Mouth Cancer: Treatment In Bkk

[dddave]

A friend has been diagnosed as having a malignant tumor in the front of his mouth, below the tip of the tongue. His Dr. at Bumrungrad has said it is into the bone and needs to be removed. This is my friends 2nd incidence of mouth cancer, he was successfully treated for it 4 years ago.

He is insured with BUPA and they have OK'd him for up to B600K, B50K of which has already been used for diagnostic work. Bumrungrad is telling him the surgery and hospitalization and post surgical therapy will be close to B800K. He is also being told he will require 20 Oxygen enrichment treatments prior to surgery at B6000 each. This BUPA will not cover.

He is pretty overwhelmed at this point so I am trying to help him explore local treatment options that might cost him less money. Obviously, he is under time pressure and needs to make many complex decisions quickly.

Would hospitals such as St. Louis or Bangkok Christian be suitable options for this type of surgery? Would they be considerably less expensive?

Are there any other Bangkok hospitals that should be considered?

Also, any recommendations for Oral Surgeons with experience in this type of condition?

Does anybody know anything about this oxygen enrichment procedure and where it could be obtained less expensively?

Any recommendations or other information will be greatly appreciated.

[Sheryl]

The issue is not the hospital per se it is the surgeon.

St Louis Hosp and Bkk Christian Hosp are indeed both less expensive than Bumrungrad but from the St. Louis website they do nto appear to have a head and neck surgeon on staff.

Bangkok Christian hosp has recently redone their wesbite and the English language function doesn't work, so I can't say for there. You would have to enquire directly and then, if they have a head and neck specialist, google his qualifications.

Another and even lower cost option is Chulalonghorn Hosp via their after hours clinioc, a quasi private arrangement that klets patients directly access some of their top specialists. Unfortunately no web site for it and hard to impossible to contact by phone, so have to go in person. Go in the afternoon and register first on the first floor of the main outpatient building (a Thai speaker will be very helpful, it is hard to navigate without one. Signs and forms are in Thai and staff do not speak English. Also be prepared for long lines and waits, and bring passport for ID).

Once a patient card and hospital number ghas been obtianed go up to the "clinic nok wela"which I think is on the 13th floor (ask to verify) and then talk tio the receptionist there to find out names and hours of a the most senior head and neck specialist. I think someone is there by 4 PM or so daily (receptionist that is...doctor hours will vary)

this is all going to entail some red tape and hassle, but if perserved through, will inded lead to some cost savings.

Another option which while not as inexpensive as above will still be somewhat less than Bumrungrad and comparable to it in ease of use is Vejthani hospital which has a Harvard trained head and neck surgeon on staff

http://www.vejthani....s.php?id_sr=779

Personally I would probably start there since it is easy and the surgeon looks eminently qualified. Then if still prohibitive in cost, try Chula.

Regarding öxygen enrichment"I think you are refrring to hyperbaric oxygen treatment, see http://www.oralcance.../hyperbaric.htm

There are places other than Bumrungrad that offer it but first see if the surgeon deems it necessary. I have more often seen it used to offset the reffects of radiation, not as a pre-surgical treatment. (Chaces are good that your friend does need radiation, but you did not mention it in that context so I'm rather puzzled).

[dddave]

Sheryl, as always, thanks for the time and effort you put into your response to my question.

Turns out I was wrong in my understanding of the oxygen treatments; they are indeed post-surgical, not pre, my error. The link you sent is really informative.

We will check out the recommendations you made. The Vejthani Hosp website looks good and is probably a better option for him as he doesn't have a readily and consistently available Thai speaker to help navigate the complexities of Chula.

Your point that selecting the Surgeon be the priority and not the hospital is appreciated.

dddave