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Cancer Caregivers: The Greatest Form Of Support Through The Cancer Journey

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Portrait of Dr Ooi Wei Seong
Dr Ooi Wei Seong

October 10th, 2019· 5 min read

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I just want to be prepared...

Caregivers are the people that provide physical and mental support for cancer patients. They are undoubtedly an irreplaceable force and an important aspect in a patient’s cancer journey.

Cancer is scary and stressful for anyone. Its diagnosis tends to be sudden and random. I would believe that not one person in this world could have been prepared for it.

Treatment for cancer can be a long and tiring process, both physically and mentally. Caregivers are the ones that can give the greatest support to the patient throughout the treatment.

Providing support can be stressful in itself. I wrote this article to highlight the importance of caregivers. If you know of someone who is a caregiver, do give them a warm hug and applause. You may not realise it, but they are in as much stress and worry as the patients.

Lung cancer - a very common cancer among Singaporeans

As an oncologist, I have met patients and caregivers for different types of cancers. The case that I will be highlighting today is lung cancer. In Singapore, it is the 2nd most common type of cancer in men and the 3rd in women [1].

The spreading of cancer in the lungs

stages-lung-cancer-caregiverThe problem with some cancers is that they are often diagnosed only after it has developed into a later stage. This is because there are no symptoms in the early stages of most cancers.

The case I am going to highlight today is a patient who got diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. It had affected his right lung and spread to his lymph nodes.

Diagnosing lung cancer

how-lung-cancer-diagnosed

When I first met him, he said “I have been coughing a lot lately and it is painful now. I even cough blood.”

As with all my patients, I sent him to get some tests. This included:

  • Sputum cytology
  • Lung X-ray

A quick note is that the test you require might be different from this patient. It will depend on your condition so do consult your doctor!

When I informed him that he had stage 4 cancer, he directly deflated on his seat. His daughter who came with him was also in shock. Within those few days from the first meeting, one person became a lung cancer patient and his daughter became a caregiver.

What are the treatments options for lung cancer?

treatment-options-lung-cancer-caregivers

There are different types of treatment for lung cancer. These include:

  • Surgery
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation
  • Targeted therapy
  • Immunotherapy

Which treatment method the patient takes really depend on their condition. Patients may also need a combination of those treatment methods. Keeping up with everything and also handling the pain and stress is a huge burden to patients. This is where the role of caregivers is very important.

They play a role in maintaining: [2]

  • Treatment compliance
  • Continuity of care
  • Social support

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Lung Cancer Treatments in Singapore by an Oncologist.

What is the treatment process for lung cancer like?

chemo-side-effects-caregivers

The initial treatment could span over a year. That said, treatment and check-ups have to continue way beyond that. In some cases, it could even be throughout their whole lifetime.

Treatment, especially chemotherapy also have apparent side effects. You might have heard that people lose their hair. Along with that, patients may experience: [3]

  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhoea
  • Weakened immune system
  • Overall fatigue

Throughout that long process, caregivers are the one there to give patients the greatest support. The moral support of simply being there at all times is really as important as the treatment itself. This is something that only family members or closest friends can do.

How does treatment affect caregivers?

Being a caregiver tends to mean that your schedule will change according to the patient’s treatment. It will affect the time you have for yourself and your own social life.

In some cases, cancer patients might also no longer be able to work. The caregivers thus have to be responsible for all expenses, including the household and the treatment fees of the patient. That is a huge burden for anyone.

How can caregivers find support?

Doctors and nurses at the clinic visit will always be there to guide you. If you are still worried, there are actually official training sessions available in Singapore. For that, there is also a Caregivers Training Grant worth up to $200 a year per patient.

You can find out more about that here.

You are amazing!

Supporting someone throughout the long and complicated treatments is stressful in itself. When you add the financial burden on top of that, it could be detrimental to your health, relationship, and overall quality life. I wrote this article because I want to highlight how important it is for caregivers to also take care of themselves!

If you are a caregiver, give yourself a hug and pat your shoulders. You have done an amazing job so far and now it is time to take care of yourselves.

You can find support too!

cancer-support-group

There are support groups all over Singapore that can help you as a caregiver. There are different ones for all different kinds of chronic diseases. Just remember, you are not alone!

You can find a list of caregiver support groups here. Note that there are many other groups available. Do ask your clinic or search online to find out more.


Dr Ooi Wei Seong is an oncologist at International Cancer Specialists. His main interest lies in the treatment and management of lung, breast, and colon cancers. On top of his clinical work, he is also an active speaker, tutor, and researcher who has participated in multiple clinical trials.

Read more from Dr Ooi Wei Seong in his Q&A here.

Would you like to ask any related health questions?

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I hope that you've found this guide useful, and perhaps gained more insight into the application process. Most of the admissions-related information (admin and logistics wise) can be found on the official NUS Faculty of Dentistry website.

To help yourself out, you should take note of what people look for when they look for a dentist.

This article was written by Dr Ooi Wei Seong and published on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. Human medically reviewed the article on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. The last update was made on Friday, 18 September 2020.

Disclaimer: Opinions belong to the author and not to the platform.

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