Medical Professionals Version - National Cancer Centre Singapore

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PAGE A6 People SALUBRIS July / August 2009 10 YEAR DEVOTION WINS SISTER CHIEW CHENG FONG RECOGNITION “Surprised, but an honour” were her first words when Sister Chiew Cheng Fong learnt that she was among this year’s National Day Awards recipients. The National Day Awards are a means of recognising various forms of merit and service to Singapore. For her 30-year-long devotion to nursing, Cheng Fong has been conferred the Efficiency Medal. Instituted in 1969, the Efficiency Medal may be awarded to any of the following persons for exceptional efficiency or exceptional devotion to duty or for work of special significance: • any public officer; • any officer employed by any statutory authority (other than a Town Council); • any person in the service of any organisation, association or body rendering services in the field of education; or • any person employed in any company which is wholly-owned by the Government and which is carrying on business mainly as an agent or instrumentality of the Government. With her years in nursing, Cheng Fong has tended to countless patients and touched the hearts of many. She believes that a crucial ability of a nurse is interpersonal interaction with patients. Creating bonds and forming relationships with patients enables her to understand their feelings better and hence help them soothe their sufferings through effective ways apart from medical attention. A model nurse extends a helping hand or listening ear to all patients whenever possible. When asked what challenges nurses face in today’s society, she said, “Patients’ expectations are different now compared to the past. They are now smarter and more knowledgeable thanks to the extensive amount of information available.” Her advice to patients however is: “They need to sieve through it as well as speak to their healthcare professionals for clarification.” Yet for someone who has displayed such enthusiasm towards an arduous career path, her reason for taking up nursing was unexpectedly casual. “After finishing my ‘A’ Levels, the first job that I saw in the papers was a nursing one. Hence, I just applied for it,” came her straightforward reply. No motivations, no inspirational stories. Despite the feeble attachment, she has never looked back since that day and is now the senior nurse clinician of the operating theatre / endoscopy suite at NCCS. Cheng Fong has been with NCCS since 1999 when the centre first opened its doors. Recounting the early days, she cited the establishment of the Ambulatory Treatment Unit (ATU) as one of her most memorable experiences. As the person who commissioned the ATU and the Operating Theatre (OT), she had been under intense pressure, but the outcome was worth all her trouble. “It was a real challenge. Getting to know people, equipments and liaising with vendors.” Come November, she is due to receive her medal. But nevertheless, she will not let the recognition swell her ego and will continue to dutifully offer her services to her patients. By Joshua Tan
WHERE DID YOUR FINGERPRINTS GO? PAGE A7 People SALUBRIS July / August 2009 Most of us assume that our fingerprints are permanent and unique. One can hardly dispute this, considering that fingerprints have always been regarded as the most reliable method of identification. Hence, the government agencies would seek your fingerprint if you want to apply for an identity card, or a passport. Those who are illiterate can use their fingerprint to open a bank account. Not only that, convicted criminals are fingerprinted so that they can be tracked down for any future offences. For most of us, the fingerprint is like our shadow. It goes with you wherever you are. But this was not to be for an Indonesian travelling abroad to visit his relatives. Mr S (as he chose to remain anonymous) turned up at a United States airport with no fingerprints when the border security checked him to verify his identity. The 62-year-old was detained for four hours as he tried to explain his predicament. Eventually he was released when the authorities determined that he was not a security threat. Where did Mr S’s fingerprints go? His doctor, Senior Consultant Dr Tan Eng Huat of the Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, shed light on this mystery. For more than three years, Mr S, who was diagnosed with Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, has been on a course of orally-administered cytotoxic drug Capecitabine. The drug, also known as Xeloda, is commonly used for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and cancers of the colon, head and neck and stomach. The drug spawns some dermatological damages such as blistering on the hand and foot in up to 40 per cent of the patients. More severe side effects include peeling and bleeding on palms and soles of feet. Over time, their fingerprints vanish. But this does not mean that patients should refrain from travelling abroad. Dr Tan has a simple remedy that will ease some of the inconveniences they would experience with security authorities: carry a doctor’s letter on oneself at all times, especially when they are travelling. The spin-off for the whole saga however saw Dr Tan and his colleague Dr Choo Su Pin in the centre of a media storm when the news was reported in the Annals of Oncology, a monthly journal published on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. From Colombia to the UK and Europe, the world’s news media hounded the two doctors for a story for more than a week. By Carol Ang PROMOTIONS NAME Dr Yap Swee Peng Dr Lim Soon Thye Dr Toh Chee Keong Dr Tham Chee Kian TITLE Radiation Oncology, Acting Director, Public & Patient Education Deputy Head, Medical Oncology Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology Associate Consultant, Medical Oncology
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Page 3 and 4: PAGE A3 In Other Words SALUBRIS Jul
Page 5 and 6: ADVANCES IN RADIOTHERAPY IN THE MAN
Page 7 and 8: RATIONAL APPROACH TO TESTICULAR SWE
Page 9: 40th SMA National Medical Conventio

Medical Professionals Version - National Cancer Centre Singapore

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