There has been a steady increase in the number of patients with blood cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma in Singapore. According to the NRDO (National Registry of Diseases Office), there has been an increase in the incidence of a type of blood cancer (in adults) called lymphomas between 1998 to 2012, with an increase of 4 cases per 100,000 population among males and 2.2 per 100,000 population among females in this time period.
There has been a similar increase in the incidence of leukaemias and an associated group of bone marrow cancers called myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Many of these blood cancers are now curable or manageable by keeping them at bay with medications over long periods of time, such that they have become almost like chronic diseases (for example like diabetes).
Another crucial aspect in the treatment of blood cancers is that it is on its way to becoming individualised, such that each patient’s cancer may require a carefully thought out treatment approach based on several factors specific to that individual and their cancer.
This needs a good lab infrastructure and a team of lab scientists to capture and integrate that information of the cancer and a dedicated team of physicians,specialists,nurses and allied health professionals with experience to manage and navigate the patient through the treatment.
The SingHealth Duke-NUS Blood Cancer Centre (SDBCC) was formed to bring together specialists from the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) to unify the delivery of care for patients. This ensures high-quality patient-centric care that brings together over forty specialists trained at some of the best centres in the world.
Our vision is to be an international renowned leader in blood cancer that delivers the best outcomes for our patients. Our mission and strategic goals are as follows:
Tags:
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the updates to your inbox