Every year, almost 30,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Hong Kong, facing tough questions, exhausting treatment and difficult emotions. These challenges affect not only those with cancer, but their family and friends, too. Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre is there for anyone and everyone affected by cancer, providing free practical, emotional and psychosocial support to people in need.
Maggie’s Centre in Hong Kong follows the cancer care concept advocated by its founder, Maggie Keswick Jencks, who had first-hand experience as a cancer patient. We are a charity with a mission to help people affected by cancer – including the patients, their families, friends and carers – to discover and develop the strength of their own resources in coping and living with cancer. Built on the grounds of Tuen Mun Hospital, the Centre was specially-designed to be warm, calming and full of light and open spaces, which is nearby but different from a hospital. It has a professional multi-disciplinary team of oncology nurses, social workers and clinical psychologists, who provides support to fill the gaps of the many needs that complements medical treatments.
Our support programme covers the following four main areas. All services and programmes are offered free of charge; no referral or appointment is necessary.
- Information & Practical Support
Information and practical support includes individual and family consultations with our oncology nurses, seminars and workshops on management of cancer symptoms and treatment side-effects, Chinese and Western nutrition, exercises, and other helpful topics.
- Emotional & Psychosocial Support
Emotional and psychosocial support involves individual and family counselling and psychotherapy sessions with our clinical psychologists or social workers, support groups, and psycho-educational programmes addressing specific needs of people affected by cancer such as pain management, sleep difficulties, effective communications and positive psychology etc.
- Relaxation & Stress Management
Relaxation and stress management techniques can significantly reduce emotional distress and promote healthy psychological and physical adjustment to a cancer diagnosis. There are individual and group sessions to meet different needs.
- Warm & Welcoming Spaces
Thanks to the pro-bono service of acclaimed architect frank Gehry, the Centre offers an inviting and uplifting environment for the Centre users. Designed by Lily Jencks, daughter of our founder, the vivid garden surrounding the Centre also allows people to feel inspired, special and cared for.
In 2017 Maggie’s Centre received over 26,000 visits from people affected by cancer and conducted over 5,000 programme sessions. As a member of the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network, we hope to host overseas colleagues for visits and participate in collaborative activities wherever we can.
More about Maggie’s Centre on www.maggiescentre.org.hk.