WHEN THE YOUNG STOP TREATMENT ,
The , National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) has seen an increase in the number of younger patients like Ms Liew defaulting on care or follow-ups in the last six years, according to Professor Eileen Poon, a , top specialist in NCCS ‘ department of clinical oncology.
She estimated that this group makes up about 30 to 40 per share of NCCS ‘ people aged between 15 and 39, which is an “alarming” amount.  ,  ,
” Cancer, in general, is supposed to get a disease of the older people”, she said.
For it to hit earlier and affect younger people, it might mean that “quite a huge” percentage of these patients may have, according to Dr. Poon, a more intense and serious form of the disease.
” For (younger patients ) to prevent treatment, it may actually be a lot more destructive and … have a lot more adverse effects. It’s not advised” . ,
One of the main causes of younger people ‘ defaulting treatments or follow-ups was, in Dr. Poon’s opinion, operational and financial difficulties.  ,
Multiple, regular doctor visits is “take a toll”, while some of them could also be in neglect or suffering melancholy over their treatment.
Additionally, there are those who stop receiving treatment because they” think they can use various methods of natural treatment to get better,” according to Dr. Poon.
The Singapore Cancer Registry’s latest monthly statement, which presented changes from 1968 to 2022, showed that men and women aged not older than 29 have previously made up less than 8 per share of all cancers symptoms.  ,
NCCS treated over 6, 000 children and young child cancer people from 2018 to 2021, with 80 to 85 per cent expected to possess long-term life.
It sees about 500 new people aged between 16 and 45 each month.
Although they account for a smaller portion of circumstances, younger people have to deal with issues like reproduction protection and the ability to get back to work, according to Dr. Poon.  ,
To help them understand these, NCCS officially , set up a diagnostic services last year offering integrated care especially for adolescents and young adults.
According to Dr. Poon, who launched the service and is currently in charge of it, it does n’t interfere with the actual treatment but rather takes care of everything else.  ,
“( This includes looking at ) all the psychosocial distresses and identifying what might be preventing them from receiving treatment, or what might be causing their distresses, and then we create a plan to try to help them get through treatment” ( This includes looking at ) all the psychosocial distresses and identifying what might be contributing to their distress.
KEEPING UP THE FIGHT
Ms. Liew began receiving medication again soon after the biopsy revealed that her cancers had recurred.  ,
This time, however, she was prescribed a different type of intravenous immunotherapy which to her relief, did n’t cause any side effects.  ,
To day, she is also undergoing therapy with NCCS. The tumors in her neck and chest have shrunk considerably, according to the most recent images.  ,
” Everything is normal, I do n’t feel anything in particular and I have n’t been falling sick”, she told CNA. ” The lump ( in my neck ) has gone too so that’s good”.
She does n’t regret her previous decision to stop treatment.  ,
” For myself, it was really about me listening to my own body”, she said.
” I felt that, at that point in time, if I was going to do more and more care, it would not do my brain any great… I desired to wait until a cure that I thought would be worthwhile.
Ms. Liew wants her account to give hope to different cancer patients and their carers that the difficulties and difficulties will ultimately be overcome.
There are “down” times, but there are also times when things did certainly improve, she said. You only really have to rekindle the trust and the encouragement of your loved ones.
” I just keep on thinking that I’m powerful, and I take it that this trip is educating me more about living.”