Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), a flagship hospital in the UAE for serious and complex care and a subsidiary of the PureHealth group, has established a specialised Survivorship Clinic focused on supporting cancer patients following completion of their treatment regimens.
The new service represents a significant advancement in the facility’s oncology care continuum, addressing the often-overlooked post-treatment phase when patients must navigate the physiological and psychological aftermath of cancer therapies.
Holistic approach to post-treatment care
What distinguishes the Survivorship Clinic is its comprehensive multidisciplinary framework, bringing together specialists from oncology, internal medicine, nutrition, physiotherapy and psychology. This integrated approach enables patients to consult multiple specialists during a single visit, creating a streamlined and cohesive patient experience.
Dr Abdulqader Almessabi, chief medical officer at SSMC, emphasised the significance of this development: “The opening of our Survivorship Clinic represents a key milestone in the expansion of our specialised oncology and clinical care services. It signifies our deep commitment to supporting patients beyond treatment and adds a meaningful new dimension to our comprehensive cancer care services.”
The clinic’s multidisciplinary team conducts thorough assessments of patients’ post-treatment needs, including specialised dietary requirements, future cancer risk evaluations, age-appropriate cancer screenings, psychological evaluation and interventions, and management of longterm chemotherapy side effects.
Evidence-based survivorship care
With improving cancer survival rates globally, the demand for structured survivorship care has grown substantially. Dr Aydah Al Awadhi, chair of the Haematology and Oncology Division and consultant medical oncologist at SSMC, highlighted the scientific rationale behind the new service.
“With cancer survival rates continuing to rise, the need for dedicated survivorship care has never been greater. Studies have identified important benefits of cancer survivorship programmes, including improved physical, emotional, and social well-being, better management of late and long-term treatment effects, enhanced coordination of care, and increased adherence to health maintenance,” said Dr Al Awadhi.
She added: “Our Survivorship Clinic will offer a complete evaluation, extending far beyond routine oncology visits, which ensures a truly integrated and personalised approach for each patient.”
Individualised care plans
The clinic’s protocols emphasise individualised care tailored to patients’ specific post-treatment challenges. This personalised approach recognises that cancer survivors face varied physiological, psychological and social challenges depending on their cancer type, treatment modalities, comorbidities and personal circumstances.
The establishment of the Survivorship Clinic aligns with evolving oncology practice standards that recognise cancer care as a continuum extending well beyond the active treatment phase. By addressing survivorship systematically, SSMC aims to optimise long-term outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients.
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi is one of the largest tertiary hospitals in the UAE with 660 patient beds, 18 operating theatres, and services across 46 medical specialties.
