Press Release - Immediate Release
March 17, 2016
Cancer patients, besides having to cope with treatment side-effects, also have to face many challenges such as emotional turmoil, family dilemma and financial pressure. Some patients fear that the news might frighten their children and disrupt their lives so they decided not to tell them. In fact most children may have already sensed something unusual. Speculations may lead to more fears and create emotional and behavioral problems.
The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society identified this service gap and, with the generous support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, launched the 3-year pilot HKACS-Jockey Club "Walking Hand-in-Hand" Cancer Family Support Project (WHIH), aiming to provide comprehensive support to patients and families. Today (Mar 17), we are honoured to invite Dr. Ko Wing Man, Secretary of Food and Health Department, The Government of the Hong Kong SAR; Mr. Stephen Ip Shu Kwan, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Dr. Leong Che Hung, President of The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society to officiate the Launching Ceremony.
Mrs. Chu Yeung Pak-Yu, Patricia, Chairman of Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, expressed her gratitude towards The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust during the Launching Ceremony. "Cancer patients have an interlocking relationship with their caregivers. It is crucial to provide holistic support services to caregivers as well. Cancer patients lack sustainable support from the community when resting at home after day time treatments in hospitals. In view of this service gap, we initiated the "Walking Hand-in-Hand" Cancer Family Support Project, which is endeavored to benefit the long term holistic rehabilitation of cancer patient and their families."
"The HKACS - Jockey Club "Walking Hand-in-Hand" Cancer Family Support Project provides sustained services to meet the needs of cancer patients and their families," Mr. Ip explained. "It helps cancer families live positive lives and enhances their quality of life through outreach programmes. Public education also helps arouse awareness of cancer prevention.
Most cancer services in Hong Kong focus on medical treatments. Cancer patients are now living longer as a result of the advancement in treatment. However, at the same time, many have to endure long term discomfort or deterioration in their quality of life due to treatment side effects and complications. Since the majority of patients are being cared for in out-patient settings, their family members have inevitably become their main caregivers. They lack relevant support when facing heavy care-giving burdens, life changes, emotional and other overwhelming distresses.
The HKACS-Jockey Club "Walking Hand-in-Hand" Cancer Family Support Project is a patient driven one with various services including "body-mind-spirit and community liaison", "intimacy and fertility issues". "focus intervention with caregivers" and "working with adolescents and children". The team will tailor its service to each case and also provide other practical cancer related information such as self-care, nutrition advice and emotional counselling.
The team will also identity isolated patients and make out-reach visits to address their needs. In addition to the base clinic at the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society on Hong Kong Island, our partner, the "Christian Family Service Centre" will also provide services for the first time at their Kwun Tong centre, to patients and families who live in Kowloon and the New Territories. The University of Hong Kong is commissioned to carry out evaluation studies to further enhance the program.
One of the main targets of this project is young children of cancer patients. Mrs. Chu Yeung Pak- Yu, Patricia pointed out, according to data from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, among the 28,936 new cancer cases in 2013, 25% of patients are at child-bearing age (aged 20-50), the need of support to their young children is pressing.
According to Prof. Chan Lai Wan, Cecilia from the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of The University of Hong Kong, cancer patients try to protect their children by keeping their conditions to themselves. They fear by breaking the news, their children will be worried and suffer emotional distress. Most parents do not believe their children to be capable of facing the truth that their parents are suffering from cancer, and worry that breaking the news would affect their academic results. Prof. Chan referred to an overseas study which showed that up to 25% of children of cancer patients will experience lowered and/or anxious mood, sleep problems, poor concentration or difficulties at school1. Another study even showed that up to 32% of adolescent boys and girls were reported to experience clinically elevated levels of emotional and behavioral problems throughout the first year after a parent was diagnosed 2. The effects are more obvious in girls, who were found to be more distressed than boys when parents are diagnosed with cancer. Adolescent girls also face significantly higher levels of anxiety or depression when their mothers have cancers rather than their fathers3.
She also pointed out by keeping their conditions from children, they feel more uneasy with less information. Some children are reluctant to voice out their emotions because cancer became taboo to them. Families may fail to notice and handle children's grief once they try to hide their true feelings. Their emotional problems will deteriorate. Destructive behaviors such as theft, violent assault, tantrums and drop out from schools may appear. Some of them may even suffer from psychosomatic disorders, resulting in sicknesses such as stomach pains and headaches which are not physically related.
Children wants their parents to trust them and allow them to join their beloved parents to fight cancer. In fact, study also shows that children have been found to cope better when being told about the diagnosis and treatment plan for their parents4.
Ms. Wong, aged 50, is the main caregiver to her grandchild as her daughter-in-law lives in mainland China. She has a very close relationship with her grandchild, she takes him to school and her grandchild goes to the market with her. Unfortunately, Ms. Wong was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2014. She suffered from side effects from chemotherapy such as hair loss and vomiting. Her 10-year-old grandchild was terrified by her change of looks and vomiting in the middle of the night. After being advised by a social worker of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, Ms. Wong explained to her grandchild and he eventually accepted and felt relieved. He even suggested his grandmother to shave her head to wear a wig or a hat. Ms. Wong was touched when her grandchild helped her to shop in the market and finish housework as she was too weak during chemotherapy.
Mr. Wan's two sons were 15 and 11 years old when their father was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal. The eldest son was shocked and worried when he first learned that his father was diagnosed with cancer. Mr. Wan started treatment a few days after and explained to his sons details about his treatment such as side effects and complications from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He also assured his sons that he has an over 90% chance of full recovery. Clear explanations before treatment and close relationship between families helped Mr. Wan to go through tough and painful side effects such as the loss of taste and serious mouth ulcers. His two sons did not experience emotional distress. Mr. Wan believes that patients should break the news to their children in a matter-of-fact manner and assure them their parents would eventually recover so they could walk together throughout the journey.
Children often find it difficult to articulate their sadness. Question and answer type of format can be daunting and intimidating for a child, especially when they have to try and explain themselves with their limited vocabulary. The WHIH project aims at utilizing expressive art therapy to assist children via different art forms such as drawing, motor movements, music and other activities. Art therapists may know more about children's feelings through their drawings to focus on addressing their issues and healing their hearts.
For anyone in need, please call 3921-3777/ 2950-8326.
