Opinion | Breast cancer blog: The very long queue for radiotherapy

The trip is a schlep, weaving through the intensity of the heat and crowds, waiting for the mini bus to go to Queen Mary Hospital. Thus starts the second phase of my breast cancer adventures. As a woman who has been through the same procedure told me, “this will be a long journey.” It sure feels like that with the all-encompassing humidity of June.

Now that the pathology report is complete the breast surgeon shakes my hand firmly and passes me off to the oncologist. Before that she gives me a choice, referral public or private?

And it comes down to cost. There is a Grand Canyon-sized gap when it comes to the radiation cost. The radiation round for women who choose lumpectomy is typically 4-6 weeks. The price under private is typically HK$3,000 each time whereas it is HK$80 in the public hospital. Although the trip to the HKU neighborhood would be a haul, as someone who is uninsured I had to go with the practical. Public of course, I told the surgeon swiftly.

In the meantime, I try to resort to my sunny side mantra by telling myself that I’m lucky to have family and friends. I’m lucky Queen Mary is the crème de la crème of public hospitals. I’m lucky I’m in Hong Kong and not in Timbuktu.

The father arrived from the U.S. the day before the oncologist’s appointment to accompany me into foreign territory. Having spent the past 36 years teaching the MDs he has a good idea of how to deal with the white coats.