The Formosa Cancer Foundation has urged the government to set up more medical facilities in rural areas, citing the need to improve transportation and supporting systems for people with cancer.
Government data showed differences among regions in terms of cancer-related deaths, foundation deputy director Tsai Li-chuan (蔡麗娟) said, adding that there are 33 percent more deaths in southern Taiwan than in the north, while there are 45 percent more deaths in eastern counties.
It takes eight to 10 times longer to go to a hospital for people in rural areas than those in major cities, she said.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Seventy percent of people with cancer in rural areas said it is the main reason they wanted to give up treatment, she said.
Most people with cancer need to undergo chemotherapy, which requires a session every two to three weeks, she said.
In addition to fatigue from long journeys, they also have to endure pain and other difficulties, she said.
She cited the case of an elderly man surnamed Fang (方) as an example.
Fang lives in Taitung County’s Taimali Township (太麻里) by himself, with no family to look after him, she said.
For his cancer treatment, Fang needs to endure a 100km trip on his scooter every week, she said.
“I think about many things when I ride alone on my scooter to go to the hospital... I often think it could be my life’s final journey,” she quoted Fang as saying.
“When the support system for cancer patients is weak and they have a long commute, it poses risks for them. Therefore, many people would choose to give up their treatment,” she said.
It is important to improve road conditions and provide better support for senior citizens in rural areas, she said.
The foundation cooperates with financial firms to provide people with cancer with travel subsidies, she said.
They established a communication for senior residents in rural areas to get them to hospitals safely, she said.
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