FoCP launches 'Colour My World' Programme

The Friends of Cancer Patients, FoCP, has announced that it has transformed its ‘Colour My World' initiative from a short event into a year-long programme dedicated to providing assistance and emotional support to both female and male cancer patients.

The move to transform the campaign, which was initially launched exclusively for women in October 2014, stemmed from FOCP's strong belief in the importance of providing psychological support for all cancer patients during their treatment.

FOCP seeks through developing the "Colour My World" initiative to bring joy and hope to the hearts of cancer patients. The new innovative programme features a multitude of inspiring activities and events tailored to help reduce the negative effects of cancer on patients and loved ones.

Speaking on the programme, Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director-General of FoCP, said, "The decision to transform the "Colour My World" initiative into an integrated programme is a vital one, and includes patient-focused events and activities dedicated to providing much-needed emotional support to patients. This stems from our belief in the importance of moral support in the healing process of cancer and during treatment. This kind of support helps create a balance between psychological and medical requirements as it helps cancer patient to relax and reduce tension and nervousness - which in turn reflects positively on the patient's response to treatment."

According to several studies conducted in a number of European countries, cancer patients who were provided with moral support were able to receive larger amounts of chemotherapy, while those who lacked this kind of support could not take the required dosage due to the side effects, she added.

The Director-General of FOCP highlighted that there is currently a global trend to introduce this discipline as part of the treatment regime, and sufficient study on psychological support for cancer patients to be provided with such support alongside surgical treatment, chemotherapy and radiation. Scientific research has shown that the psychological condition of the cancer patient is key to recovery and the success of his or her treatment. It has also been scientifically proven that the high morale and will of the cancer patient stimulates their immune system to fight the disease.

The findings of studies and research show that people with cancer who have access to psychological and moral support are more emotionally stable. Also, the hormone responsible for emotion, especially cortisol, registers 25% less in cancer patients who've received psychological support than those who did not.

It is known that emotion-related hormones can have a negative effect on the immune system, whereas cancer-fighting antibodies that resist the cancer building block, Myosin, increase by up to 25% in emotionally stable persons.

Promising discoveries in other studies showed that women who've received emotional support experienced only a 10th of the side effects normally endured through chemotherapy treatment, making it possible to take greater amounts of the required chemotherapy. Physicians had to stop larger doses in patients who did not receive psychological therapy, leading to the potential recurrence of malignant tumours.

The "Colour my World" programme is part of the FoCP's increased emphasis on patient-focused events, which includes entertaining trips, sports activities and workshops throughout the year. Organising such events on a regular basis will offer cancer patients the opportunity to meet, connect with one another and engage in enjoyable activities, to build unity and encourage them to work together to overcome the disease.

Previously, FoCP organised the "Colour My World" event several times as part of its efforts to support women with cancer and reduce the side effects of cancer on their lives through a range of inspiring events, implemented by female patients themselves under the supervision of FOCP's teams to boost their morale and enhance their self-esteem.

The innovative initiative focused on four key areas of concern for cancer patients, namely living a healthy lifestyle, raising awareness about early detectable cancers, providing treatment for all, and enhancing their quality of life and self-confidence.

Committed to always organising events and programmes that aim to provide emotional support, FoCP coordinated an initiative in April 2015 called "Umrah for Cancer Patients" in collaboration with Sharjah Charity International, to provide moral support for cancer patients while enabling them to perform Umrah rituals to help alleviate their suffering.

Forever keen to share the joy of religious and national festivities with cancer patients, FoCP also hosts a Ramadan Iftar banquet for patients benefiting from its services, and organises exciting programmes and events in Eid and holiday seasons.

The humanitarian initiatives, launched by FOCP, have played a big role in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation on patients.
Source: WAM