Cancer Treatment In Thailand

[Jackinbox]

My girlfriend developed an ovarian cancer last winter after having an abortion. She live in Chiang Mai and at first the treatments she received weren't very good and it seems that the only thing public healthcare could do was to cut here ovarian. She got various operations and treatments in Bangkok and now receive care in Chiang Mai. Cost are pretty high in the private system and I worry we might have to go back to the public system eventually. Now, the focus is on getting the best care possible

I need advice on how to get good care are decent cost. What kind of treatment the public healthcare is supposed to offer? She is now receiving what I understand to be Gamma ray treatments and chemotherapy.

[crazykopite]

From what I know there is very little money for cancer treatment due to the high cost, a lot of thai's are sent home with little or no help. My American friends partner had cancer on the throat he sent her back home to Khon Kan for treatment which cost him in access of 60,000 baht, she now goes back twice a year for check ups on one visit she came back having been told she now had shadows on her lung so he took her to a Samui private hospital for a second opinion which cost him 10,000 baht , it is now two years on and she is still out in her garden every day indeed she looks healthier now than she did 3 years ago and I can tell you she never stops eating indeed I always tell her she will outlive me !!!!

Keep the faith hope your woman will be okay !!!!

[Sheryl]

This is not correct. the Thai public health system does provide comprehensive treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation. Of course, some patients may have cancers so far advanced that these aren't indicated, but from what I have seen if anything the Thai public hospitals tend to keep treating longer than they should.

Several TV members have received cancer treatment, or their spouses/partners have, at Thai government hospitals.

The treatment is generally free for Thai citizens , except if a chemotherapy drug that is not yet on the government essential drug list is needed. And as there are often long waits for things like CT scan and MRI it is sometimes advisable to get those done privately. but the main treatment can certainly be obtained through the public system.

Not all govt hospitals have the facility to treat cancer, that is limited to regional hospitals of which the CM Univ Hosp is one.

You can get a private consultation with specialist at CM univ Hospital through Sripat just to get an idea of what treatment would be offered, doesn't cost much (the consultation that is).

One thing I would warn you about is that Thai doctors are seldom frank with patients and families regarding prognosis, and ovarian cancer is often not detected until it is past the point of being curable. You'll need to ask very pointed questions. Key thing to find out is whether it has spread to other organs and if so which. Once in the liver the prognosis is terminal no matter what they do although chemo and radiation may buy some time.

[crazykopite]

This is not correct. the Thai public health system does provide comprehensive treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation. Of course, some patients may have cancers so far advanced that these aren't indicated, but from what I have seen if anything the Thai public hospitals tend to keep treating longer than they should.

Several TV members have received cancer treatment, or their spouses/partners have, at Thai government hospitals.

The treatment is generally free for Thai citizens , except if a chemotherapy drug that is not yet on the government essential drug list is needed. And as there are often long waits for things like CT scan and MRI it is sometimes advisable to get those done privately. but the main treatment can certainly be obtained through the public system.

Not all govt hospitals have the facility to treat cancer, that is limited to regional hospitals of which the CM Univ Hosp is one.

You can get a private consultation with specialist at CM univ Hospital through Sripat just to get an idea of what treatment would be offered, doesn't cost much (the consultation that is).

One thing I would warn you about is that Thai doctors are seldom frank with patients and families regarding prognosis, and ovarian cancer is often not detected until it is past the point of being curable. You'll need to ask very pointed questions. Key thing to find out is whether it has spread to other organs and if so which. Once in the liver the prognosis is terminal no matter what they do although chemo and radiation may buy some time.

My American friends lady was told that unless she had the funds they could not operate on her throat cancer hence why he paid for the op, yes since her op she has not had to pay for the medication she takes but she is adamant that had he not paid for the op she would now be in the Temple and no they did not know she was living with a farang as he sent her to her home town of Khon Kan as on Samui the public hospital do not have the facilities. I have no reason to disbelieve her after 6 years on knowing them she tells it as it is.

[GarryP]

My wife was treated for cancer of the tongue in a government hospital under the universal healthcare scheme. I offered to go private but she was happy with treatment by the public hospital. The method of treatment was no different to what is offered at private hospitals, but the service levels are much lower, i.e. long waits to see the doctor, at the pharmacy, etc. Also, certain medicines that are not on the national essential drug list are not available at gov't hospitals, but if you speak to the doctor and offer to pay for such medicines yourself, prescriptions can be obtained. The doctor must agree though that such medicines would be more appropriate.

For my wife, the only medicine that the doctor suggested I buy that they could not provide was fluoride tablets.

Anyway, do not despair and good luck with your girlfriend's treatment. I am pretty sure that there is a gov't hospital in Chiangmai which is one of the main centers for treatment of cancer in the North of Thailand.

Edited June 21, 2012 by GarryP

[Sheryl]

This is not correct. the Thai public health system does provide comprehensive treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation. Of course, some patients may have cancers so far advanced that these aren't indicated, but from what I have seen if anything the Thai public hospitals tend to keep treating longer than they should.

Several TV members have received cancer treatment, or their spouses/partners have, at Thai government hospitals.

The treatment is generally free for Thai citizens , except if a chemotherapy drug that is not yet on the government essential drug list is needed. And as there are often long waits for things like CT scan and MRI it is sometimes advisable to get those done privately. but the main treatment can certainly be obtained through the public system.

Not all govt hospitals have the facility to treat cancer, that is limited to regional hospitals of which the CM Univ Hosp is one.

You can get a private consultation with specialist at CM univ Hospital through Sripat just to get an idea of what treatment would be offered, doesn't cost much (the consultation that is).

One thing I would warn you about is that Thai doctors are seldom frank with patients and families regarding prognosis, and ovarian cancer is often not detected until it is past the point of being curable. You'll need to ask very pointed questions. Key thing to find out is whether it has spread to other organs and if so which. Once in the liver the prognosis is terminal no matter what they do although chemo and radiation may buy some time.

My American friends lady was told that unless she had the funds they could not operate on her throat cancer hence why he paid for the op, yes since her op she has not had to pay for the medication she takes but she is adamant that had he not paid for the op she would now be in the Temple and no they did not know she was living with a farang as he sent her to her home town of Khon Kan as on Samui the public hospital do not have the facilities. I have no reason to disbelieve her after 6 years on knowing them she tells it as it is.

I have no idea why this occurred. there are plenty of Thais obtaining such treatment through the public system.