Treating the big C less expensively

I AM a four-year breast cancer survivor. I received treatment at the Penang Hospital and the Mount Miriam Hospital. Contrary to general misconceptions, I have nothing but praise and gratitude for the surgeon who attended to me, and the staff in both hospitals for the treatment I received.

I had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. As a pensioner, I paid only about RM50 and that was for my stay in the first-class ward when I had surgery. Now I go for free regular check-ups which include a yearly mammogram.

During my treatment, I met other cancer patients who are not government servants or pensioners. Their expenses have been about RM30 (for chemotherapy) and RM500 (for radiation). The follow-up visits are RM5 a time. These charges, heavily subsidised by the Government, are affordable for most middle-income patients. However, they can be a heavy burden for the very poor. Perhaps some charitable organisation could step in and help out.

As follow-up treatment most of us are taking Tamoxifen to help prevent recurrence. New drugs like Femara, Herceptin and Arimidex are said to be more effective but they are expensive and usually not provided by the hospital. Perhaps the Government could make these drugs more affordable and available.

Many cancer patients, including government servants and pensioners, seek treatment in private hospitals and spend thousands of ringgit on treatment. This is commendable if they can afford it and it makes treatment in government hospitals more easy for the less affluent.

Those who can’t afford expensive treatment in private hospitals should go to the government hospitals. Cancer treatment doesn’t have to cost you your life savings and you don’t have to get indebted to loan sharks. Don’t wait until it is too late.

Don’t get sweet-talked into taking expensive traditional remedies. Treatment for cancer may be painful and scary but the alternative is far worse and many of the unpleasant side-effects are temporary and manageable with drugs.

Cancer is not an option we choose voluntarily. It creeps up on most of us unawares but we don’t have to be passive victims. We have to be vigilant fighters and encourage one another. Government hospitals are not mediocre places of last resort but excellent centres of affordable treatment though stretched to their limits.