One component of the Psychosocial Network is the Patient’s Forum, held every first Tuesday of the month and currently with 30 to 40 regular members. It provides a venue for learning cancer information, such as understanding the cause, signs and symptoms of the disease. Participants are given updates on new diagnostic and therapeutic machines used for the treatment of cancer. Information on new cancer drugs and medical breakthroughs in cancer care are also discussed in the forum.

Patients and their family members are provided with the different coping mechanisms in overcoming the emotional upheavals they go through and uncertainties of facing cancer. Patients in this forum are given the opportunity to meet other patients whom they can interact and share experiences with.

On August 3, the Patients’ Forum topic is "Dividing Human Face: Head, Neck and Eye Malignancy," with Dr. Marcelino S. Tuaño, ENT specialist and Dr. Lee G. Versoza, ophthalmologist, as guest speakers.

Another component is the Cancer Support Group, a monthly meeting wherein patients are given the opportunity to engage in different livelihood courses. It aims to enhance patients’ creativity and develop their resourcefulness to become productive and self-sufficient individuals. The livelihood courses enable them to actively interact with one another, strengthening character and uplifting self-esteem to help them cope with their condition.

Members of the support group are also educated on basic home nursing, like how to use the colostomy bag and manage a catheter, to name a few. Likewise, caregivers or family members of cancer patients are also taught basic techniques and skills to care for patients with gastric tubes and those who underwent tracheostomy.

For more information, call St. Luke’s Cancer Institute at telephone numbers 723-0101/0301 local 5427.