A year ago, Thuy Linh, 32, received devastating news when she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer on the day her son turned one year old. During a routine health check at a clinic in Dong Da, Linh discovered unusual symptoms that led her to Hanoi Medical University Hospital for further testing. The doctor recommended a biopsy, which revealed thyroid papillary carcinoma that had spread to the lymph nodes.
The woman was devastated as she imagined her child’s first day of school, graduation or wedding without her mother. She could not accept that she had cancer because she believed it was a disease of the elderly. Despite living a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating lots of fiber and limiting sugar and fast food, Linh told herself it couldn’t be cancer. However, after visiting three other hospitals, she received the same diagnosis.
Linh collapsed again when receiving the same results from each hospital. The financial burden of cancer treatment was too great, and health insurance did not cover it due to its high cost. The doctor advised her to use targeted medicine but warned her that it would cost hundreds of millions to billions of dong while health insurance does not support this new medicine. Linh expressed concern about the financial impact on her aging parents in the countryside who supported her treatment costs.
Meanwhile, Hai Anh, a marketing employee in Ho Chi Minh City was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at age 30 during a routine check-up at a private clinic in District 10. Growing up in a family of divorced parents, Anh longed for love and companionship but faced challenges with depression and anxiety due to her illness and fear of being alone in life without children or family support system. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and surgery treatments successfully, Anh still struggles with the physical tolls of cancer and emotional trauma caused by loss of hope for finding love or having children.
Recent studies show an increase in cancer diagnoses among young people worldwide despite being considered a disease associated with old age only.
Young cancer patients face unique challenges such as mental health issues like depression and anxiety alongside financial burdens caused by high treatment costs not covered by health insurance.
In conclusion, young cancer patients face significant challenges that require comprehensive support from healthcare providers to navigate their diagnosis and treatment journey towards recovery and healing.
Healthcare professionals should prioritize mental health support along with education on treatment side effects and lifestyle changes to prevent future occurrences.
Raising awareness about this issue can help improve access to care for young cancer patients while reducing stigma associated with this condition among the general population.