Forum: TTSH medical team helped dad through cancer journey

It has been nearly two months since the death of my father, Mr Eng Lye Choon. Over the course of a year, he battled adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer in the lungs that caused him immense pain.

As a layperson, I was initially overwhelmed by the diagnosis and what lay ahead. But what made all the difference was the incredible support we received from the medical team at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), in particular Dr Kulendran Lavenia from the Oncology Clinic, Nurse Jasmine, and the Palliative Medicine team.

Throughout this journey, we witnessed a level of professionalism and empathy that was both humbling and inspiring.

The side effects of chemotherapy were surprisingly manageable for my father – something I attribute in part to his own positive outlook, but also to the expertise and care shown by the team.

Dr Lavenia’s calm assurance, the responsiveness of the medical team, and the comforting presence of familiar faces like Nurse Jasmine gave us strength and peace in moments of uncertainty. Amid what must be an overwhelming workload, the team never once wavered in their compassion.

In a time when healthcare workers continue to give so much of themselves, often under great pressure, it is important that we recognise and honour their quiet acts of humanity.

My family will always be deeply grateful to the staff at TTSH who stood with us in our most difficult moments.

Eng Lingying