Our experience as a Health Volunteers Overseas-sponsored team in Huê´, Vietnam.

A group from Texas Oncology and Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center traveled to Huê´, Vietnam, as part of Health Volunteers Overseas. From February 21 to March 6, 2012, five Baylor Sammons medical oncologists and an oncology nurse worked with a medical oncologist and a surgeon at the Huê´ College of Medicine and Pharmacy, suggesting approaches based on available resources. The two groups worked together to find optimal solutions for the patients. What stood out the most for the Baylor Sammons group was the Huê´ team's remarkable work ethic, empathy for patients, and treatment resourcefulness. The Baylor Sammons group also identified several unmet needs that could potentially be addressed by future volunteers in Huê´, including creation of an outpatient hospice program, establishment of breast cancer screening, modernization of the pathology department, instruction in and better utilization of pain management, better use of clinic space, and the teaching of oncology and English to medical students. There was a mutual exchange of knowledge between the two medical teams. The Baylor Sammons group not only taught but also learned how to take good care of patients with limited resources.