01 Sep 2010
After undergoing surgery to remove a tumour in his bowels, Mr Michael Lee, then 45, was left unable to empty his bowels naturally. Today, he has to wear a heavy-duty plastic pouch around his waist to collect the stool.
Wearing the pouch, known as a stoma bag, made Mr Lee feel abnormal. “When I was first diagnosed, I felt very depressed,” said Mr Lee. “I couldn’t accept wearing the stoma bag.”
But all this changed six years ago, when he and his wife attended their first stoma support group session. “At the support group, I met other patients who inspired me. They were willing to share
their experiences on how they coped with wearing the stoma bag. The support group has helped me to accept my condition and lead a normal life,” said Mr Lee, now 51 years old.
He added that his wife too benefited from these sessions as caregivers are invited to participate.
They also offer each other tips on how to look after a patient with a stoma.
Last year, the stoma support group, set up in 1993, was transformed when it joined the newly formed colorectal cancer support group. The colorectal cancer support group was initiated by cancer survivors, doctors, nurses and medical social workers from Singapore General Hospital (SGH)’s Department of Colorectal Surgery and Department of Psychosocial Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore.
As most stoma patients are also colorectal cancer sufferers, both groups wanted to share their experiences with each other and support patients newly diagnosed with cancer.
The group consists of about 40 patients and their caregivers, who meet every second Saturday of the month for activities such as talks, workshops and therapeutic sessions like art or music therapy.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for patients and their caregivers to gather for comfort and offer support to one another by sharing their feelings, thoughts and experiences,” said Ms Ong Choo Eng, Senior Nurse Clinician, SGH and a committee member. “Being in a support group can be emotionally encouraging and help patients realise they are not alone.”
During a recent session, members of the group were encouraged to express their experiences through art. “Patients were asked to draw out their personal life and experiences to illustrate their victory over cancer,” said Ms Carol Loi, Genetic Counsellor and Programme Coordinator, SGH’s Department of Colorectal Surgery and a committee member of the group.
The finished canvasses were displayed at SGH to inspire other patients in their fight against illness.
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