Early caregiving shaped oncology nurse's decades-long mission for breast cancer patients

At 17, Teresa Ng found herself in an unexpected role: primary caregiver for her father as he battled a terminal illness. The experience proved formative, shaping her understanding of what patients and families truly need during health crises. Decades later, that insight continues to guide her work as an oncology-trained nurse at KKH.

Now 61, Ng has dedicated her career to breast cancer patients navigating some of life's most uncertain terrain. Beyond clinical treatment, she has made it her mission to help women and their families contend with the psychological, emotional and practical challenges the disease presents.

Her approach reflects a philosophy that cancer care extends far beyond the medical realm. Ng recognised early in her career that fear and uncertainty often persist long after treatment concludes, leaving patients and families struggling to readjust to life. Her interventions have traditionally focused on bridging the gap between clinical medicine and the human experience of illness.

For three decades, Ng's work has quietly shaped outcomes for countless patients in Singapore's healthcare system. Her commitment reflects a growing recognition within oncology that holistic support—encompassing psychological, social and familial dimensions—is integral to meaningful patient care.