Life is Cheaper than I Suspected – A Tale of Cancer

[oneday]

My GF’s mother has been fighting cancer for almost a year. Naturally, it took them some time to diagnose it and then time to schedule an appointment with a specialist at a government hospital. She first tried a private hospital whose only concern was to milk her for as much money as they could, rather than do real tests to find a real diagnosis. There was no way she could afford that (9000 for 2 days) and so she was forced into the government hospital system.

She was told in order to get more prioritized treatment (the best way I can put it) she needed to go to her home province of Sakon Nakon and so she did. Unfortunately, they did not have the expertise and so she was shuffled off to Udon Thani where she was finally seen by a competent doctor and she was scheduled for surgery relatively quickly. This was the only urgency I have seen in her journey with this disease. In the meantime, a lot of time had been wasted reaching this point on a disease which can become fatal if quick action is not taken.

During the surgery they found a lymphoma in her intestines. She was then subsequently scheduled for chemotherapy which she finally finished about 4 or so months ago. She seemed to be doing well with her hair growing back and feeling well, but now it’s all gone awry.

In the last month of so she has not been feeling well, mostly with her stomach and a few days ago she was having problems breathing, something in her throat and some mention of bubbles, so she ended up in a government hospital in a province near her home where I had been telling my GF to get her to go because they had been doing her checkups. I wanted her to be in a place where they had records of her history with cancer. Naturally, my first fear and suspicion was her cancer had come back and metastasized. She was admitted to the hospital a couple of days ago with symptoms like a cold and a temperature, which is unquestionably not the ultimate culprit.

Tonight the doctor, not even the one seeing her, told her she had to go, that she didn’t have a cold or temperature anymore and they needed the beds. I’m told the words, “Mai Pen Lai” were used at least a couple times. She is scheduled for an appointment on November 14, so it’s obvious, for them, there is absolutely no urgency and zero compassion for someone who is probably not going to survive this disease.

My GF called me in tears, just a little while ago, ranting and crying about the bad manners of this Thai doctor; treating someone so badly by kicking her out late at night rather than earlier in the day when it would have been easier to make arrangements to go home. All I can do is agree with her and be shocked at how cold-blooded this so-called doctor was.

Who knows if she could have ultimately survived this, but all the delays have almost certainly condemned her.

[bkkbudddy]

one day,

Instead of complaining, why don't you give your girlfriend some money for her mother's cancer treatment at a private hospital?

[WitawatWatawit]

^^^ That's evading the issue, which is the quality of treatment that is supposed to be made available to all and sundry. It is certainly not the kind of thing envisioned by Prince Mahidol. OP, it sounds to me that you have every right to lodge a complaint over this appalling treatment. The medical council - here are the phone numbers - Tel :(0)2590-1880-1, (0)2590-1884, (0)2590-1886-7, (0)2590-1888-9

Your GF should go back to that hospital and confront the doctor. He might be under a lot of pressure because of the ruinous Thaksin health scheme, but that is no excuse for treating an ill patient like cattle. Thoughts go with the GF's mother.

[oneday]

one day,

Instead of complaining, why don't you give your girlfriend some money for her mother's cancer treatment at a private hospital?

You, as is typical of so many TV members missed the entire point of the thread.

What an absolutely useless post. Go foul someone elses thread.

[oneday]

^^^ That's evading the issue, which is the quality of treatment that is supposed to be made available to all and sundry. It is certainly not the kind of thing envisioned by Prince Mahidol. OP, it sounds to me that you have every right to lodge a complaint over this appalling treatment. The medical council - here are the phone numbers - Tel :(0)2590-1880-1, (0)2590-1884, (0)2590-1886-7, (0)2590-1888-9

Your GF should go back to that hospital and confront the doctor. He might be under a lot of pressure because of the ruinous Thaksin health scheme, but that is no excuse for treating an ill patient like cattle. Thoughts go with the GF's mother.

I appreciate your well thought out reply. Thank you.

She did call the hospital back and complained, but I already knew the answer before she told me. They didn't care. As is so often the case in this country (and for you apologists I do like some things about this country, nevertheless our plans to leave are already in the works) complaining never does any good. There is just no sense of "customer service" in this country. I have never heard of an employee getting in trouble for treating a customer badly. The doctor is the employee (probably treated like a God) and the employer is the hospital.

The only time things happen is when social media brings it to a wide audience or the news media gets a hold of it.

My GF will be taking her mother to a private hospital in BKK this week. This hospital is known for their cancer treatment to many Thais. I fear it's too late, but I certainly hope not because she is a wonderful lady; she is modest, unassuming and as sweet as they get.

[petermik]

one day,

Instead of complaining, why don't you give your girlfriend some money for her mother's cancer treatment at a private hospital?

Your compassion is overwhelming...............lets hope one day you don,t fall ill

[ajh6332]

Yeah it's amazing the way things work here sometimes. I hear that sometimes the ambulances will bring people to the hospital that pays more money, and not necessarily the closest one or good one. A thai friend of mine got into a motorcycle accident, and there was a hospital accross the street. They brought him to hospital farther away that's known for having crappy doctors, however the hospital pays one of the highest ambulance commissions.

[Sheryl]

The place to complain is not the hospital but rather the NHSO, which oversees the Thai universal health care system

http://www.nhso.go.th/eng/Site/Default.aspx Call Center 1330 They can and do take action when indicated

[benalibina]

You are correct about your anger towards the doctor. I need to point out though that many doctors, all over the world, are not well known for their empathic and communicationskills. Many of them treat a disease and forget that there is a person, with feelings, behind the disease. If your MIL was someone with high status this would not have happened. Another downside because status and money decides as well how many doctors in Thailand communicate with patients.

Best wishes for your MIL and may she recover from her illness.

[maximillian]

A friend of mine has fainted. Another friend went to the nearby doctor to ask him to help our friend. The doctor said he has no time now as he is preparing to go to the temple. My friend almost went on his knees to convince the doctor to help. No, he had to go to the temple.

Hope you never need real medical care here in Thailand.

[ThaiSmarterThanYou]

If it's so important for you why not paying an overpriced private hospital ?

For me I don't care and think that Thai are over boring with their parents problems !

[ThaiSmarterThanYou]

one day,

Instead of complaining, why don't you give your girlfriend some money for her mother's cancer treatment at a private hospital?

Your compassion is overwhelming...............lets hope one day you don,t fall ill

I send him, if i do not want to pay for others I just shut up !

[kennypowers]

My wife's mother had cancer treatment in the government system last year. She received chemo in Korat (not her home town) as it was the only place that had room for her to stay in for nearly a month. Even then, she was outside in the corridor in a makeshift ward with others.

The nurses were fantastic, and the doctors do what they can with literally herds of people coming through the doors every day. They just don't have the resources. It's an underfunded system that's breaking under the weight of an increasing number of people being diagnosed with cancer and diabetes due to poor diet.

I feel for your GF's mum, but don't get yourselves in an emotional pickle; it won't help. Attend the hospital with your GF and speak calmly and firmly with the doctor until you get her admitted somewhere. You may have to travel though, so be prepared for that. My wife did the majority of phone calling on behalf of her mum. She'd follow up on appointments by ringing the nurses/doctor and clarifying what had been said and what was being done. This seemed to help move the process along, so I suggest doing the same.

My wife's mum is still having a few health issues post chemo - one year on - so it could be that your GFs mum is experiencing the same.

I wish her speedy recovery.

[ggt]

US VA Hospitals and doctors have been accused of sending Vets home to die without treatment or delaying their treatment so that they die before being seen...all this is under investigation at this time...

[jdlancaster]

Some really short sighted and inconsiderate people here.... these problems are about more than his mother in law.... it's about access to medical care for most of the population. ... many of those with money and don't care often forget the gift they had of having the right passport. Those with money and power should speak up more and be part of the solution and not the problem. And by speak up I mean donate your time money and expertise.

[1FinickyOne]

Sorry for the pain...

This happens in USA too - doctors see patients all day, every day and it is difficult to maintain a sense of sympathy and empathy - if there were true and deep feelings for everyone who walked in their door, it would be difficult to emotionally deal with that amt of serious pain and suffering all day. And so most have an ability to distance themselves. Some can fake the compassion - and we commend them for a good bedside manner.

I have a friend who is a brilliant doctor and a wonderful human being. When he told me about his own fathers cancer it was in cold scientific medical terms.

Now, none of this is a justification for cruel behavior. And worse by far are the doctors who order unnecessary tests, treatments and even surgeries for their own enrichment.

When in pain and danger, not much seems fair. Good luck to all of you.

[KhnomKhnom]

The idea here and in usa is, He/She is so old anyway and will die of something soon, so why bother?

At 71, I can detect that undercurrent all the time. I suspect that is at the bottom of her experience.

Who knows what pressure is on doctors from cost control addicts.... same in usa. Sad

[noahvail]

The standard of medicine, especially outside of Bangkok and Chiang Mai, is generally not up to Western standards, even in the private hospitals. Here in backwoods Isaan, my wife and I are friends with two MDs, to the point of chatting on Facebook. They both speak English very well. One was sent on sabbatical, paid for by the government, for two years in the US to further develop his surgical skills. He's the one who removed my wife's gall bladder last year, using "keyhole" surgery - in a small government hospital with one OR and no recovery room. She healed quickly with no complications.. Both of these doctors take as much time as is needed with each patient.

But even those two docs complain to us of the horrible state of health care in Thailand. Lack of facilities, lack of the right meds, and the gross over-prescription of antibiotics all contribute to the state of the Thai health system. Doctors' attitudes, though...too many rush through their patients like they have a quota to fill, and I've seen them get angry.

i've seen asshat doctors in the States, in New Zealand, and in Thailand - but as far as copping an attitude, I'd say the Thai docs are #1.

Edited November 8, 2014 by noahvail

[Alwyn]

I returned to the UK after all the anti government protests bankrupt our company. It was fortuitous as I was diagnozed with advanced prostate cancer T3b. This was in June. The doctors, consultants and everybody else involved in my journey have been fantastic. I was also fortunate enough (ironic that I'm thinking anything involved in this is "lucky" of fortunate) to be a patient at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, the UK's number 1 cancer care hospital. God only knows what would have been the outcome if this had been diagnozed in Thailand. Amoxicylin maybe? In my 15 years or so in Thailand I have been to hospital quite a few times and I never once had a positive experience. They are more interested in ripping the spine out of your back than offering any appropriate medication. It's criminal the way they roast the Farang for every baht possible and treating locals as if they are pondlife.

[realenglish1]

In answer to your question Life is cheaper here in Thailand There is not the same value put on life that the west has.

Sadly to the truth

[carter1882]

I returned to the UK after all the anti government protests bankrupt our company. It was fortuitous as I was diagnozed with advanced prostate cancer T3b. This was in June. The doctors, consultants and everybody else involved in my journey have been fantastic. I was also fortunate enough (ironic that I'm thinking anything involved in this is "lucky" of fortunate) to be a patient at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, the UK's number 1 cancer care hospital. God only knows what would have been the outcome if this had been diagnozed in Thailand. Amoxicylin maybe? In my 15 years or so in Thailand I have been to hospital quite a few times and I never once had a positive experience. They are more interested in ripping the spine out of your back than offering any appropriate medication. It's criminal the way they roast the Farang for every baht possible and treating locals as if they are pondlife.

Alwyn,

Your attitude is making me sick. I need a doctor.

[Si Thea01]

one day,

Instead of complaining, why don't you give your girlfriend some money for her mother's cancer treatment at a private hospital?

What a low life you are. Read again what the Op had to say and maybe you will see what you have missed. To highlight poor treatment is not complaining and he is right about private hospitals, milking the patient for what it is worth. I have insurance and experienced this first hand, charged me 60,000 baht over and above what the insurer paid. Why, because they could.

You do not know the OP's circumstances, can he afford or can he not afford to help. I believe he would do his best for the family but do you know. You strike me as a poor excuse for a human, not a compassionate bone in your body.

I am fired up because I experienced a loss of a loved one from this insidious disease and then I read your crap.. I cared for my wife of twenty two years for her last five years before she passed on from breast cancer. I hope you never have to have such an experience where you see a perfectly healthy women go from 70 kilos to 36 kilos in less than a year and stay this way until she passed away four years later.

Just remember, karma is a funny thing,

[Kitsune]

one day,

Instead of complaining, why don't you give your girlfriend some money for her mother's cancer treatment at a private hospital?

What a low life you are. Read again what the Op had to say and maybe you will see what you have missed. To highlight poor treatment is not complaining and he is right about private hospitals, milking the patient for what it is worth. I have insurance and experienced this first hand, charged me 60,000 baht over and above what the insurer paid. Why, because they could.

You do not know the OP's circumstances, can he afford or can he not afford to help. I believe he would do his best for the family but do you know. You strike me as a poor excuse for a human, not a compassionate bone in your body.

I am fired up because I experienced a loss of a loved one from this insidious disease and then I read your crap.. I cared for my wife of twenty two years for her last five years before she passed on from breast cancer. I hope you never have to have such an experience where you see a perfectly healthy women go from 70 kilos to 36 kilos in less than a year and stay this way until she passed away four years later.

Just remember, karma is a funny thing,

breast cancer is dairy, not karma

https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/health-science/stars/stars-written/ruth-heidrich/

[bangkapi]

Sometimes it is just "hit and miss"

Someone with no money can get a great doctor and proper treatment for almost nothing.

Or someone with lots of money could be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Life is that way......

[WitawatWatawit]

I don't know whether some people like to play Devil's advocate for the perverse pleasure of it, or whether they are naturally antagonistic. Either way, they need psychiatric help. Badly.

[benalibina]

I returned to the UK after all the anti government protests bankrupt our company. It was fortuitous as I was diagnozed with advanced prostate cancer T3b. This was in June. The doctors, consultants and everybody else involved in my journey have been fantastic. I was also fortunate enough (ironic that I'm thinking anything involved in this is "lucky" of fortunate) to be a patient at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, the UK's number 1 cancer care hospital. God only knows what would have been the outcome if this had been diagnozed in Thailand. Amoxicylin maybe? In my 15 years or so in Thailand I have been to hospital quite a few times and I never once had a positive experience. They are more interested in ripping the spine out of your back than offering any appropriate medication. It's criminal the way they roast the Farang for every baht possible and treating locals as if they are pondlife.

Sad to read your whole post. 1st of all regarding your illness. It must have been quite a shocker for you and worrysome time. 2nd of all ...your experiences with the thai medical profession. As stated before communication is not a strong point of doctors in general, in native language too thus, and cultural differences and crossing language barriers makes it difficult as well. Ofcourse thai private hospitals are in it to make money and they can cross the line to extract money from patients. My experiences, from 1998 and 90% in Phuket with the thai medical profession are mixed. Children related over the whole they were good apart from 1 bad experience but luckily enough i had my witts about, searching internet and speaking to doctors in my homecountry, and a second opinion prevented future damage to my daughters breastarea.

If not for thai doctors ...i would have been dead 15 years ago.......money, insurance thus, made them continue for hours to save my life. In my homecountry they would have stopped to resuscitate me after a while.

So yes money is a driving force but quality is there and one needs to think critically themselves, alot more than needed in the West, and speaking the lingo helps.

[richard peters]

"Rethaier" is correct! I had bowell cancer and used Christian prayer, molasses and many, many other things, but I heard a case of another man curing his bowell cancer in a few months with just molasses (and he was unaware of adding baking soda). These natural and semi natural cures are out there to be used (see www.naturalnews.com), but most conventional doctors are either unaware of them or under the influence of the big pharmacuetical companies, etc.

[Alwyn]

I returned to the UK after all the anti government protests bankrupt our company. It was fortuitous as I was diagnozed with advanced prostate cancer T3b. This was in June. The doctors, consultants and everybody else involved in my journey have been fantastic. I was also fortunate enough (ironic that I'm thinking anything involved in this is "lucky" of fortunate) to be a patient at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, the UK's number 1 cancer care hospital. God only knows what would have been the outcome if this had been diagnozed in Thailand. Amoxicylin maybe? In my 15 years or so in Thailand I have been to hospital quite a few times and I never once had a positive experience. They are more interested in ripping the spine out of your back than offering any appropriate medication. It's criminal the way they roast the Farang for every baht possible and treating locals as if they are pondlife.

Sad to read your whole post. 1st of all regarding your illness. It must have been quite a shocker for you and worrysome time. 2nd of all ...your experiences with the thai medical profession. As stated before communication is not a strong point of doctors in general, in native language too thus, and cultural differences and crossing language barriers makes it difficult as well. Ofcourse thai private hospitals are in it to make money and they can cross the line to extract money from patients. My experiences, from 1998 and 90% in Phuket with the thai medical profession are mixed. Children related over the whole they were good apart from 1 bad experience but luckily enough i had my witts about, searching internet and speaking to doctors in my homecountry, and a second opinion prevented future damage to my daughters breastarea.

If not for thai doctors ...i would have been dead 15 years ago.......money, insurance thus, made them continue for hours to save my life. In my homecountry they would have stopped to resuscitate me after a while.

So yes money is a driving force but quality is there and one needs to think critically themselves, alot more than needed in the West, and speaking the lingo helps.

Crikey you have had some experiences! I had some kind of blood poisoning once when I was in Samui and they were taking about cutting my leg off! I got a girl from "Fawlty towers" who speaks perfect English (with a cockney accent no less!) to translate as the doctor's (and surgeon's) English was so poor. Needless to say that went down well! But after that episode I have been super wary of these hospitals, I went in to hospital in CM with an infection of my epidermis (cellulitis) and it was like something out of a Carry On movie, first they gave me a barrier cream when it needed a steroidal cream then the usual, Amoxicyllin! Ah well, I'm still alive!

[jesimps]

^^^ That's evading the issue, which is the quality of treatment that is supposed to be made available to all and sundry. It is certainly not the kind of thing envisioned by Prince Mahidol. OP, it sounds to me that you have every right to lodge a complaint over this appalling treatment. The medical council - here are the phone numbers - Tel :(0)2590-1880-1, (0)2590-1884, (0)2590-1886-7, (0)2590-1888-9

Your GF should go back to that hospital and confront the doctor. He might be under a lot of pressure because of the ruinous Thaksin health scheme, but that is no excuse for treating an ill patient like cattle. Thoughts go with the GF's mother.

Lay off pal, we're on the junta's watch now. Good luck to the lady.

[2046]

I have a friend who was told 14 years ago that he had six months to live because of prostate cancer that had spread and was untreatable. He did some research and came across an article about Dr. SImoncelli (spelling?) who was treating cancer with Baking soda. Now I know this sounds crazy but he looked further and learned a simple formula of Baking Soda and Maple syrup. His cancer is gone and he is still living. My sister got breast cancer 5 years ago and refused conventional treatment and she too used this protocol. She is alive and her cancer is gone. The following two links will explain it to you. Your MIL has nothing to lose by trying it and ju7st maybe, it will save here life.

Though the first link says to use Molasses, the second link uses Maple syrup which is available in Thailand but note it must be 100% pure Maple syrup.

http://drleonardcoldwell.com/2013/11/01/stage-4-cancer-gone-with-baking-soda-treatment/comment-page-1/

https://truthpills.wordpress.com/health/maple-syrupbaking-soda-trojan-horse/

@rethaier

I just want to ask you the following: Are the two examples in your post concerning successful cure from cancer by means of baking soda REAL?

Beside other content, a website about Dr. Simoncini tells a different story.

Quote:

"Tullio Simoncini was banned from medical profession for life and convicted for fraud in three instances, for selling unproven medical treatments. In 2003, after the death of a patient whom he had treated with sodium bicarbonate, he was convicted for wrongful death..."

Link:https://www.psiram.com/en/index.php/Sodium_Bicarbonate_Therapy_according_to_Simoncini

...just asking!