Younger Than Ever: The Challenges Faced by Young Cancer Patients in Vietnam

Last year, Thuy Linh, a 32-year-old woman from Dong Da, was diagnosed with metastatic cancer on the day her son turned one. She had discovered unusual signs during a routine health check and was rushed to Hanoi Medical University Hospital for a biopsy. The results showed thyroid papillary carcinoma, which had spread to the lymph nodes.

The news came as a shock to Linh, who believed that cancer was a disease of old age. She was devastated and struggled to accept her diagnosis, especially because she had led a healthy lifestyle by regularly exercising, eating lots of fiber, and limiting sugar and fast food. After visiting three other hospitals, she received the same diagnosis.

The financial burden of cancer treatment weighed heavily on Linh’s mind as she contemplated the cost of targeted medicine, which could range from hundreds of millions to billions of dong. Health insurance did not cover this new medication because it was not yet approved for use in Vietnam. Linh worried about how she would support her aging parents in the countryside while undergoing treatment.

Similarly, Hai Anh, a marketing employee in her late twenties, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Growing up in a family of divorced parents, she longed for a stable relationship and family life with children. When the bad news came, she felt shattered not only because of her illness but also because her dream of having children was crushed. Despite undergoing treatment and chemotherapy, she struggled with the physical and emotional tolls of cancer.

Cancer is no longer considered an exclusive disease of old age as recent studies have shown an increase in diagnoses among young people. Young cancer patients face unique challenges such as mental health struggles and financial burdens due to high costs of treatments and medications not covered by health insurance. Health professionals emphasize the importance of mental health support and education on treatment side effects to help young cancer patients navigate their journey towards recovery and healing.

In conclusion, young cancer patients face significant challenges that require comprehensive support to overcome their diagnosis and treatment process successfully.

When receiving the same results from three different hospitals within weeks apart at Hanoi Medical University Hospital (HMUH), Thuy Linh collapsed once again due to the financial burden that comes with cancer treatment.

After consulting multiple doctors at various hospitals across Vietnam including HMUH’s Oncology Department,
Linh received an accurate diagnosis: thyroid papillary carcinoma which had metastasized to lymph nodes.

Linh expressed her concerns regarding the costly targeted therapy recommended by doctors at HMUH that can range from hundreds of millions to billions VND per course while health insurance does not cover it yet due to its newness on market.

Aside from Linh’s experience with financial burdens related to medical treatments for cancer patients also includes Hai Anh’s situation where she faced both physical and emotional tolls after being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at just 30 years old.

Growing up in a family where both parents are divorced made finding suitable partners or forming families challenging for Hai Anh before receiving her diagnosis.

Recent studies have shown that an increase in diagnoses among young people makes it clear that no one is immune from getting cancer regardless of age or lifestyle choices.