e-Bulletin February 2025

HIGHLIGHTS
World Cancer Day
United by Unique

Visual credit: Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

February 4 marks World Cancer Day, an international day dedicated to raising awareness about cancer. This day promotes prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer while mobilising global action. The theme for World Cancer Day 2025, “United by Unique”, emphasises the importance of placing people at the center of cancer care and recognising the unique stories behind each diagnosis.

Our School is committed to supporting cancer care through research and public health initiatives to enhance cancer outcomes. Central to our efforts is the Jockey Club Institute of Cancer Care (JCICC), established in 2018 by HKUMed with support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Led by Professor Wendy Lam, our Associate Professor and Head of Division of Behavioural Sciences, the JCICC is Hong Kong’s first cancer-specific rehabilitation research and service centre, offering patient-centered care tailored to local needs. Its pioneer core programmes include a nurse-led symptom clinic, a community-based cancer survivorship clinic, and supportive care clinics, addressing critical gaps in cancer care. The nurse-led symptom clinic screens symptoms for around one-third of Hong Kong’s 20,000 annual cancer survivors, with plans to expand seven oncology units funded by Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF). This initiative aims to serve as an exemplar for other Hospital Authority oncology units. The survivorship clinic has supported over 1,000 participants since 2020, providing lifestyle modifications and self-management advice.

Research remains a cornerstone of our School’s work. Our research focuses on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors in Asian cancer risk, utilising big data and AI for early detection. Prevention campaigns target tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity while promoting screenings and vaccines like HPV. Studies address issues including fear of cancer recurrence and sleep disturbances, with interventions like Conquer Fear and CBT-I trials. Doctoral student Julia Chan is working on sleep disturbances in cancer survivors and collaborating with Dr Danielle Ng, Research Assistant Professor of our School, on an CBT-I intervention, which contribute to local and global advancements in psycho-oncology practices. Professor Wendy Lam, also the President of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS), leads integration of psychosocial care into cancer treatment on a global scale. These works underscore our researchers’ dedication to patient-centered care and driving meaningful change.

Learn more from our researchers’ publications:

Return to Main Page