Hello Sheryl need advice about cancer marker test..

[bebobo]

Hello Sheryl, (sorry for the long questions)

I found about this forum and you from a poster over at Lonely Planet's Thailand Forum:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-thailand/thailand/hospital-recommendation-and-advice-on-how-to-find-out-the-price-of-a-drug?page=2

I actually was originally trying to get the cost of one 4mg shot of Zoldronic Acid into my port every month( I think the price was 725.00 US for the drug and the hospital fees). The people over there were kind enough to help me figure that out and I got a quote from

Chang Mai Ram Hospital. 

Now after the price and the fact that I did the research my doctor agreed to give me a weekly oral Fosamax to keep my bones strength up. I am in partial remission for Stage 4 Breast Mets and next week I will be starting a new drug called Xeloda. 

We are going to be sending my meds over to me every month via DHL and there is another area that they want to price out now and that is the cost of  the cancer marker ca 27-29?

Since I came and read that you do have a lot of knowledge I was wandering if you could please give me some advice on what you think of the above forum thread and where I should get my cancer markers tested? I will contact the hospital for the prices?

I will be staying in Chang Mai for 1 and 1/2 months and Bangkok for 2 weeks. My mom wants to establish some sort of contact with the hospitals in both cities. The thing that I found out from the other forum thread is some of the hospitals price gouge but I didn't find that to be true with ChangMai Ram. 

The last area that we were curious about is travelers insurance. I am in preexisting condition group but I was wandering if I could get some kind of evacuation insurance to get out in case something god forbid did happen?

In closing I have tried to put these questions in a thoughtful order for you to review but it gets a little overwhelming. Still we want all questions answered by knowledgeable people like yourself and anyone else who may want to give some advice would be greatly appreciated too.

Best Regards (Happy Holidays),

Bebobo

 

[Sheryl]

IMPORTANT: do not have medications sent by DHL, you will never get them!!!!!

 

It is technically not legal to receive a pharmaceutical product by mail unless you have an FDA import license which you cannot get. Small packages sent by regular air mail are usually let through, however.  You can buy generic equivalents to Fosamax over the counter here. Brand names: Aldren 70 Bonmax, Maxlen (Mega, imported) , Aldronate Sandoz.  Fosamax only as Fosamax plus.

 

The price you were quoted for injections of zolendronic acid was very excessive, due to likely use of an imported brand and substantial private hospital mark-up.  It would cost you very little at a government hospital or a more moderately priced facility,  using locally made brand. 

 

Xeloda is also available here, but only from hospitals.

 

You should be able to get the Ca 27.29 done at any major lab or hospital. I don't know the cost, but doubt it would exceed 2,000 baht. However you will likely have to see a doctor and pay for the consultation as well to get it done.

 

In Chiang Mai I suggest you go through the HCMC Clinic, the GP (Dr, Morgan) there is very good and will know where to send the specimen. She may also be able to give you the IV Zolendronic right at her clinic, though you'd have to ask about that, and she may be able to get you the Xelodia though she'll have to order it from a hospital. Dr. Morgan is accustomed to dealing with travellers.

http://www.healthcaremedicalclinic.com/index.php

 

The least expensive (and also usually best,in quality) hospital in CM would be Sripat but you will not be able to get information from them in advance buy email, and would need a Thai speaker to go with you the first time. It is a quasi-private channel of a major teaching hospital  that would be able to provide anything  you need that  Dr. Morgan cannot.

 

http://www.med.cmu.ac.th/2013/academic-departments-2/sriphat-medical-center.html# 

 

In Bangkok, plenty of places to choose from. For ease of communication and liasion if necessary with your doctors back home I'd suggest that you see Dr. Nick Walters, an American GP at Mission Hospital  http://www.mission-hospital.org/en/component/jak2filter/?Itemid=437&isc=1&ordering=alpha&tags_id=49&category_id=1,2,3,9,22,52,55,4,5,15,30,46,6,7,17,21,26,29,37,42,49,10,11,12,13,47,14,8,16,18,35,39,41,44,51,19,20,23,28,32,40,45,24,25,27,31,33,34,38,43,36,48,50,54,56,57

The hospital is conevnient to the Khao Sarn area and has an oncology dept if needed, but if it is only a blood draw and meds, based on a treatment plan from your doctors at home, probably Dr. Walters can suffice. He too is accustomed to dealing with travellers.

 

You absolutely MUST get travel insurance.  Some will cover "acute exacerbations" of pre-existing conditions, but even if you cannot get any coverage related to your cancer you need it for unrelated things like motor vehicle accidents.