GLENEAGLES Medical Centre, Penang

HOC monthly newsletter July 2006

th
15 June 2006. Ms Jaen Ang,
nutritionist from Singapore with
Nestle, gave a short talk on
nutrition and cancer. In her talk,
she highlighted the need to have
adequate nutrition. Patients
undergoing chemotherapy and
Next support radiotherapy have decrease
appetitie, nausea, a change in
group
taste and fatigue. She gave
meeting: Ms Jaen Ang giving her talk.
suggestions on how to modify the
7.30 pm, 20th
diet to suit the situation. She
July 2006
Topic: suggested frequent smaller meals,
more blend and dressing up the
Understand-
meal to have a good feel effect.
ing cancer
She related her personal
chemo-
experience having to care for a
therapy.
close relative with cancer.
Speaker: Dr
She advised also adequate
Leong
water / liquid intake. Taking The support group audience.
vitamins in above recommended
doses was cautioned. Sometimes
commercially available sickness. She cautioned this as
some herbs have been shown to
supplements are useful in the
be possibly dangerous during
Prepared by the form of liquid supplemental diets,
chemotherapy. There can be
Haematology milk and non-milk based.
interaction with chemotherapy,
– Oncology There is a Chinese
changes with blood clotting
Centre, GMC tradition that you would
resulting in bleeding, and also
Penang supplement your diet with herbs
make the chemotherapy
to improve your health during
ineffective. Continue back page.

14th Support Group Meeting

Topic: Understanding Cancer Chemotherapy

Speaker: Dr Leong Kin Wah

Time: 7.30 to 9.30 pm Date: 20 th July 2006 , Thurs

Venue: Lecture Hall, 6 th Floor, GMC Penang
Only for patients, spouses, relatives and caregivers
For catering purposes, your confirmation with Ms Mabel, Dr Leong’s secretary at 04 2202189.is much
appreciated. Thanks.
GLENEAGLES Medical Centre, Penang
HOC monthly newsletter
Page 2, July 2006
Contiune from front page. In general, a
balanced diet is ideal with adequate
calories and also proteins. Vitamins and
trace elements can be obtained from
fruits and vegetables. Meat can be
consumed. Thus a diet rich in fruits and
vegetables along with some meat is Chemoport attached to
advised. Many turn to fully vegetarian catheter, with syringe
diets. If vegetarian, one must be careful into port. (compare size
Next support
to have enough protein intake to ensure with 50 cents coin)
group
meeting: good nutrition.
7.30 pm, 20th During question time, the topic of
July 2006 organic foods was raised. There is no
Topic: reason to believe that this is much better
Understand- than ordinarily produced foods.
ing cancer
chemo- Chemoport is a device to assist in Chemoport completely
thera py. delivery of cytotoxic chemotherapy. It under the skin
Speaker: Dr consists of a catheter joined to a port.
Leong When intravenous medication or fluids
including cytotoxic chemotherapy is
injected into the port, it will travel through
into the catheter and then enter the venous
circulation through the superior vena cava
(the largest vein in the body). Thus,
chemoport is very useful for administration Chest X-ray showing
of chemotherapy for selected patients, chemoport with catheter
Prepared by the
Haematology particularly for long infusions (few hours into the large vein
– Oncology to days) and patients with small and leading to the heart
Centre, GMC difficult veins. (arrow).
Penang
The Star gave a good review of Dr
Leong’s book and would recommend it
for cancer patients. It is now available
in MPH bookstores and other local
bookstores.

THE HUMAN SIDE

Facing Cancer
by Dr Leong Kin Wah
Full Color, 24 true stories.
186 pages. Price RM 30.
Available in GMC Penang.
50% discount for Dr
Leong’s patients..