Association helps cancer patient seek treatment

By LULU MARK
DUE to the high cost of cancer treatment overseas, families are helplessly watching their loved ones living with pain, assistant police commissioner Donald Yamasombi says.
Yamasombi, who is also the police commander for National Capital District and Central, received a cheque of K95,500 from the China-Papua New Guinea Friendship Association to help his wife get treatment abroad.
His wife Esther is suffering from tonsil cancer in her throat which is in the fourth stage.
The treatment overseas would costs around K80,000.
“People have died of cancer and are still dying of it as we stand and watch because the medical facilities in our hospitals sometimes work but most times do not,” he said.
He said in 2016, his wife complained of bleeding at the back of her throat. They began visiting the ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
In June 2017 a biopsy was conducted and they were advised that she had tonsillar tumor.
There was no treatment so she had to live through it with herbal medications, thinking it would heal. In Feb last year, the tumor became unbearable and nodes were also noticed on her neck. She started visiting the ENT clinic again and underwent scans.
It was then revealed to them on June 1 that she had tonsil cancer.
She was put through chemotherapy but the machine broke down.
He said though they really wanted to undergo proper medical treatment overseas they could not because of the cost.
Esther returned home to Wewak, East Sepik to be treated by her family with herbal treatment.
In Nov, some friends from China visited Yamasomnbi and learnt of his wife’s situation.
They told him they could help through the China-PNG Friendship Association and that he should write a letter.
Yamasombi thanked the leaders and members of the association, who made financial contributions to help him get his wife overseas for treatment.
Ambassador of the China-PNG Friendship Association Vani K Nades said with eight chapters in PNG, they had done a lot of community work. They were happy to support Yamasombi’s wife.
“When there was a need they were always there to help and it is amazing just how fast they respond,” she said. “There is always some sort of ill feeling when we say China but we have to look beyond that.”