‘I see hope’: how mindset shifts help Hong Kong cancer patients cope with diagnosis

In the fifth instalment of a six-part Health Matters wellness series on cancer in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung looks at the hidden psychological burden patients face and how support programmes are reshaping treatment.The battle with multiple cancers since the summer of 2024 has taken a mental toll far beyond what Sasa Hui Yuen-sim felt she could manage.The 67-year-old retiree was first diagnosed with cancer" class="entity-link entity-topic" data-entity-id="128109" data-entity-type="topic">breast cancer in June 2024, followed by cancer" class="entity-link entity-topic" data-entity-id="133357" data-entity-type="topic">lung cancer the following year.Between the two diagnoses, she also suffered from the painful viral rash of shingles and underwent surgery to remove extra thyroid nodules that affected her swallowing and breathing.In October last year, she was found to have two non-cancerous nodules in her liver that required further follow-up.“I have fear and wonder when all these diseases will stop,” Hui said. “The physical pain and mental stress are really overwhelming.”Experts say mental well-being and quality of life are crucial in a cancer patient’s journey, but are often given less priority than treatment.