Lung cancer sufferers who don't smoke find help

傳媒專區

傳媒專區 > 媒體報導 > Lung cancer sufferers who don't smoke find help

Lung cancer sufferers who don't smoke find help

12-09-2014

Lung cancer sufferers who don't smoke find help

Friday, September 12, 2014

The newly established ALK Lung Cancer Caring Group is advocating more help and attention for struggling patients.

The most effective treatment for anaplastic lymphoma kinase lung cancer is said to be targeted medication. However, such an approach comes at a high cost, ranging from HK$35,000 to HK$60,000 a month, for most patients.

ALK sufferers are usually non-smokers, with the lung cancer believed to be genetic.

Additionally, the group stresses that most patients require a lot of emotional support and counseling.

The median age for diagnosed ALK patients is 48.5 years, and coming down with cancer at that age affects their careers as well as family life. For example, a fourth-stage female patient, surnamed Chan, experienced huge financial and psychological burdens.

She suffered a great deal of stress and emotional trauma as a result of her illness. "Before seeking support from cancer groups, I was always depressed because I had the disease despite not being a smoker or drinker.""I could not afford targeted medication until recently because it is so expensive. The cost alone would exceed my salary, let alone my daily expenses," said Chan, who is 32 years old.

Patricia Poon Chu-mun, specialist in clinical oncology, said lung cancer due to genetic mutation often occurs in younger, non- smokers.

She said the median age for lung cancer sufferers is 66 and more than 90 percent of ALK patients are non-smokers.

BRIAN WONG

www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp

城中活動

2026-06-15 7:00 下午【中醫講座】未病先防｜中醫教你為家人守住健康防線

2026-06-13 3:30 下午有人共鳴—— 一個很小、很溫柔的喪親分享聚會

2026-06-12 7:00 下午【線上講座】家支援醫事講・老年腫瘤學新視角

疑難排解

我們有一群專業的醫護人員及相關朋友，隨時解答大家的疑難，立即提交疑問！

按此問問題

會員註冊

成為會員，可以第一時間接收由病患者和照顧者角度出發的資訊，立即行動！

按此註冊

或許你會想看

2025-4-28 AI 對肺癌防治有用嗎？聽聽這些專家怎麼說！