Rehab centre in Jurong East for cancer patients
Past and present cancer patients can now get help at a one-stop rehabilitation centre operated by the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS).
Located at the JEM Office Tower in Jurong East, the SCS Cancer Rehabilitation Centre links cancer patients and survivors with Cancer Care Navigators, who will design physical, nutritional and psychosocial programmes to suit their needs.
The centre, which began operations last November, has helped more than 70 patients with its services, which are mostly free except for specialised rehabilitation programmes.
At the centre's official launch yesterday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said specialised cancer rehabilitation services and programmes were previously limited to the hospital-setting.
"As a result, most patients are unable to receive sufficient follow-up rehabilitation after they have been discharged from the hospital. In this regard, I am glad that SCS, with the SCS rehabilitation centre, will help to close that gap," he said.
Cancer remains the No. 1 cause of death here, contributing to 30 per cent of total deaths last year.
In 2014, surveys done by the National University Hospital and SCS showed that 87 per cent of patients suffer lifelong, life-impairing changes in their physical abilities as a result of cancer and its treatment.
Of these, only 46 per cent of patients and survivors sought physical rehabilitative treatment. Reasons cited included difficulty with transport and high costs and inaccessibility.
The centre is near three hospitals, and also provides transportation services for patients who are financially in need or immobile.
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