Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok wants to reduce breast cancer deaths
The Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok has set itself an ambitious goal. For example, no more women may die of breast cancer during the first five years after timely diagnosis.
Prasit, director of Siriraj Medical School, says the hospital is providing treatment according to international standards. The hospital wants to invest heavily in the advanced technology and facilities needed to effectively treat breast cancer. To achieve that goal, an immunotherapy research center is being set up.
The target of 100 percent survivors applies to patients with stage 0 to stage 1 breast cancer. The target for stage 2 is 90 percent and for stage 3 it is set at 80 percent. In Thailand, 10.000 women die of breast cancer every year. Each year, the number of new cases increases by 20,5 percent. 20.000 new cases are expected this year.
According to Pornchai O-charoenrat of the Faculty of Medicine, research into figures shows that his hospital is performing well. For example, the survival rate of patients with breast cancer in Siriraj hospital, 5 years after diagnosis and treatment, is even 92,1 percent. Compared to the United Kingdom, this is excellent, because the survival rate there is 89,6 percent.
In developed countries with a high gross domestic income, this average is 80 percent and in developed countries with a lower national income: 60 percent. In developing countries, the survival rate is 40 percent.
Source: Bangkok Post
A beautiful and ambitious goal... I have worked professionally in this domain for many years. It is probably quite feasible, but... In addition to adequate treatment, important information will also be needed. I have witnessed patients (in Thailand) simply not returning to the hospital after being diagnosed with breast cancer and even undergoing a biopsy, but surrendered to charlatans in the villages of Isaan. They were unwilling to undergo chemotherapy because they would (temporarily) lose their hair…and even less so for a mastectomy. I spoke to them and tried to convince them...Unfortunately in vain and within 2 years they were no longer there.
I think there is also a bit of religion involved in this. where my girlfriend says.
“we are scared of pain, we are not scared to die”
Was/Isn't it much more a matter of financing?
How much does an operation, chemotherapy, radiation cost?
Most Thais, especially in the Isaan, cannot afford health insurance, so they have to find money for that treatment(s) from family and friends.
If that fails, only cheap charlatans remain.
Just to straighten out some nonsense: in Thailand you can simply go to a state hospital for the treatment mentioned. And let this Siriraj be the largest and oldest hospital in Thailand and a state hospital, so one does not need to have private health insurance for treatment there.
And then some info for the Isan haters: people can go for treatment at the renowned state hospital in Khon Kaen.
I stand corrected. 🙂
I was under the impression that the consultation/diagnosis is free, but the treatment has to be paid for.
In addition: Thaksin Shinawatra, maligned by his opponents, introduced the 2001 Bath/consultation scheme after taking office as prime minister in 30, which made health care (diagnosis and treatment) accessible to every Thai. After the 2006 military coup that ousted the re-elected Thaksin, the 30 Bath/consultation threshold was abolished.
The question remains as to why the cancer patients did not want to be treated. Advanced stage cancer is very painful, so Antoon's wife's statement doesn't make sense.
Knowledge of us (thai) is also covered there. Lots of knowledge but definitely not cheap. Total costs 4 thb for 000x chemotherapy (000x 8 days in-patient). What struck me is that the doctors are honest with the family (unsalvageable in our case) but not with the patient. Actually, in my opinion, palliative sedation would have been better and cheaper.