By Dr. Dai-Wei Liu , Vice Director of the Cancer Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Medical Center
A minibus moves fast on Highway 9, leaving dust flying behind its wheels. Inside are Tzu Chi volunteers in blue shirts and white pants singing Tzu Chi songs, and occasionally trying to review the information of the cancer patient they are about to visit. Normally they all have different duties as a doctor, a nurse, a radiologist, a secretary or a volunteer, but today, they are like a family that is going on an outing. Down the road are cancer patients eagerly waiting for their arrival; this is the home visit scene of the Cancer Supporting Group of Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital.
Being a cancer specialist was not my original career plan; however it seemed to be my destiny. As a graduate student pursuing a Ph. D degree, I entered the field of cancer research when I worked with Professor Hsiao-Li Chen on a cervical cancer vaccine research. After graduation, during my military service, I had the chance to become an intern in the cancer radiation-therapy department at the Tri-Service General Hospital. Since then, cancer research and cancer clinical services have become my indissoluble field of study. However, my greatest fear is the result of treatment on cancer patients.
Dr. Dai-Wei Liu with patients. Dr. Liu examines patients thoroughly and carefully to give patients the greatest support during the course of treatment.
Although recent progress in medicine and invention of new equipments and drugs, doctors still do not have full confidence to cure cancer patients. We have accumulated abundant data for cancer research, such as the five-year survival rate of different cancer types. We have also developed individualized treatment plans for every cancer patient based on the newest research results. In spite of these, doctors are still unable to solve the problem of patient’s fear and anxiety.
Being a cancer specialist does not guarantee my ability to solve a patient’s anxiety and fear, which is even harder to cope with than treating patient’s illness. I have to balance between reasoning and emotion and not trap inside a patient’s situation. With increased responsibility to treat patients, setback and helplessness increased with time. Luckily, the doubt in my mind cleared gradually when my mentor, Vice Superintendent Wen-Lin Hsu, arrived in Hualien seven years ago.
When I first came to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, the Cancer Medical Center was already well established. A special group in the center was the “Cancer Supporting Group” organized by volunteers. After training, those volunteers work back and forth between the outpatient’s clinic and hospital wards. They comfort patients and help medical professionals on many tasks. What impressed me the most was that they make condensed soup out of various fruits every week and give them to cancer patients to boost their physical strength and to comfort them. Some cancer patients become volunteers after their recoveries and encourage other cancer patients with their own experience. I am greatly moved by their thoughtfulness and altruism.
After the free clinic sponsored by the Eastern Region Medical Group at Chen-Kung Town, I participated in the home visit supporting group for the first time.
The afternoon sky above the small town of Chen-Kung was clear without a trace of cloud. With the help of local residents, volunteers tried to find cancer patients’ homes according to a planned route. When I saw the patient and volunteers greet each other warmly, I realized that besides medical treatment, there are places outside the hospital that can fulfill humanistic care or love. Aside from the merciless test results, cancer patients can expect to get support and comfort from medical staff and volunteers during the difficult course of cancer treatment. With encouragement and sincere prayers, not only can they complete the treatment, but also face the future challenges with courage.
Dr. Dai-Wei Liu, second from left, and Cancer Support Group volunteer Chin-Chih Hsieh visit patients together. Liu is deeply moved by the beauty of human kindness.
Through many distant home visits, we get to know remote places and mountainous villages in eastern Taiwan. We were touched by courageous and optimistic cancer patients fighting against their illnesses. There is a handicapped patient living alone in Fuli Township. The distance from his house to Highway 9 is about 20 minutes by car, yet every week, he rides a motorcycle to Yuli train station and comes to the hospital for chemotherapy. He does not complain, nor blame. On the contrary, he enthusiastically greets us and thanks us for coming to see him. When asked if he needed any help, he replied shyly that Tzu Chi already had already helped him a lot. There are people who need help more than he does. He also told us that when he recovers, he plans to expand his vegetable garden. His kindness and optimism moved me deeply. I ought to repent: understanding my blessing and cherish it is the way to create a happy tomorrow.
Geographically, Hualien-Taitung region is located in the remote area of Taiwan where young people tend to emigrate to cities, and many cancer patients live alone at home. Lin is such patient who lives in a shabby house in Kuanfu; she comes to the hospital for radiotherapy for her oral cancer. The prognosis was successful and her tumor was completely removed. Later, we found that she does not have children and lives alone on the slope of the mountain after the death of her husband. When we went to her house for a post check-up, we discovered she did not have electricity or water and had to get electricity through an extension cord from her neighbor’s house. The house is primitive and there is not much food stocked inside the refrigerator. Our volunteers immediately cleaned and organized her house and asked a local volunteer group to help her. Her bathroom roof and water heater were damaged since the Rosa typhoon in 2007, and she has been taking baths without hot water. With the help of volunteer builders and plumbers, the roof was repaired and a new water heater was installed as a gift.
Following the teaching of Vice Superintendent Dr. Wen-Lin Hsu, (second from left) Dr. Dai-Wei Liu (first from left), solves his apprehension in the field of cancer with the life stories of patients and volunteers.
I like to thank Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital Cancer Supporting Group led by Ching-Chih Hsieh. With her support and help, cancer patients are able to get overall physical, mental, spiritual and sensual medical care. Master Cheng Yen used to say, “Medical team needs the support of volunteer group”. Cancer support volunteers are the essential members of the Cancer Medical Team.
Looking back, my doubt and setback feelings in the past have gradually dissolved, and now I have gained the courage to face the results of cancer treatments. Although not every cancer treatment will have a happy conclusion, the fear and anxiety of cancer patients is comforted by volunteers of the Cancer Supporting Group. The group is also a reliable force for the medical team to minimize pressure and fear on the course of cancer treatment. They make us believe that life is still beautiful with love.
Cancer Support Group is taking a short break on the way to visit patients. The blue and white uniform of members signifies the blue sky and white cloud. They hope that the patients can come out from the darkness and see the bright world again.
