AYUBOWAN

WELCOME

National Cancer Institute

Maharagama

We warmly welcome all of you who come to our hospital for treatment. We hope that through our services, we can make your time here more pleasant and help you in your journey towards recovery.

What is a cancer?

The primary building blocks of our bodies are cells. These cells grow and develop according to the function assigned to them by the body and under the body's strict control. If, however, in a certain part of the body these cells divide and proliferate out of control, then a cancer is formed. Every tumor that grows in the body is not a cancer; however, it is extremely advisable that you seek medical advice regarding your particular condition.

What are the treatment options for cancer?

1. Surgery

2. Chemotherapy

3. Radio therapy

4. Hormone therapy

5. Immuno therapy

How can you deal with the treatment?

We can divide all illnesses into two broad categories – physical illnesses and mental illnesses. What you have contracted is a physical illness. This can be treated very successfully if you develop a healthy mental attitude towards it. If you develop your self confidence as well as a positive attitude to your illness and to life in general, this will help you immensely. You need not be the target of others' sympathy just because you happen to be a cancer patient. Show everyone that you have the strength to face all challenges successfully. Gather together that strength within yourself. Now more than ever, you have the responsibility to see that you eat well, attend clinics regularly and, if you have wounds, see that they are treated and healed properly. Try to engage in whatever day-to-day activities you used to take part in before you fell ill. Please also remember that rest is essential for any kind of cure. However, spending too much time confined to your room or in bed can be counterproductive, and may bring on depression as well.

You should love yourself, as well as others. It also helps if you can try to be cheerful and aim to develop strength and determination. It is you who can help yourself most, to reach a complete cure.

How do you deal with hospitalisation?

This hospital with its staff and facilities are your own personal resources for recovery. Use it with care and with the awareness that you need to become responsible for your recovery.

Sometimes it may happen that there may be problems with hospital facilities. Try not to be disappointed as the treatment you receive at this hospital is as good as the treatment you would receive anywhere else.

You may perhaps, not be aware that the treatment given to you costs the government over 5-6 lakhs of rupees. If you leave the hospital due to the lack of ward facilities, you may need to reflect whether you would be able to afford the same treatment from any other hospital in the island.

Before leaving the hospital

Before going home, check that your bedhead ticket is signed. It is also important that you have a companion or guardian to accompany you home. If you have been prescribed any medication to use at home, see that you get them from the pharmacy before you leave. You should also obtain your diagnostic card, the card containing your schedule for clinic or ward visits, and your application for further tests and examinations (if any) at the time you receive your bedhead ticket.

At the same time, if you need any reports or letters from your doctor in order to obtain financial aid, please make a request and obtain them before leaving. If you have specific treatment processes that you have to follow when you are home, please make sure you get the necessary advice and information from a doctor or nurse before you leave.

Do you have to return for clinical check-ups and/or treatment?

Yes, you do. Once discharged, you may have to return to the hospital for check-ups and /or further treatment. Cancer is a complex disease. The treatment for the disease that you have takes time and has to follow a set procedure. While you are being treated, the current status of your condition as well as the success rate of the treatment you are undergoing has to be monitored and supervised by an oncologist. It is therefore important that you return to the hospital when asked to do so.

Mid-way through the course of your treatment you may perhaps feel that you have recovered. However, this feeling may not necessarily be based on fact. The disease, latent within your body, might re-surface rapidly if treatment is stopped half way. Therefore, it is advisable that you abide by the decisions of your doctor, and give him/her your fullest co-operation. Please remember that medical treatment is one way of helping you recover. You can also strengthen yourself mentally by practicing meditation or engaging in religious or spiritual activity.

For the Family and Friends of the Patient

Cancer does not make a distinction between races or religions, between the rich and the poor, between the educated and the non-educated. Anyone of us might be potential cancer victims. So please do not regard a person with cancer as someone "different." Your patient needs more than your sympathy; he/she also needs love, kindness and acceptance. Your patient should also be shielded, as far as possible, from stresses within the family, workplace and society, and kept as relaxed and as happy as possible. Cancer is not a contagious disease. It does not spread from person to person. So don't be afraid to help or assist the patient.

Sometimes during the course of treatment, the patient may experience hair loss and other changes in physical appearance due to surgery or chemotherapy. But these changes are temporary; and you need to accept your patient with love and support. Please remember that you can obtain books and leaflets containing information on chemotherapy and radiotherapy from the Health Education Unit. These booklets will help you deal with the patient's needs. You can also come and talk to us about any problems that the patient may face due to the illness or the side-effects of treatment.

Encourage your patient to follow the treatment prescribed. Prepare balanced diets for him/her according to your means. Provide opportunities for the patient to meet friends and to enjoy himself/herself. Encourage your patient, if he/she is willing, to take part in religious activities.

Never let your patient withdraw from you or alienate himself/herself from his/her family or community. Let us work together - you as family, and we as staff of this hospital - and help the patient cope with his/her recovery.

If the patient is a child, please make sure that you do not ignore his/her physical, mental, spiritual and educational development.

Booklets containing information for parents and children are available at the Medical Education Centre. Do come and talk to us about your problems.

Health Education Unit

National Cancer Institute

Maharagama

Sri Lanka.

Published by

Mithuruwela

The Cancer Support Network
