NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chairman of VIVA Foundation for Children with Cancer (VIVA), Mrs. Jennifer Yeo, will be featured on the upcoming <我董你> programme on Channel 8 TV

Chairman of VIVA Foundation for Children with Cancer (VIVA), Mrs. Jennifer Yeo, will be featured on the upcoming <我董你> programme on Channel 8 TV this Sunday 19th Jan 2025, at 9 PM! Mrs Yeo will be sharing more about VIVA. Stay tuned!

Congratulations to Prof Allen Yeoh and his team on their groundbreaking cancer treatment breakthrough!

Congratulations to Prof Allen Yeoh and his team on their groundbreaking cancer treatment breakthrough! Your dedication to fighting childhood cancer is truly inspiring. We're honoured to support innovative research such as this.

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Assoc Prof Allen Yeoh

Clinician Scientist, VIVA-Goh Professor in Paediatric Oncology, National University Hospital

I dreamed of becoming a surgeon as I graduated from medical school in 1990. But unexpectedly, fate would nudge me towards the path of paediatric oncology instead.

It was a cold morning when a mother brought her adopted young infant for a routine checkup. I found that the baby was exhibiting signs of abnormal development and thus cautioned the mother, who broke down immediately. I comforted her and then advised her on maximising the baby’s potential through physiotherapy

The incident was a turning point in my life. My boss, Prof Quah, who had been observing my potential to be a caring doctor, offered to train me as a paediatric oncologist. I was pleasantly surprised and proceeded to take the offer, as I shared his vision of a future where fatal cancers in children would become curable through research advancements. That baby grew up well and is now a proud mother herself. She is an inspiring example of how we can overcome handicaps and achieve our potential through love, devotion and hard work.

I am now both a doctor and a clinician scientist in paediatric oncology. As a clinician scientist, I am constantly exploring ways to improve treatment and care of children with cancer. This includes developing tests to help doctors better gauge the amount of chemotherapy that can safely cure a child with leukaemia. As as doctor, the care and well-being of the child is my top concern. I advise the family on treatment issues and how best we can use our research findings to help the child.

It has been a rewarding journey for me to see children smile, laugh and play as they make their recovery from cancer.

Much of my work and achievements in paediatric oncology could not have been possible without VIVA’s funding and support. Helping patients from developing countries in Southeast Asia would be something that I plan to address through VIVASt. Jude Forum. Diagnoses are often wrong and doctors there seldom have access to laboratory tests that can properly diagnose and stratify the risk of relapse in children with cancer. Oftentimes, excessively strong chemotherapy was used, which resulted in fatality to the child patients.

It has been a rewarding journey for me to see children smile, laugh and play as they make their recovery from cancer. I look forward to greater progress in improving the cure rate for childhood leukaemia through research and clinical studies, so that every child can live out his dream and achieve his potential in life.

Dr Mae Dolendo

Paediatric Oncologist, Davao Medical Center, Philippines

Hi, Dr Mae! The St. Jude-VIVA Forum could not have been the success that it is today without your efforts over the past 10 years. Could you share with us some of the challenges that you and the team faced in the early years of organising the Forum?

Dr Mae: The start is always the most challenging. It was initially difficult to find the right people with the enthusiasm and commitment to help the (Asian) region improve its care for children with cancer. In the first Forum, our resources were stretched and everyone had to wear many hats and contribute in many areas. But with guidance, funding and the help of everyone, we managed to grow the Forum into what it is today – a meeting of doctors, nurses and support staff committed to continuing education and improving the care and survival of children with cancer in the region.

The Forum has seen active participation from around the region. What was your role and how much has the Forum grown these last 10 years?

Dr Mae: Being overseas, my main task was to help with the 2-day VIVA-Asia Pre-forum. We have grown from a small group of 20 to 30 to the 70 to 80 paediatricians, haematologists and oncologists from regional countries. We have come a long way from being just a 2-day conference. The Forum is now an umbrella of knowledge-sharing platforms and collaborative meetings. The growth was possible with funding and leadership from VIVA and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital which allowed doctors from countries with limited resources to participate.

I feel empowered with the necessary skills to forge on as a local leader in improving the care and outcome of childhood cancer in my country.

How does the Forum impact its participants and, more broadly, help improve the care and treatment of children with cancer?

Dr Mae: The considerable improvements made over the years in the regional practice of paediatric oncology could not have been possible without the Forum. From the networks established in the scientific meetings and knowledge shared by international experts, the Forum provides participants various opportunities to learn and keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in childhood cancer. This is the main reason that attracts participants to return every year.

What does the future hold for the Forum, both in Singapore and in the region?

Dr Mae: The Forum will continue to serve as a beacon of hope, not only for children with cancer, but also for those taking care of them. For Asian doctors like us, the Forum is a pioneering effort that will serve as a cornerstone for progress in the regional practice of paediatric oncology. It still has a lot of frontiers to conquer, but I believe that we can definitely do so one step at a time in the right direction.

How has the Forum impacted you in your role as a doctor helping children with cancer?

Dr Mae: I am now a better paediatric oncologist thanks to the learning opportunities provided at the Forum’s various platforms. More importantly, I feel empowered with the necessary skills to forge on as a local leader in improving the care and outcome of childhood cancer in my country