My friend, only 17 years old this year, diagnose with a tumour growth inside his neck/throat. The doc said its been there for 3 years. The doc ask him to do an operation imediately to save his life because he is really running out of time. But the main problem, operation cost him RM80k and he has no money and insurance. The doc said he can live until end of next year only. December 2007 will be his D-Day. Quit school and trying to have as much fun as possible till his D-Day. I really feel bad for him. Im just watching him to die. As a friend what do u guys think I can do to help him? Well Im not that rich so I cant fork our RM80k for him since Im only a college student. Please give some advice. Thanks.

Look for Michael Chong or Lim Kit Siang....

His family member didn't try to help?

Damn. Cancer presenting with neck lumps have a bad prognosis.
I'm sorry about your friend. How about approaching friendly newspapers, etc for donations. But they would think twice, since it's only a year left.

Only the uncle and some friends knows, the rest dont know. At first I also dont know. I just got to know about it 3 weeks ago. Today I asked him personally to confirm he said yes. Pity him lah. Really like the running out of time movie.

omg..im sorry bout ur fren..well do wat darklight says..i doubt they`ll do anything cuz a year left....

Yeah, the money might be wasted if he dies in the operation, the doc told him 50-50.

how is the boy taking it? enjoying?
i mean does it show side effects of the tumour already?
im curious yet impress how the doctor can clarify and confirm the time he's gonna go.

This post has been edited by Unwritten law: Jul 25 2006, 12:13 AM

Err he is an Indian lah so I think should look for someone from MIC??

Not much you can do as after it hits a lymph node (which the neck is filled with) even with the operation there's no guarantee you'll be home free. But i'm sure someone can illicit some donations for the dude, and IIRC there are many hospitals overseas that offer free treatment programmes depending on elligibility.

The pain has not arrive yet. Maybe cause its not in its final stage yet. Well yeah he is enjoying life now, 1 year more to go, so he quit school and go out enjoy most of the time but still have to work lah to get some money. When the pain arrives I dont think I can bare to see him suffer, my another friend, his father died of stomach cancer. He told me the doc gave him morphins to the max and yet no effect cause too painfull. He was beside him until he died. Really a painful death.

One think I hate about Malaysia is they dont have something like in UK. My cousin from UK told me if u have cancer/tumour u will undergo surgery straight away. No need to pay a single cent!!! Yes its free. The chances of survival is higher some more cause of new technology. In Malaysia, no money death awaits u only. Really unfair men. Are we suppose to stand there and watch our friends or familiy members die if we are poor?? There should be a hot debate on this.

Im sorry for your friend. You can help by being by his side accompanying him lo..

I hope he'll be spending his great time for the time being...

Sorry to hear bout ur friend. I know the feeling cuz my mum was diagnose with first stage ovarian cancer.. but luckily they detected early and now she's recovering..

So may god bless ur friend

Sorry to hear that.
May i ask what made him to have a check on his neck? any symptoms besides the lump?

No.You can try contacting any of them regardless of races.
Where did your friend had the checkup?How about GH?Tried contacting Jabatan Kebajikan Malaysia?

I have a friend who had similar cancer, they took out his salivary glands and lymph nodes in the neck. That was done 15 years ago,he's still alive today but he has no more saliva and has to drink from a bottle to wet his mouth. So tell your friend not to be depressed, tell him to fight,it makes a lot of difference to be optimistic and positive to fight the disease. As for money,why not ask him to contact Tamil Nesan and hoohah his case so that people can come forward and donate. Approaching the English Media also doable like Malay Mail ,Star etc. Or if not call up the TV stations that do those documentary/human interest stories about people in difficult conditions. Ask his family and friends to help. Try approaching some NGOs which do community outreach like The Lodge, Rotary Club,Lions etc the members are all professionals and businesspeople and can do fund raising to help your friend.

Try apply Max Foundation
https://www.maxaid.org/

but need apply through his doctor by sending all related information one.

hope it helps

He go to goverment hospital, he will receive all the above mention for free if he is below 18. check the fact right.

sorry to hear bout ur fren.......
try to contact TV3......got program named 'Bersamamu' there....
can gather funds by sms onli~~
sure can cause a stir....
wish u luck

Chow.

This post has been edited by bata: Jul 25 2006, 09:35 AM

since this topic is more on financial problem rather than health related issue, why not move this thread to Kopitiam where it can get more attention?

FYI, Michael Chong of MCA not only helps chinese only, other races also go to him for assistance. He got a very good relationship with the press, he can easily help your friend to get press coverage to get donation from the public. Getting RM80K from public donation should be a piece of cake since the amount wasn't too big.

Since he's an indian, he can try MIC also. There's a MIC branch somewhere, where Semi Value will go there regulary to offer any assistance to his fellow indians. I can't remember where but if you ask around you should be able to find out.

btw, anyone know who's the mod for this sub-forum??
Seems like there's hardly any mod coming in here

no medical insurance?

I come from an uppermiddle class family i don't even have medical insurance , i guess it's our Malaysian mentality to think of insurance as reimbursement for death and accidents involving lost limbs instead of a way to help cope with medical bills.

Not exactly, in order to claim from insurance for cancer treatment, one has to buy the 36 types of disease/treatments package which includes diseases such as cancer, HIV, life threatening diseases.. which will allow you to get up to 100 K in advance if ur found to be diagnose with this kind of diseases.

the normal insurance that we usually buy doesn't give that much. it is mainly to cover a small amount esp during your stay in the hospital.

THe 36 disease/treatment package isn't that appealing to buy because you lose 70% of the premium if it isn't used.

and no one would expect a teenager to be hit by a cancer at such an early age. times have changed....

The normal insurance

I thought medical card covers all 36 thingy?

Anyway he can try TV3 BersamaMu, MCA, etc etc... if his family really canot support..

About the 50-50 chance he should try...

try to see specialist n also goverment hospital..
compare the price n the seriousness...
take care..
i think it can be done using laser technology...
correct me if i'm mistake

I think the special 36 major disease packages cater for the special treatments required under those treatment procedures. However in situations where it is lifesaving surgery, normal insurance usally covers to a certain limit depending on your premium policy. The special ones just cover more and for specific treatmetns that could be more expensive(such as radio/chemo therapy etc) PLus the special packages also give you the higher cover if you lose your ability to work due to those diseases,if you take the additional riders.

Yeah, I hope he will fight it till the end since since its 50-50.

But u know lah government hospital surely got waiting list. I can try to ask him to give it a shot but if the list is too long then no point. I didnt know below 18 they will help but they should do it more like UK. It is regardless of age. They will operate u ASAP if they know u are detected with cancer/tumour.

Yeah Im going to ask around and ask him to ask around too. If u guys know the number please post it here so I can pass the number to him and ask him to contact them. I think I should ask him from where he did his checkup 1st, since I don't know where he went for the checkup and ask from him the X-rays and stuffs to proof that he has the tumour too. BTW, when the doc says 50-50, usually the tumour is at which stage?

is the tumor benign or cancerous?

if he's with a church check if they can offer any assistance.

Must be cancerous since he has until Dec 2007.

not necessarily, alot of tumors are benign and often if left alone do no harm. some have a high growth rate which becomes life threatening, just because its been there a while dont mean its cancerous.

I know the will operate ASAP if the patient health permit. Pls check the fact right, you have "anything gov is wait and bad" mindset but worst you dont even check out and made the assumtion...

If your friend visit small town hospital, he might have to wait because lack of oncologist but if he can visit General Hospital at major town, arrangement is made ASAP. If he really want fast he can go either HUKM or UMMC as university hospital have more specialist available.

Only patient who need organ transplant and heart bypass need to wait. As for the heart bypass, its because IJN couldnt cope with the volume of patient. FYI for a bypass in IJN it's about rm3000 compare to rm85k-90k charge by hopsital in s'pore.

This post has been edited by chamelion: Jul 26 2006, 02:29 AM

Ok then I will ask him to go to the major government hospitals in KL. Hopefully he does not need to wait too long.

Wah 50-50 chance better fight for it lar..

Ask your friend to do all theneccessary things asap.Don't wait anymore!
First try to contact Rotary/Lion club,they're very helpfull and will do every single thing from media to operation.

Tell your friend "NO MORE WAITING!!!ACT NOW"

OK now my friend is having treatment in a gov hospital. The rest I believe is up to him d. I already did what I can d, ask him to quit smoking still dont want so leave it to fate d lah. Thanks everyone for trying to help me out. Really appreciate it.

Does one of his parents or any of his relatives work under the government? I think if either one work for the government then you can get the treatment first at the government hospital. If government hospital and one of the parents or relativess work under the government, they will give treatment first pay later, sometimes free treatment also meaning operation or etc all free. if private hospital for sure pay first then only treatment la. because our government think of people's lives u know! not money! not like indonesian government hospital, must pay first no matter what then only can get treatment/operation, cuz their economy not as good as us.

This post has been edited by Iliveunderwater: Aug 20 2006, 11:10 AM

....................

he smokes..........?

smoking can cause cancer......and

I'm afraid you're wasting your time and energy over someone who chooses to die.

But really, instead of enjoying life, your friend should do what she is doing

looks like any of this?

any news about your friend?