Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Launches Dedicated Cancer Survivorship Clinic For Comprehensive Patient Support

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), a leading hospital in the UAE known for handling complex medical cases, has introduced its Survivorship Clinic. This new service aims to assist cancer survivors in managing life after treatment. As part of the PureHealth group, SSMC is committed to offering comprehensive post-cancer care through this initiative.

The clinic's foundation lies in a multidisciplinary approach, involving experts like oncologists, dietitians, and psychologists. Dr. Abdulqader Almessabi, SSMC's chief medical officer, stated, "The opening of our Survivorship Clinic represents a key milestone in the expansion of our specialised oncology and clinical care services. It signifies our deep commitment to supporting patients beyond treatment and adds a meaningful new dimension to our comprehensive cancer care services. This also underscores our commitment to providing increasingly focused and personalised care for our patients. The clinic represents the pinnacle of multidisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that cancer survivors receive the highest standard of care, empowering them to thrive throughout their post-treatment journey."

The Survivorship Clinic is designed to meet the holistic needs of patients by offering a supportive environment for recovery and rehabilitation. Patients benefit from seeing multiple specialists in one day, which simplifies their care process and promotes a unified healing experience.

Dr. Aydah Al Awadhi, chair of the Haematology and Oncology Division at SSMC, highlighted the importance of such services: "With cancer survival rates continuing to rise, the need for dedicated survivorship care has never been greater. Studies have identified important benefits of cancer survivorship programmes, including improved physical, emotional, and social well-being, better management of late and long-term treatment effects, enhanced coordination of care, and increased adherence to health maintenance. Our Survivorship Clinic will offer a complete evaluation, extending far beyond routine oncology visits, which ensures a truly integrated and personalised approach for each patient."

The clinic's unique feature is its focus on an integrated patient journey. This allows individuals to access various specialists within a single visit. Such an approach not only streamlines healthcare but also enhances the overall healing process.

Specialists at the clinic address specific dietary needs crucial for recovery while conducting future cancer risk assessments. They also provide age-appropriate screenings and psychological evaluations. Additionally, they manage long-term chemotherapy side effects and focus on general cancer prevention strategies.

This initiative marks a significant advancement in post-cancer care at SSMC. By prioritising personalised attention and multidisciplinary collaboration, the clinic empowers survivors to thrive after treatment.

With inputs from WAM