Cancer information and consultation for patients with any kind of cancer is available through a new foundation launched yesterday, which also aims to address the predicaments of people afflicted with lesser-known cancers who often find themselves having nowhere to turn.
“There are more than 80 kinds of cancer [reported] in Taiwan, but only 16 of them have specific patient groups in which people with the disease can resort to for support and treatment information,” said Lin Wei-chieh (林葳婕), chairwoman of the newly founded Taiwan Association of Cancer Patients, at a news conference in Taipei.
Lin said the lack of variety of support groups means many individuals who are suffering from less common cancers are left stranded, with no one to help them fight for their medical rights.
Citing the example of a 71-year-old man surnamed Hu (胡) from Kaohsiung, Lin said that seven out of Hu’s eight family members were diagnosed with cancers, including liver, breast and thyroid cancers.
“Hu was diagnosed with skin cancer seven years ago, before coming down with four other types of cancer, including adenocarcinoma — a type of lung cancer — two years ago. However, he only managed to find one cancer patient support group matching his types of diseases for support,” Lin said.
The association was established because of the many cancer patients who had approached Lin to vent their frustration over being an orphan in the cancer patient community, and also because government officials said that they had trouble finding “representative voices” for people with certain cancers, Lin said.
One of the founding members of the association, Mental Health Association Taiwan director-general Chang Chueh (張玨), said she only realized how many tasks a cancer patient must take on after she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer several years ago.
“Thanks to rapid advances in medicine, patients can now live with cancers as a chronic disease rather than a death sentence. However, we as cancer patients not only require mutual support, but also a place in the government’s medical policymaking, which is one of the goals the association aims to achieve,” Chang said.
Lin said nearly 100 patients with dozens of different cancers have joined the association, which is to provide them with cancer information, spiritual growth classes and a platform to express their opinions and suggestions.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS