Gaps in cancer care in a multi-ethnic population in Sarawak, Borneo: A central referral centre study.
Melissa Siaw Han LimPei Jye VoonAdibah AliFitri Suraya MohamadLin Lin JongLee Ping ChewMohamad Adam BujangYolanda AugustinYuong Kang ChengPublished in: PloS one (2024)
Cancer patients in Sarawak have various unmet information needs. Written information and educational videos in local indigenous languages may be more suitable for Sarawak's multi-ethnic population. Sexual aspects of care and family planning are challenging but essential topics to discuss, in particular due to the high prevalence of breast and cervical cancer amongst young women of reproductive age in Sarawak. Financial assessment and information on support services offered by government and non-government organisations should be provided to eligible patients. A holistic needs assessment of each patient at time of diagnosis and support through their cancer journey requires a multi-disciplinary team of medical, nursing and allied health professionals including clinical nurse specialists, pharmacists, counsellors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians and social workers.