NCIS Year End Celebration - Seed of Hope

This year, we will be having a joint celebration with the various support groups from NCIS. There will be individual sharing, medical talks, food, presentations by cancer survivors, carnival activities and sand art performance. Please come and join us. Open to all. Free admission. Please register attendance based on the contact provided above. Thanks.

Post event comment: Here is the video for event uploaded on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-GWATJVe7A

Head and Neck Public forum 2012

This year Head and Neck Cancer public forum was held at Tower Block Auditorium, NUH. There were 295 people who registered. The feedback comments were excellent.

Some of the wordings were like

"Best cancer forum attended so far"
"Motivational"
"Inspirational"
"Well organised. Good job"
"More of this forum - to hold every 6 months"

Below are some of the photos. A huge thank you to all the Radiotherapy Treatment Centre, Cancer Centre and ENT staffs from both NUH and TTSH. A special thank you to NCIS Corp Comm staffs who did a lot of preparatory work.

(From L-R) A/Prof Thomas Loh, Dr. Lim Chwee Ming, Dr. Ivan Tham, Dr. Lee Khai Mun, Dr. Choo Bok Ai,
Dr. Jeeve Kanagalingam, A/Prof Goh Boon Cher

(From L-R) Group Sharing. Jennifer, Dave, Carol, Richard, Robert, Yik Kwong,  Dr. Choo Bok Ai

Sharing from experiences and encouragement 

Volunteers for NPC support group- NPC OneHeart

300 people packed the auditorium and gave the forum a thumb up. "Best cancer forum attended" Keep it up

Excellence in Public Service Award 2012 - Mr. Peter Tang

Mr. Peter Tang has been the Chairperson of the NUH/TTSH NPC One Heart Support Group for the past 4 years. He was diagnosed and treated for NPC 22 years ago. Since then, he has been helping other cancer survivors and newly diagnosed NPC patients in their cancer journey towards recovery. His  passion and motivation to help other fellow survivors had won him the Excellence in Public Service Award 2012. The photo above was the prize giving ceremony at Marina Mandarin Hotel in May 2012 with Mr. Teo Chee Hean (Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore) as the guest of honour. Well done Peter! Keep up the good work.

Hearing Loss after treatment of NPC- How do we manage it?

Radiotherapy performed near the head and neck often have a common side effect – hearing impairments and other hearing/audio related problems  Several  members in our npc group  are now experiencing hearing difficulties of various degree as a result of the treatment done . 

What are the long and short term implications of this radiotherapy induced ear injuries? Are there better prevention and management measures available for members with this problem ? What about the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants? Will these help? 

What percentages of members suffer from acute middle ear infections, constant ringing in the ears (tinnitus), discharge and in some cases hearing loss? Is  the Eustachian tube damage as the result of the treatment? 

Besides hearing loss,  how about the other function of the ear – balancing.  Is a sense of transient imbalance a side effect too?

The Speaker : Dr Dr Liu Jia Ying

If any of you have concerns of the above please do not MISS this coming meeting. The details of the meeting are in the attachment above. Please email me to confirm your registration

For members who have difficulty opening up the attachment here is a brief info of the talk

Date : 12^th October ( Friday )

Topic : Hearing loss . How do We Manage It ?

Speaker : Dr Liu Jia Ying Time : 7 – 9pm

Venue : TTSH Conference Room 1

Peter Tang

Surviving Head and Neck Cancer - NCIS Public Forum 2012

It is with great pleasure this year that NCIS is  able to hold a public forum on September 16 in association with Singapore Cancer Society.

Synopsis: Public Forum in Head and Neck Cancers

September is the Head and Neck Cancer Awareness month in Singapore. Over the last few years, there has been advancement in the understanding of the causes and biology of the cancers and the effect on subsequent preventions and treatments. Viruses have been identified, as possible causes of cancers and the mechanism on how this happens will be discussed.  Modern surgical techniques with less invasive approach using robotic arm and successful restoration of voice after surgery are innovative ideas that are now in clinical practice. Alternative to surgery, newer techniques using modern radiotherapy machines and software improves precision targeting of cancer while minimizing the radiation damage to surrounding unaffected tissues. Molecular translational researches have resulted in the availability of new targeted systemic treatments besides chemotherapy in giving new hope to the management of advance head and neck cancers. NCIS believes in the holistic approach to cancer care and quality of life during and after cancer treatments. The NCIS Nasopharyngeal Cancer Support Group has been instrumental in providing supportive care from the Befrienders program that introduces cancer survivors to newly diagnosed patients. These cancer survivors and caregivers will be coming up on stage to share their cancer journeys on surviving head and neck cancers. 

 Come and join the forum. It is free. Refreshment and goodie bags to be given out. 

For more information and registration, please email npconeheart@gmail.com 

Thanks.

Dr. Choo Bok Ai

Organiser of the 2012 

NCIS Head and Neck Public Forum

Medical Adviser of the NPC One Heart Support Group

Is there a right diet to prevent cancer or recurrence of cancer?

Diet and nutrition are frequent topics that cancer survivors are concerned about. When doctors offer treatments in the form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy or surgery and in fact other medications to treat cancer, patients are often left with little choices what they themselves can do to fight the cancer. Leave it to the doctors - they are the experts. But, patients want to be involved in their cancer fight. Surely, they can do something more, something that can help fight the cancer or prevent the cancer recurrence. In medical term, this is called autonomy - to have power to make ones own choice for their own health.

It is therefore not a surprise that diet is the most common form of autonomy. There was a TV program a few years ago focussing that one is in control of their own health and this is strongly reflected to their own attitude of eating. In that program, volunteers underwent a whole body MRI to calculate their body fat in relation to their body mass and muscles. It was no surprise that they chose the overweight volunteers and journeyed through their eating habits over a few months to see whether they could undergo any transformation (not just slimming down to look good) but measuring their own activity endurance, energy level and biochemistry of their blood testing. One can apparently measure your body age as compared to your chronological age. You maybe 30 years of age, but the body MRI, fat to skeletal muscle composition, blood tests and endurance tests showed you are actually 40 years old, besides looking like 40 years old when you are actually 30 years of age.

So, when one member of the NPC support group email list asked whether one should only eat fruits and vegetables and omit any form of meat; as accordingly to her friend, the meat can feed the cancer, it generated a few feedbacks. So far, the feedbacks are saying this is not true, no scientific basic, eating a normal and balance diet is important, eating fresh food is good and one must balance it according to their own pleasure of eating/liking and almost all said - "You can eat everything, but in moderation". This statement is also the most common statement used if you asked any doctor what you can and cannot eat after the diagnosis of cancer.

The question whether eating fruits and vegetables prevent cancers and reduce the risk of recurrence and to totally omit meat can have the same effect is a age old question.

While the Western doctors have always advise that you can eat anything you want but in good proportion of protein (from lean meat and vegetables), carbohydrates, fruits and fibers and reduce processed food like tin food, preserved food and fast food with lots of fat and BBQ meat and to reduce sugar intake and salt intake, this is too general.

The NPC support group organized a talk on Eating Organic Vegetables and Fruits (Eating to Starve Cancer) and part of the talk involve watching a TED presentation by Dr. William Li, the President of Angiogenesis foundation. His video presentation can be found on this link:

http://www.ted.com/talks/william_li.html

Angiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels in the body. Cancer starts as a cluster of a few mutated cells, but can only develop into something larger with the aid of new blood vessels that support it. One can culture cancer cells on in a laboratory plate, but without being able to get new blood supply; the cancer cells will not grow and eventually outlive its own nutrients and die. Dr Li proposed that natural food products can inhibit and regulates angiogenesis and hence by eating these fruits and vegetables based products, one can starve the cancer by stopping the process of angiogenesis. He provided a list of such products, mainly berries, green vegetables, green tea and red wine. Note that none of the meat product is on the list.

Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries and Raspberries), Red grapes and Red Wine, Turmeric, Citrus fruits (Orange, Lemon), Grapefruits and grape seeds, Pineapples, Cherries, Tomato

Vegetables like Artichoke, Lavender, Pumpkin, Pak Choy, Parsley, Soy and Soy extract

Others like Ginseng, Nutmeg, Garlic, Green Tea (includes Earl Gray, Jasmine), Olive Oil, and Dark Chocolate

Rather than saying we should stop eating meat because it feeds the cancer, let say that eating fruits and vegetables with high anti-oxidant, natural and organic has shown some benefits in medical research that it can potentially reduces the risks of getting cancer. Certainly for bowel cancer, which is the No 1 cancer in Singapore, eating a high fiber diet and low in saturated fat reduces the risk. Eating a highly preserved meal and BBQ charred grilled meat also increases risks of stomach cancer. Eating salted fish had been linked to development of Nasopharyngeal cancer.

Final word – cancer development is a complex process. Angiogenesis is just one of the crucial mechanisms but did not explain the whole process. Judah Folkman discovered angiogenesis in 1971 and he was the youngest professor at Harvard Medical School. Despite availability of synthetic drugs that can block angiogenesis, these drugs do not work in all cancers and still not possible to cure cancer.  Hence, eating natural food products that regulate angiogenesis rather than blocking it is a good theory.

Certainly, I have patients who are vegetarians from birth and they still develop various types of cancer, just like non-vegetarian patients. And if they stir fry their vegetables, cook them in curry and BBQ their red pepper, onion, sweet-corn, snack on chocolates and potato chips and drink coke during their meals, their diet is still worse off than a sensible well balanced meat eater. There are certain amino acids from meat proteins that are absent from vegetables proteins.

I would therefore recommend eating more fruits and vegetables as provided from the list of Dr. Li recommendation (these are done in a scientific manner) and maintain a normal diet that COULD consist of lean meat in the correct proportion.  Thus, the TV program called “You are what you eat”  is true in some degree.

Of course eating all these healthy things also reduces the risk of high cholesterol, which leads to heart attack and stroke, which are the next most common cause of death besides cancer. Angiogenesis also plays a part in the development of these conditions as well.


So, if you do ask me in the clinic what diet you should be eating, my answer would be:


Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in anti-oxidant. Cut down on food with fat. Eat lean meat. Eat a portion of vegetable, fruit, lean meat and carbohydrate in each meal. Make sure you drink enough water. Do not eat tin food if possible. Cut down on fast and processed food. The best food is always the fresh one. Do not overcook your food. If you are not eating a healthy diet, supplement with multi-vitamins tablet. Eat food with high Omega-3 such as fish and consider a Omega-3 supplement if you seldom or don't eat fish at all. Exercise 15-20 minutes a day. Walking and doing house hold chores or walking upstairs to your flat are considered exercise.


The Lancet medical journal published a research by Taiwan doctors showing that light to moderate exercise by only  15 minutes a day can cut down the risk of dying by 14% and extend life expectancy by 3 years. The study involves 400,000 participants from different age groups. Further exercises beyond 15 minutes further reduces the risks. Moderate exercise includes walking upstairs or prolonged leisure walking. Contrary to popular belief that a good exercise has to increase the heart rates to beyond 100 and with sweating, simple exercise is now defined as simple housework such as vacuuming, walking up stairs, gardening and dancing aerobics at home. This equates to any activities that burn 3-6 times more calories than when at rest watching TV. So, if you can, walk upstairs, walk your dog, do simple aerobics at home, cycle at gym or a park, take your children to a park for 30 minutes, do some housework, wash your car manually, swim and go window shopping and get your groceries. Don’t just sit down to surf the internet, facebook and watch TV. Go and get some exercise and stay healthy.


(taken from http://serembancardiology.wordpress.com) - my brother who is a Cardiologist in Malaysia wrote the above in his blog. 


Reduce stress in life - choose  a hobby to reduce stress. Apart from everything mention above, the most important is to "Live your life being happy and fulfilled". If your happiness and satisfaction is to sometimes indulge in a Chilly crab (Warning - total calorie 1128 kcal)  - please do so without guilt. Likewise, some will say that "I must as well die if you stop me eating my Hainan Chicken Rice". So, be it. Eat your Hainan Chicken Rice (Warning - total calorie per plate is 607 kcal) everyday but supplement with steam Kai Lan vegetables without Oyster sauce and or cherry tomatoes and eat 1 portion of apple or orange. This is a balance diet remembering that I would prefer you to eat white rice with chicken alone occasionally as this has a lower calorie. Stop taking any soft drinks like Coke - this is pure sugar water only with no nutrition value - it is better to drink tea or soya bean (remember the angiogenesis theory) and make sure it has reduced sugar content.


So, if you ask me what you can eat or cannot eat or whether you should stop eating meat, I will never say - "Eat anything you want but in moderation". It is far more complex than this. 

Dr. Choo Bok Ai

Medical Adviser to NPC support group

NPC Talk May 2012

There are common questions that I get asked every week in my oncology clinic.  Can Traditional Chinese Medicine be used safely with chemotherapy or radiotherapy? What kind of food that I should eat to boost my energy and immune system to cope with the side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy? It is therefore my privilege to introduce Professor Teo Eng Kiat who will be giving a talk on TCM this week at NUH. He has vast experiences in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a practicing TCM physician with a specialist interest in Oncology at the Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution.  He has a PhD from the China Academy of TCM and a visiting Professor to the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. He was formerly the Principal of the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 10 years (till 2008).

Come and join us.

Dr. Choo Bok Ai
Consultant in Radiation Oncologist

The Befrienders Programme - a unique feature of NCIS NPC support group

In December 2010, the NPC One Hope launched the Befrienders Programme. Peter suggested the idea and the EXCO committee and medical advisers initiated and fine tuned the idea.

Basically, a Befriender is a cancer survivor who had survived the same cancer and hope to befriend a newly diagnosed NPC patient. He/She will to be a support and a psychological boost to the patient and his family. The patient will feel a sense of belonging and feel assured that there is someone who understand his fear and struggles

Subsequently, the Befriender's objectives are to raise the visibility profile of the NPC support group by introducing the group mission statement , activities/ programs to a new patient/survivor.  This will ensure  group support and continous care can be given throughout the treatment and recovery period of treatment of NPC.  

The Befriender will be stationed at the Radiotherapy Treatment Center at National University Hospital Radiotherapy and Tan Tock Seng Hospital. 

Befriender services are a volunteer service. As such, the nominated cancer survivors have taken their own half day annual leave to come into the hospital to see newly diagnosed NPC patients out of goodwill basis. Newly diagnosed NPC patients who are interested should let the Radiotherapy Treatment Center nurse aware of the need, so that appropriate appointment can be made in advance. 

Otherwise, the cancer survivors EXCO committee will be happy to stay back after the monthly session of the NPC support group meeting for the same purpose. 

Below is the written summary of a testimony by one of the newly diagnosed NPC patient when the Befrienders was first launched. Peter, Moses and myself was in the meeting room. 

Hi Peter/Dr. Choo,

I told Moses and Dr Choo that it was a miracle for us to meet you and the gang last December.  When my husband was confirmed to have npc, it was a long day running to various departments to get things done and we were exhausted by 5pm and were ready to go home to tell our children of the outcome.  Having to attend a support group meeting was wearisome and we thought it was useless.  God intervened.  You called us just when we were almost done.  We felt obliged and therefore found our way to the little room behind the carpark.  I am very thankful for all the sacrifices you guys made for people like us and I didn't realize that this 'befriender' group is a new project.  We have benefited a great deal from it and when I met Sylvia the first time, I wished I had met her earlier to learn more about how to handle the therapy.  Good job. 

YY Kwong (caregiver) – wife of RY, 1 year NPC survivor (written in December 2011)

Few months ago, Peter, Yvonne and myself visited another patient who attended the same Befriender's meeting session with RY. He had underwent radiotherapy/chemotherapy but relapsed a few months later and had to undergo surgery. 

Peter just received the Patient Exemplary Award on that day (30 September 2011) at TTSH. During refreshment time,  we were escorted into the VIP room (photos below). By 6p.m, Peter asked for permission to bag some of the leftover food (there were all good food) and said we ought to take them to visit this patient on the ward. 

When he saw us from his ward bed, he immediately lighted up and was very pleased he had visitors.  He just underwent a nasopharygectomy operation that lasted more than 6 hours and his nose was still in bandage and there were some blood on his dressing. Yet, he chatted as if the surgery was nothing. Peter then handed the food to him and said "This is for your family" - knowing that the patient cannot eat after the surgery. This patient has a young family and recently has some financial difficulties due to his cancer and lost of income. Peter knew his social background well enough to look into this fine details. 

Indeed, his family turned up later and the kids were excited about the food.

As I left the ward later, I felt happy that the Befrienders Programme has worked out well. I felt honoured to know Peter and Yvonne and many of the NPC cancer survivors especially those who are in the EXCO committee (Yip, Slyvia, Moses, Dave, Affendi, Richard, Carol) to have volunteer their time and energy to walk the journey together as a group.

Dr. Choo Bok Ai
Medical Adviser

Peter collecting the award from Prof Chee, CEO of NHG

Group photos with other winners for the award ceremony

In the VIP room

Photos with Prof Nellie Yeo, NHG Chief Quality Officer

NPC Year End Party 19th November 2011 at NUH. Coverage by MediaCorp Suria channel

The year end Party is our yearly Celebration of Life Party. This year, the title was "We have fought, we have endured and we have won". This is the first time that the party was held at NUH as previously for the past 2 years, it was held at TTSH.

The party was filled with Line dancing, piano recital by Peter, Song presentation by Slyvia and Dave and also Mr. Yip's students at the Jurong West Secondary School. The event was captured on TV and later was featured at the 8p.m Media Corp Suria news channel. Affendi and Said gave testimonies on their experiences and treatments. I was asked about NPC incidence, treatment and  NCIS NPC support group (see photos). We finished off the party with catered and home cooked food (pot-luck style)

I am thankful for the help from my colleagues from Radiotherapy Treatment Center and other departments in organizing the event. The monthly NPC meeting also relies heavily on my staffs support in the background and during the event day itself. They have volunteered their Saturday afternoon (NUH) and Friday night (TTSH) every alternating months to help out. 

Below are some testimonies on the event:

1) Hi Peter/Dr. Choo

Here are my feedback for the Thanksgiving Party last Sat

The programme was done with lots of fun and easy to enjoy events like the karaoke, line-dancing and short sharing. The MC, Sylvia, created a light-hearted and celebratory mood. Time was given to catching up with each other and also making new friends. Great.The lunch was good and many of us brought some food for sharing too.The involvement of some Secondary School students to come and help to set up the place and to entertain us with an item is commendable. Word of thanks to the organisers who not only enabled the event to happen but also donated generously to the lucky-draw prizes. Their enthusiasm was seen beaming in the way they serve.

The goal of this group which is to help the pool of survivors of NPC is indeed a goal worth more support from our governmental agencies.  

My appreciation and thanks to all organisers…..

Regards

RY

2) Hi Peter/Dr. Choo

The theme ‘Celebration of Life’ was appropriate because every extra year as a survivor is something to be thankful for. The programme also put in perspective the role of the caregiver, without them, the journey for the cancer patients would be difficult. It was a platform for survivals to encourage one another into a positive lifestyle and also provided a network for them to meet both emotional and physical needs.  The party is a culmination of the year’s events of talks and forum, something which I have benefited tremendously even as a caregiver.  Apart from the professional teachings, interaction with fellow survivors gives insight to practical tips which are impossible during visits at the doctors’ clinics.The atmosphere and setting was relaxed and ideal for a party for people who know each other. 

YYKwong (caregiver) – wife of RY, 1 year NPC survivor

3) Hi, Peter,

Carol and I would like to thank you, and the other organizers, for arranging a thoroughly enjoyable Celebration of Life party for the support group last Saturday, the 19th.

A Celebration, indeed. The survivors' enthusiastic participation in learning and practicing line dancing, and joining in the karaoke renditions of life-affirming songs, was both fun and inspirational.  Seeing people who a short time ago were in danger of not seeing another year of life laughing and having a good time was a joy.

It was particularly enjoyable to discover the talents of our own members: performing on the piano and singing with "Singapore Idol" skill and verve.  We could have our own talent show!

Along with such nourishment for the soul, the nourishment for the body that was contributed by the members, as well as the Oral-7 sponsor was happily devoured by all. 

It was great, also, to see the participation by many of the healthcare workers -- doctors, nurses and staff -- who were so instrumental in the survivors being able to participate.  Healing is best done as a team effort, and it was great to see that continue long after treatment. After all, the long-term recovery process needs to be part and parcel of a patent's "treatment".
 So... thanks again, Peter, Dr.Choo and team, for a well-organized and fun Celebration of Life.



Richard Gascoigne (caregiver) & Carol Moosdeen
(2 year old NPC cancer survivor)

4) Dear Peter/ Dr. Choo

I feel the party went on rather well.

Sylvia was awesome in her engaging the participants. She really got everyone

moving in the line-dancing segment - moving their feet, butts, or frantic clapping and arm waving. Not forgetting the beautiful duet with Dave.

Yip and the JWSS students added a zest and young feel to the party, with their acrobatic dancing.

NUH staff put tremendous efforts to ensure a successful event. This is over and above their regular duties at work. Kudos to them.

Thanks must also be expressed to those who contributed prizes for the luck draw, and food at the potluck. There was so much food.

Cheers,

Moses

5) I think it gets better every year.

The best party ever.

Yip KG

6) Personally, it is gratifying to note that at every support meeting, there are lot of affirmation, handshakes, hugs and advice among members. I guess this is what make the support group special - these lovely and vivid memories of members smiling, dancing, personal sharings of their struggles, no pretentions , just candidly baring out their hearts with tears about their fears.....and shoulder to lean on. Thanking you all for these lovely and vivid memories which will etched in the hearts of the Exco. On the point of support, on e of the greatest supporters of the npconeheart suppport group are the onco staff of the NUHS and TTSH. They have been quietly providing the logistical, administrative support and whatever help for the group. Kudos to them for all invaluable help. 

Thanking all of you (including the staff) for rekindling the light in all of us. 

Peter Tang

7) Hi Yvonne and all, Gd morning! 

I agree that it was a great party. From Peter's very professional piano recital to Sylvia's superb opera-class singing and the volunteer KOK singers, the students/line dancers the testimonials sharing, we were just overwhelmed by the many who stepped forward just to share the moment, be it joy, happiness or personal experience.  

Many Thks to so many of u and family members/loved ones and so many NUH staff led by Dr Choo, whom I can't list all in the email, and 1 - Rose, even turned up with her family - big and small as well, just to support us. What more can I say, words just cannot describe the good feeling of not fighting this disease alone, and all of u around who care and show concern for us survivors. This is my 'fortune', better than striking 4D/Toto!

With hope, we shall continue to live life to the fullest everyday, and as Peter puts it, we celebrate another year in life and our pursuit of hope, and we are grateful that we made it another year. Let's continue to believe in ourselves and make it happen for all.

Just want to share this lyrics from a Media Corp Chinese Drama - 出路， Theme Song back in 1998 - 我吃的起苦 - “走出去就有路，寻见到就有福，。。。. The story is about our ancestors who migrated from China in the late 1800s and early 1900s to 'Nanyang' or Singapore, to make a living for themselves and family, in the harshest environment both politically and economically. We, Cancer survivors/patients are just like these new migrants back then when life was so uncertain and future was not even imaginable, and yet they made it, thru perseverence, discipline, and the never-give-up spirit. They broke out of their mould to venture overseas to take the challenge, to find a way out so that life can be better for themselves and their children. This song lyrics is so well written and the tune is so 'power-pact', that it instills a powerful strength in me that we can do it, starting anew with a new lease of life, with the right spirit and attitude, just like our ancestors. I'll make sure that we hv this song listed on our get-together KOK next time.       

Cheers

Dave 

8) The Staff Lounge is a nice venue for the Party.  The Caregivers appreciation was meaningful and well organised.  Sylvia was super MC and the duet with Dave was great.  Rusia also added onto the fun.  We had a good range of participation/appeal - new generation (JWSS) and oldies (opera singing).  Also multi-racial, with Rusia singing a Chinese song.  We really achieved a time of Hang Loose and Have FUN. 
  
Also thanks to all who worked behind the scenes which might have gone un-noticed.  To J (Moses wife) and two lovely daughters, N and A.  One of whom got univ. exams today, but took precious time off to help out at the registration counter, when she could have spent time at home studying for her exams.  Their kind assistance helped free me to concentrate on the Lucky Draw and Pot Luck. 
  
To Peter, for the many hours of doing up the powerpoint and phonecalls to the survivors/caregivers personally besides sending emails as reminders. 
    
Cheers 
Yvonne

Banner - Celebration of Life Party 2011
We have fought, we have endured and we have won

Line dancing

Media Corp Suria interview

Media Corp Suria interview

Dave and Slyvia (MC) 

Peter on the piano

Dr. Choo playing the guitar

Group photos

Staffs and volunteers

Listening to talk

Our "Birthday" cake

NCIS cancer survivors celebration party - 26 February 2012

Dear Members,

This week, NCIS is celebrating cancer survivors day by bringing together all the different cancer groups. Some of the EXCO committee members from our groups at NUH and TTSH will be there to represent the NPC cancer survivors.

I believe it is a good opportunity to come together as a group and to showcase our experiences in running our group and learn from other groups about their experiences in coping and surviving cancers.  The registration fee is $10 to cover the refreshment and various activities. Please do register with Patrick.

See you there.

Dr. Choo Bok Ai
Medical Adviser

LATEST UPDATE - NCIS WILL ABSORB ALL CHARGES. THE EVENT IS NOW FREE FOR ALL! COME AND JOIN US.

FREE

March 2012 NPC Support Group Talk at NUH

Dear Members of the support group,

For 12years after treatment  I consistently maintain a good oral hygiene using sensodyne , flossing etc.. However from about the 8^th year onwards  my gums began to recede , sensitivity got worse , gums were turning pale and bled easily. I guessed this deterioration has began as far back as when I finished the treatment.  Then the  doctors did not give any warning concerning this or any information related to Oral hygiene . Ironically  at a talk which I initiated at the support group on oral care and hygiene for npc patients , I learnt clearly the cause and effects of radiotherapy on gums . I learnt about biotene gel  , paste and saliva substitutes.  .Now after a period of consistent application , the bleeding has stopped, the sensitivity has reduced  and the gums looks much better. A recent visit to consult  my dentist also showed that there might be a decay in one of my tooth in an xray taken . Scaling too has become a challenge cos of the sensitivity of the teeth

It has been 20 years after treatment and I find that one of the side effects that I have to be content with is still the dryness of the mouth and problems relating to oral matters . I believed that this is one area that I need to be on my toes . Therefore I   have consistently maintained a good followup program with my Dental Doctor who will monitor any changes knowing my history of NPC

I believe too that  most of us do experience various degree of post radio side effects of the oral cavity . What are the long term implications for the survivors with  damage salivary glands , how about saliva substitutes, problems with gums, sensitivities of the teeth , can one  remove a decay tooth ?  if a tooth can't be extracted what are the options available ?  When does one do  a root cannel treatment ?  Why do we  need to avoid using  mouth gargle with alcohol ?  Can constant use of the chewing gums help to stimulate the salivary gums ? When I consume fruits like strawberry , pineapples , why do my teeth feel more sensitive after I eat fruits like strawberry , pineapples or even after eating chocolates ..? What are the latest oral products  available in the market ? ……All these questions highlight some of the  problems that we survivors face. If any of you have queries concerning your oral health please do email me your questions so that I can forward it to Dr Shawn Goh .

Our speaker Dr Shawn Goh spoke to us on the same topic last year and we have invited him back because from the survey taken members benefited much because of his clear , concise and humourous way in sharing the information .

See you on the 3rd March. Admission is free. 

Regards,

Mr. Peter Tang