One of the most striking things about the ONJ Centre’s Director of Clinical Haematology Dr Andrew Lim is his concern for every aspect of patient wellbeing.
Receiving a life-threatening cancer diagnosis is frightening and overwhelming, he says. “For most people, meeting us is the worst thing that has ever happened to them. So we want to support this major change in a person’s life, as well as their cancer treatment.”
For blood cancer patients, treatment can continue for months or years, making them so fatigued and unwell they are unable to continue with everyday activities. Blood cancer is also a particularly complicated diagnosis to understand – lymphoma, for example, has over 100 types, each with different treatments.
Integrating wellness into cancer care
Recognising the emotional and physical toll that blood cancers can take, Dr Lim advocates for a holistic care model that includes wellness programs designed to support patients in every aspect of their life.
“Wellness is so unique to us,” Dr Lim says. He explains at the ONJ Centre, he can provide the basics like medication, but also ask a patient about things like stress or stamina, and connect them to help them in those areas as well.
“We can provide an exercise program to help maintain muscle density and energy levels. Psychological support to address fears and anxieties after diagnosis. Or creative therapies, such as art and music, to distract from a patients’ illness and discomfort.
“It's a challenge to stay healthy during your treatment, you often lose muscle and become frail. But staying physically healthy, looking after your mindset and dealing with stress – those are part of getting better, too.”
The wellness programs at the ONJ Centre help patients navigate cancer by focusing on maintaining both physical health and mental resilience.
Research and innovation in wellness
Dr Lim’s team has conducted exciting new research into the benefits of exercise for cancer patients. Led by Drs Gen Douglas and Ashley Bigaran, the research shows a tailored exercise program including aerobic and resistance training could improve stamina and reduces fatigue for stem cell transplant patients. “Fatigue is one of the biggest challenges universally,” Dr Lim explains.
As well as fatigue, the exercise intervention showed improvement in quality of life, anxiety and depression symptoms. He says the study’s early results indicate how important exercise is in the treatment mix for cancer.
Looking ahead, Dr Lim is enthusiastic about the potential for new treatments and research. He is looking forward to further research into the benefits of wellness, and excited about medical advancements such as CAR-T therapy, which engineers a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer.
Help us continue the legacy of Dame Olivia Newton-John and raise vital funds to support wellness programs at the ONJ Centre, register for Olivia’s Walk for Wellness.