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Treatment outside the US?

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 5/20/2014 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am new to this forum - as I am to PC - so I hope I am doing his correctly. As you can see in my signature I just had my RRP, feeling quite well in spite of my incontinence but I am sure my frustration will grow.
I need some advice. I was just offered a great opportunity to work in Singapore for a few years but I am not sure if I should take on the opportunity. It would be still a couple month before the move but I was wondering if anyone has experience with continuing treatment abroad. My treatment after surgery has no even started but in my simple mind I would thing I could take hormones or radiation anywhere in this world if needed. And Singapore is not a developing country.
Thoughts anyone?
Posted 5/20/2014 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
The top question I see is how will you get your treatment covered by healthcare? Do you have HC today? I would resolve this asap then make the call. Given your data, it is possible that you would need radiation or hormonal therapies at some time in the future. If your opportunity in Singapore offers healthcare and continuation of your treatments then it is probably not a major issue. I am certain that the major cancer facilities in Singapore are probably current but is Singapore does not offer drugs like Zytiga or Xtandi, or they won't accept your HC today then that would weigh big in my book.
Posted 5/20/2014 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Yup, my company offers the HC and covers treatment and medication. Agree, double checked that a couple of days ago. What I don't know is how treatment plan and data exchange would work between the doctors - and if a transfer is acceptable...
Posted 5/20/2014 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Does you company have an HC advocate? My company does and they come in handy for things like this. I do not know how well Singapore has kept up with the latest and expensive drugs but from what I can see they do have decent PCa programs.

www.parkwaycancercentre.com/learn-about-cancer/types-of-cancer/what-is-prostate-cancer/

Good luck in your endeavor. You might contact places like I just listed and talk about your charts before you decide?
Posted 5/20/2014 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Razor, I was so fed up after my surgery and in need of adventure. I moved with family/kids to Rome Italy for a year and it was fine. I'd urge you to go on your adventure.

I've been to Singapore and it's very beautiful and modern. It's also quite expensive as I'm sure you are aware. Hope your housing budget is good.

My doc was great communicating and guiding my testing while I was away. I just made sure to file everything away with his staff back here in America. I'm sure your doc(s) would do the same.
Posted 5/21/2014 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
A G-9 with a positive lymph node...I would say radiation treatment is almost certain once you get your incontinence under control..Does your employer have any idea of your health problems? I think it would be somewhat unfair of you to keep your health status secret from your employer in regards to transferring you to Singapore. If you are free-lancing, then go for it, you can always fly home if advanced treatments not available in Singapore are required..

In The States, there have big advances in the LINAC's, Linear Accelerators, the machines used to provide radiation treatment..I would want to be treated on a modern machine...Something like a Varian Rapid-Arc that employ a built-in CAT scanner for precise positioning and aiming the beam along with a moving gantry to greatly reduce exposure to healthy tissue...
Posted 5/21/2014 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Razor,
I found some interesting data on prostate cancer in Singapore through the Movember Foundation.

sg.movember.com/nesp/mens-health/

> Almost 600 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Singapore each year
> Over 115 men die of prostate cancer in Singapore each year
> Life Expectancy for men in Singapore is 79 and 84 for women.

It also states that 1 in 10 men in their lifetime will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. This has grown to a rate of doubling over the last 4 decades.

I'm not sure what to make of that. From a comparative standpoint there seems to be a thought about 600 men per year versus 250,000 men per year in the US. I know a lot of things play into that such as genetics, diet, and perhaps a relatively minute screening system. But how many strong centers there are may be minimal. But for what it's worth, the international healthcare rating for Singapore is #2 world wide.
Posted 5/21/2014 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Singapore has an excellent reputation for healthcare. I would do research on the specific treatments you are likely to do and see what is available in Singapore.

An
Posted 5/21/2014 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your thoughts and advice. Will do some research and may also be able to talk to someone when I am there first week of June. Will also ask my Dana Faber Oncologist for advice.
Btw, yes, my company knows about my condition. The expat program provides better coverage than here in the US.
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