Cancer treatment affects more than just physical health. Changes in appearance, emotional distress and difficulties with everyday activities can also take a toll. For patients, learning to care for themselves again often takes time, understanding and support.

The Initial Assessment: When Physical Challenges Affect Emotional Wellbeing

In her 50s, Ms Chan was diagnosed with cervical cancer and began a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. During treatment, she developed painful skin damage around her genital area and became increasingly frail. She also experienced severe diarrhoea and electrolyte imbalances, making ongoing monitoring of her condition essential.

During the initial home assessment, the YDCare care team found that Ms Chan was struggling both physically and emotionally.

The changes brought about by treatment had affected her confidence, and she found it particularly difficult to face the wounds and personal care needs involving her genital area. Even something as routine as taking a shower had become a challenge. At times, she went four to five days without bathing and struggled to maintain her usual personal hygiene.

Ms Chan was also living with her elderly parents, who had limited mobility and cognitive impairment and needed help with daily activities. While managing her own treatment and care, she continued to worry about her parents’ needs, adding to the emotional strain she was already experiencing.

When caring for yourself becomes a struggle, having to care for family members at the same time can make an already difficult situation even harder.

Rebuilding Confidence Through Everyday Care

After assessing Ms Chan’s condition and daily needs, YDCare care team arranged home care support from registered nurses and healthcare workers.

The registered nurses provided wound care following radiotherapy, assisted with intimate hygiene and urinary catheter care, and monitored her skin condition for signs of further damage or abnormal bleeding. They also kept track of her blood test results, electrolyte levels, diet and fluid intake to help monitor changes in her condition throughout treatment.

During the day, healthcare workers assisted Ms Chan with bathing, personal hygiene, body massage and gentle stretching exercises. They also applied skin-protective ointments as needed.

When Ms Chan was reluctant to bathe or struggled to face the changes in her body, the healthcare workers encouraged her patiently and helped her gradually rebuild her daily hygiene routine.

Sometimes, what a patient needs is not to be told to stay strong, but to have someone who understands how difficult things have become and is willing to help them take one step at a time.

Care Beyond the Physical: Emotional Support Matters

During the course of care, Ms Chan experienced moments of significant emotional distress. The physical changes associated with cancer treatment can affect a person’s body image and sense of control over their life. When care focuses solely on wounds and physical symptoms, a patient’s emotional needs can easily be overlooked.

The care team took time to listen to Ms Chan, offer reassurance and provide emotional support. Where appropriate, and with her consent, gentle physical gestures of comfort also helped her feel cared for and understood.

The team also recognised the wider pressures Ms Chan was facing at home. Her elderly parents needed help with daily activities, and communication within the family was sometimes challenging. While assisting with their daily care, the healthcare worker also took time to communicate with Ms Chan’s father, helping to ease tensions and encourage better understanding within the family.

For a family coping with prolonged cancer treatment, meaningful support goes beyond medical care. It helps ease the burden on the patient and allows family members to share caregiving responsibilities more effectively.

Six Weeks Later: From Avoiding Personal Care to Taking an Active Role

After approximately six weeks of home care, Ms Chan’s emotional wellbeing had improved, and she gradually became more confident in caring for herself.

Initially, she was reluctant to receive intimate care and avoided bathing. Over time, she began to accept the changes in her body and take a more active role in her personal hygiene. These changes reflected more than an improvement in her daily routine; they also showed that she was gradually regaining confidence in her ability to care for herself.

As Ms Chan’s condition improved, YDCare adjusted the care arrangements to match her changing needs, gradually reducing some service hours. This allowed her to regain greater independence while continuing to receive appropriate support.

The goal of home care is not simply to take over a patient’s daily care, but to help them regain the confidence and ability to care for themselves, with the right support along the way.

Services Provided

• - Home Nursing Care: Wound care following radiotherapy, intimate hygiene, urinary catheter care and monitoring of physical condition
• - Daily Personal Care: Assistance with bathing, personal hygiene, skin care, body massage and gentle stretching exercises
• - Emotional Support: Patient listening, emotional reassurance and companionship
• - Daily Living Support: Assistance with maintaining personal hygiene and daily routines, while gradually building confidence in self-care