Cancer Is Expensive

Asean Costs in Oncology (Action) study done by Australia's George Institute for Global Health, showed that 45pc of cancer patients suffered from financial catastrophe one year after diagnosis, while 11pc did not make it past the first year.

  

The Action study, the first of its kind done in Southeast Asia, pinpoints the cause of the economic hardship faced by cancer patients in Malaysia – out-of-pocket expenses.
The study also found that after just one year following diagnosis and treatment, 46pc of cancer patients had used up their personal savings, 39pc couldn't pay for medication, 35pc couldn't pay for medical consultation fees or tests, 22pc couldn't pay for rent or mortgages and 19pc had to discontinue treatment.