Why you shouldn’t go abroad for treatment

The stereotype that treatment abroad is better than in Russia developed several decades ago and still exists among the people. Meanwhile, today domestic medicine is no worse, and sometimes even better than foreign medicine. Including in the treatment of cancer.

Why a trip abroad for treatment is often not the best way out, “Professor Evgeny Libson, Chief Consultant for Oncological Diagnostics, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oncology at the European Medical Center, told Moskovskaya Pravda.

– Often the diagnosis of cancer causes despair and a sense of panic in patients. In this state, many of those who have money are ready to immediately fly abroad for treatment, without even knowing what domestic medicine can now offer in the field of oncology. Meanwhile, the possibilities in the treatment of malignant neoplasms in Russian medical institutions are not much different from foreign ones. This applies to all aspects: staff qualifications, drug supply equipment, and so on,” said Evgeny Libson.

The professor advises, before giving preference to a foreign clinic, carefully weigh all the pros and cons of such a decision.

Quite often, Russian oncologists are faced with the fact that the patient immediately goes abroad, begins treatment there, but at some point he runs out of money and returns to his homeland to continue therapy here. In such a situation, an unpleasant surprise can await him, – Yevgeny Libson warns. – The fact is that in Russia the diagnosis will have to be confirmed, that is, to revise the tests, re-do PET CT and other necessary studies. This is done primarily because the attending physician must be confident in the accuracy of the diagnosis. For example, in my practice, about 15% of patients change their diagnosis after a second examination.

In addition, it should be remembered that oncological diseases require long-term treatment, which can last for years.

– This is not the case when you arrived, did everything in a couple of days and returned to your homeland. There is a completely different approach here, and it is the same both in Russia and abroad. Of course, it is better to undergo treatment in one medical institution, because they know your medical history inside and out. It’s easier for both doctors and the patient,” the doctor explains.

Also abroad, additional costs, in addition to the therapy itself, which for foreigners is possible only on a commercial basis, will require payment for accommodation, translation services, and so on. Moreover, there is a practice that the prices for treatment for foreigners are higher than for their fellow citizens.

Also, don’t forget about the language barrier. It’s one thing when a doctor speaks the same language with you, and it’s quite another when you can’t even read the diagnosis on your own, which is written in medical documents, reminds Evgeny Libson. – For those who travel abroad to treat oncology, the services of so-called intermediaries are very common in Russia. These are the people or organizations that take care of everything. They find a clinic, provide an interpreter, take care of all the paperwork, provide accommodation, book flights, and so on. Without such an intermediary in a foreign country it will be very difficult. But for their services, these people take a commission that cannot be called low. Therefore, when planning treatment in a foreign country, approximately the same amount should be allocated for additional expenses as for medical care directly.

You need to think in advance about how the patient will get to the place of treatment, especially if he is in serious condition.

“Transportation of such a patient, especially over a long distance, is a certain risk that not every doctor and not every transport company will take on, and even if it is possible to agree, the amounts for transportation will be very high,” the doctor explains.

It is also important to understand that a clinic abroad does not always mean treatment of a high medical level.

– First of all, a medical institution should be academic and multidisciplinary. Not all clinics in other countries meet these requirements. For some reason, the Russians have a stereotype that everything that is abroad is definitely good, and everything that is in Russia is bad. But this is not the case, says Yevgeny Libson. “Unfortunately, they haven’t invented a magic pill, even if it’s foreign, that you can drink and cure cancer. Cancer treatment is a very serious process. In fact, we are talking about saving the life and good functional condition of the patient after therapy. Therefore, it is very important to start treatment and diagnosis correctly and on time, otherwise the chances of recovery will be much lower.

In general, the doctor advises not to make a decision in haste. Despite the fact that the treatment of cancer requires a quick response, there is always a little time to think and weigh the pros and cons.

Alena Bodrienko.

Photo from emcmos.ru