New CancerLink support centre in the community

Hello my name is Sarah. Chinese New Year is a time of celebration, for my family it is also a time of reflection. Just before Chinese New Year in 2015 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was only 35 with two young sons aged 8 and 2 years old.

I had visited the Doctor as I had found a small lump in my breast but was so shocked to hear the diagnosis, I was too young to have breast cancer! He talked about treatment but all I heard was chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  All I could focus on was the thoughts of my husband and family, how could I tell them? What would happen? How would we get through this?

My husband and I decided not to tell Harry, our oldest son and we only talked about the treatment when we thought he was asleep or staying at his Grandmother’s house. I lost my appetite and began to lose weight and my hair started to fall out.  It was then that we received a call from Harry's school.  Harry had been in trouble and was not doing well in class. I was so surprised, Harry was a good student and popular with the other children.  We confided in his teacher as to what was happening in our lives.

Hope in the darkness

Harry's teacher told us about Hong Kong Cancer Fund and I went to see them in their CancerLink Centre in Tin Shui Wai. I was a little nervous about going but now look back and realise it was the best thing that I did during my cancer journey.

Everyone was so helpful and professional and all of the services and support they gave to me and my family were free of charge.

I spoke with a Social Worker and she told me about the Rainbow Club which helps children who have a parent or relative affected by cancer. She also suggested ways in which we could tell Harry about my cancer and how it would help him understand. It was such a relief to have support. Harry was my immediate concern.

The team also offered me their wig service and my husband and I had couples counselling to discuss the changes to my body. I also attended workshops on pain management, nutrition and worked one-on-one with the Clinical Psychologist.  The support they gave us is beyond anything that I can describe.  Everything was free and given with love and compassion.

Timely support from CancerLink

Last year, my breast cancer returned. Again, the CancerLink team helped us as a family process the initial shock and supported us through the journey.  Harry is now 12 and his brother is 6 and our family is strong, we communicate and discuss our feelings and spend time together.I feel more hopeful and confident now that I have a network to support me through the good days and the bad days.

I am forever indebted to the support of the Cancer Fund and was delighted to hear they are opening a new Women's Cancer Care Centre in Central that will focus on the special needs of women who have been diagnosed.

Please do help support other families like ours to get back on track.

Sarah

Links:

• Visit our homepage for more ongoing projects

We are starting up a new centre exclusively for women cancer patients:

• Supportive, specialist cancer care services for women
• Provide specially adapted services for women

Our new centre puts the focus on sensitive women's health issues such as these. We provide specialist services to support women across all areas of their life – work, home, family and social lives – helping them look forward to a brighter tomorrow.

Four of the ten most common cancers among women in Hong Kong affect women only. The most common types are:

1. Breast
2. Corpus uteri
3. Ovarian
4. Cervical

Female cancers can have a significant impact on everything: femininity, sexuality and even fertility.

We will be adopting a holistic approach to help the users navigate their cancer journeys with confidence. We’ll also provide support services for their partners and children, helping them adapt and understand how to give the users the level of care and reassurance the users’ need.

A full range of support services will be led by medical professionals:

Professional services/workshops

One-to-one sessions and tailored workshops hosted by registered nurses and dietitians.

Here, we'll equip the users and their loved ones with the knowledge and skills needed to manage cancer treatment and its side effects. We can also advise them on recovery and rehabilitation.

Individual/family counselling

Counselling sessions hosted by clinical psychologists and social workers with experience of female cancers.

We'll help the users and their family better understand the diagnosis, manage the hereafter emotions/fears and discuss issues relating to sexuality/intimacy.

Wellness and holistic healthcare

Weekly wellness programmes aimed at strengthening the body and mind, including:

• Yoga therapy
• Breathing and relaxation
• Meditation

Peer-support groups

Seven self-help groups for women's cancer, providing valuable information and encouragement for the users and their families.

Art therapy

Art therapist-led sessions designed to help unlock suppressed feelings and communicate better with loved ones (both verbally and non-verbally) using music, visual art, drama and dance.

Body image support

'Look good, feel better' programmes developed to help improving ones’ confidence, quality of life and overall well-being. We provide:

• Free headscarf/hair styling
• Wigs for loan
• Breast prosthesis/underwear subsidies

All the services mentioned above are free of charge and can only be made possible through donations you. Your generosity will directly benefit those touched by cancer in Hong Kong.

Links:

• https://www.cancer-fund.org/en/