, they can be
mistaken for other conditions such
as indigestion or “wind” and may
be ignored for some time, leading
to delay in diagnosis or an initial
wrong diagnosis.
Hence, it is important that
women familiarise themselves
with the symptoms and seek
medical advice early if these
symptoms persist.
Facts about ovarian cancer:
• Each year in Singapore, some 94 women will
die from ovarian cancer.
• It is the fifth most common cancer among
Singapore women, after breast, colorectal,
lung and uterine cancers.
• One in two women will be at the advanced
stage of the disease upon diagnosis.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
•
•
•
•
Abdominal pain
Frequent passing of urine
Bloating
Difficulty eating or feeling full
Consult your doctor if the symptoms persist
Early Detection Saves Lives
Associate Professor Jeffrey Low,
Chairman of the Organising
Committee, believes the key to
combating ovarian cancer lies in
awareness and early detection.
Says A/Prof Low, Senior
Consultant with the Department of
Obstetrics & Gynaecology at NUH
and Head of the Gynaecologic
Oncology Division at NCIS:
“Unfortunately, since many of the
symptoms of ovarian cancer often
mimic other less life threatening
diseases, an early diagnosis may
be overlooked. By helping women
to recognise the symptoms, and
monitor their persistency, women
can become stronger advocates
for their own health.”
NCIS Support Care Services:
Available from Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm except weekends and public holidays.
• CancerLine – 9722 0569
• Pro-Self Programme
Guest-Of-Honour Ms Ellen Lee, MP for Sembawang
GRC, and A/Prof Jeffrey Low at the public forum
organised to raise awareness on ovarian cancer.
This programme provides patients receiving chemotherapy treatment with the information,
skills and support to better cope with their illnesses. Individual counselling sessions are
conducted on weekdays by oncology-trained nurses who share self-care skills such as
managing the side effects of treatment.
• Home Care Programme
This service is for cancer patients who are well enough to be discharged from hospital
but still require some form of support and nursing care at home. The services include
changing of patient’s dressing, flushing of catheters, changing of nasogastric tubes. In
addition, caregivers will be trained on some basic nursing care skills. The service is free
and patients only pay for consumables.
• “Look Good Feel Better” Programme
This is a free national public service coordinated by the Singapore Cancer Society.
Conducted once every two months by volunteers and assisted by our oncology nurses,
the programme teaches female patients how to overcome the temporary appearancerelated changes from cancer treatment. It aims to improve their self-esteem and enable
them to manage their diseases and treatment with greater confidence.
For more information about our support care services call 6773 7888 or visit
http://www.ncis.com.sg/patient-and-visitors/supportive-care.html
Know The Symptoms
Majority of women with ovarian
cancer have vague and nonspecific symptoms like pelvic or
abdominal pain, need to pass urine
NCIS patients and their family members can call this line for cancer-related issues. The
Line is manned by trained oncology nurses.
The NCIS team on an outing with ovarian cancer awareness ambassadors.
Opening 2013
C
ome early 2013, NUH patients
will be able to consult their
doctors at a brand new medical
centre conveniently located above the
soon-to-be opened Circle Line Kent
Ridge MRT Station.
What is unique is that
this new building will hold
teaching and translational
clinical research facilities
that are designed into the
workflow of patient-centred
care. We have taken pains to
ensure that what we do here
will complement facilities
located elsewhere on the
NUHS-NUS campus, like
the Centre for Translational
Medicine that is currently
under construction.
Associate Professor Benjamin Ong,
Chief Executive, NUHS
The new 20-storey NUH Medical Centre
will house specialist outpatient clinics
relocated from the hospital’s Main
Building. This will allow space at the now
25-year-old Main Building to be upgraded
and reconfigured for the expansion of
existing and new patient care facilities,
including the National University Heart
Centre, Singapore (NUHCS).
The medical centre will be home to
a comprehensive range of specialist
clinical services, including the National
University Cancer Institute, Singapore
(NCIS). Patients and visitors can also look
forward to amenities such as retail and
food outlets.
Minister for Health Mr Khaw Boon Wan
officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony
of the new facility in March 2010.
Key Features
Hassle-free experience for patients
and visitors
• Conveniently located above the
Circle Line Kent Ridge MRT Station
• Accessible via Lower Kent Ridge
Road and South Buona Vista Road
• Lifts connecting MRT Concourse to
all levels of the building
• Link bridges connecting the new
building to Kent Ridge Wing, which
links to Main Building for seamless
patient transfer to other outpatient
and inpatient services
• Designated drop off / pick up points
for ambulance, private cars and
taxis for smooth traffic flow
Patient-Centric Design
• No more than three turns to patient
care areas
• Facilities designed from the
perspective of users to minimise
movement between different
patient care areas within the new
building and the entire hospital
campus, e.g. ancillary services like
imaging, dietetics are located within
close proximity to clinical services
• Separate corridors for patients on
trolleys to give greater privacy
The medical centre
will be connected to
other buildings within the
NUH complex by covered
walkways, and patients will
be able to find their way
around intuitively and easily.
Within the building, ancillary
facilities will be situated
within close proximity to
clinical services to minimise
patient movement. The
centre has been designed
such that the majority of
patients will not have to
make more than three turns
to get to their clinics or
patient care areas.
The new
medical centre
will enable
the NUHS to
effectively deliver
on its threepart mission
as an academic
medical centre
– to provide
quality, affordable
clinical care to
Singaporeans,
conduct
translational
clinical research
and educate our
future doctors
and nurses.
Adjunct A/Prof Joe Sim, Chief Executive
Officer, NUH
Mr Khaw Boon Wan,
Minister for Health
NUH news bites
New Medical Centre
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