My sweetie’s uncle was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and given 6 months to live. Whatever the channel’s of communication, the news came to his wife first. She told his brothers and sisters, but not him, and they decided that given his personality, it would be best–for him–not to tell him. 
They changed their minds, and have told him. He is now receiving treatment.
I’m told that cancer treatments–or at least this kind of cancer treatment–is not covered by medical insurance in Taiwan. The family is paying something like NT $50,000/ month for treatment that is not expected to provide a cure, just more time. I’m not sure what medication he’s on, but the situation sounds much like that described below.
I’ve been chewing over this situation for a few weeks, but would appreciate others’ reflections.
thanks,
j.
[quote=“CBC”]The high cost of many new cancer drugs has doctors, patients and health-plan administrators debating how much should be spent to give people a few extra months of life.
Of the 15 cancer drugs approved in Canada over the past decade, three-quarters cost more than $20,000 for a normal course of treatment.
Some provinces, as well as private drug plans, are refusing to cover the increasingly expensive cost, leaving patients to either not get treatment that may extend life and reduce side effects or find a way of covering the cost themselves.
For some, it means exhausting the family’s retirement savings or losing their homes.
Terry Rak of Saskatoon has advanced colorectal cancer. He’s being treated with Avastin, which his doctor says could prolong his life by six months, at a cost of $3,000 twice a month.
However, Saskatchewan is one of the provinces that doesn’t pay for Avastin.
“And there’s many people out there who can’t afford it. They need help,” Rak told CBC News. “A lot of them just want to spend time with their spouses and grandchildren.”
Rak and his wife decided that the prospect of Terry being able to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary is worth the money.[/quote]