Iris Chan, Service Director, Hong Kong Cancer Fund

This is Iris CHAN, Service Director from the Hong Kong Cancer Fund. This July, we join the world in observing Sarcoma Awareness Month —a time to shed light on a rare but devastating cancer that affects our children, our youth, and our loved ones right here in Hong Kong. Today, I’m speaking to you not just as an advocate, but as someone who has stood beside sarcoma patients and their families in their most difficult moments.

Sarcomas are cancers that arise from connective tissues like bone and muscle. While they are rare, they can be particularly aggressive, often impacting young lives at critical development stages. In Hong Kong, we see about 50 new cases of bone sarcoma and 100 soft tissue sarcoma cases each year, and striking both children and adults. Because it’s so uncommon, many cases are diagnosed late, when treatment becomes harder. A persistent pain, an unexplained lump—these could be warning signs.

The journey for sarcoma patients is especially tough. Many face misdiagnoses at first, losing precious time. Treatment often requires complex surgeries at our overburdened public hospitals, followed by chemotherapy. The emotional and financial strain on families can be overwhelming.

For young adults, facing a cancer diagnosis can feel like a daunting mountain to climb. Take the story of a young lady, Amy, at just 19, she was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in her stomach and intestine. As she navigated her treatment, which included surgery and chemotherapy, Amy struggled not only physical pain, but also with feelings of isolation and uncertainty about her future. The burden of her diagnosis affected her relationships, education, and mental well-being.

Fortunately, through the Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s YOU CAN project, Amy discovered a supportive community of peers who truly understood her journey. With their encouragement, she overcame the hardships of treatment and began to regain her strength during the survivorship stage.

The YOU CAN project offers tailored support for young adults aged 18 to 39, providing counseling, relationship-building opportunities, personal development, empowerment workshops, and a safe space to share experiences. Amy's story illustrates how vital it is for young adults to connect with others who share similar challenges, helping them realize they are not alone in their journey.

Now, let’s turn our attention to families, particularly children facing the distress of a parent battling cancer. Consider the story of Paul, a 42-year-old father diagnosed with bone sarcoma in his right lower leg with poor prognosis. His 9-year-old son, Tommy, was struggling to cope with his father’s illness. Tommy had become withdrawn, refusing to go to school, and often showed fluctuating emotions, he easily got angry and hurt himself frequently.

Tommy's mother, Eva, felt exhausted and increasingly worried as Tommy refused to visit Paul during his hospitalization. Realizing they needed support, Eva brought Tommy to the Hong Kong Cancer Fund Support Centre in Kwai Chung.

There, we recognized that Tommy needed help to process what was happening in his life. Our Rainbow Club service is specifically designed for children like him. It provides emotional support, creative outlets, and a safe environment for children to express their feelings. Through engaging activities, peer interactions, child-parent programmes, and 12 individual counseling sessions provided by our Art Therapist, Tommy began to understand his emotions and realized he was not alone in this journey.

As he progressed, Tommy expressed a desire to return to school and resume his daily activities. He even shared that he wanted to help his mother and was eager to visit his father in the hospital.

At the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for families affected by cancer. Our free services include professional counseling, cancer support programmes, support groups, and financial assistance. We aim to ensure that anyone touched by cancer, receive the help they need to navigate their unique challenges. Last year alone, we supported over 200 sarcoma patients and their families through our programmes. But with your help, we can do so much more.

As we continue through Sarcoma Awareness Month, I urge you to educate yourself about sarcomas, recognize the signs such as unusual swelling or pain that lasts for weeks; share this message, as many people still don’t recognize sarcoma; and support those in need by simply calling us at 3656 0800 for free services, or visiting us at www.cancer-fund.org to donate or volunteer.

Behind every statistic is someone's child, someone's parent, someone's friend. This Sarcoma Awareness Month, let's show Hong Kong's sarcoma warriors they're not alone.