XN000022-1977-12-08 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1977

REHABILITATION OF CANCER PATIENTS URGED

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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, HAS CALLED FOR MORE CONSCIOUS AND ACTIVE EFFORTS BY PROFESSIONAL BODIES, BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT SERVICE, TO REHABILITATE PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR CANCER DISEASES.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ANTI-CANCER SOCIETY THIS EVENING, HE SAID THE FACT THAT MANY PATIENTS HAVE BEEN TREATED AND SURVIVED THE PROVERBIAL FIVE YEARS IS A TRIBUTE TO THE ADVANCE IN THE TREATMENT OF THIS DISEASE.

+FOR THESE SURVIVORS, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES MUST BE IMPROVED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THIS CAN ONLY COME ABOUT IF SOME CONSCIOUS AND ACTIVE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO REHABILITATE THE PATIENTS,+ HE SAID.

DR. THONG, WHO IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY, POINTED OUT THAT THE ACTUAL METHODS OF REHABILITATION WILL VARY WITH DIFFERENT CASES AND CIRCUMSTANCES,

HE CITED THE EXAMPLE OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM CANCER OF THE THROAT WHICH, IF TREATED ADEQUATELY, HAS A GOOD PROGNOSIS.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE SAID, THESE PATIENTS HAVING THEIR VOICE BOX REMOVED LOST THE IR ABILITY FOR NORMAL SPEECH.

+BE THAT AS IT MAY, WITH ADEQUATE REHABILITATIVE SPEECH THERAPY THEY ARE ABLE TO REGA IN THE ABILITY TO PHONATE AND THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE AS VOCAL AS BEFORE, THEY CAN WITH DIL IGENT PRACTICE MAKE THEMSELVES UNDERSTOOD, HE SAID.

DR. THONG SAID A PATIENT WITH BREAST CANCER WHO HAS HAD TO HAVE HER BREAST REMOVED ALONG WITH THE TUMOR WILL BENEFIT IMMENSELY FROM POST-OPERATIVE EXERCISES IN THE FORM OF PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.

+THESE WILL HELP HER TO REGAIN MOBILITY OF THE SHOULDER GIRDLE OF THE SIDE INVOLVED AND TO OVERCOME THE EFFECTS OF THE TRAUMA DUE TO SURGERY, HE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR SAID ALTHOUGH THE REHABILITATIVE ASPECT OF CANCER HAS NOT BEEN EMPHASISED OR GIVEN MUCH PUBLICITY, IN FACT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITIES IS BEING CARRIED OUT AND A LOT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

+THERE IS OF COURSE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN BOTH THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF THE SERVICES AND IT IS MY FERVANT HOPE THAT THE SOCIETY WILL REMAIN IN THE FOREFRONT IN THE BATTLE AGAINST CANCER AND TO BRING ABOUT IMPROVED FACILITIES FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THOSE WHO SURVIVE THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE,+ HE ADDED.

DR. THONG PAID TRIBUTE TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE IR DEDICATION AND DEVOTION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER DISEASES.

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