Possible skin cancer - third world hospital - help!
My best friend in the world has white skin and lives in a poor country where the majority of people have dark skin, so there is consequently not a lot of info on covering up in the sun. The country she lives in is a very hot country and she grew up there never covering her skin. I went to see her a few weeks ago and she has lots and lots of moles on her shoulders - far more than I have ever seen on anyone, and when she lifts her arms she has lots of little skin-coloured bumps appear in her skin on her shoulders between the moles - kind of like water-drop sized/shaped scars.
She went to the doctors four weeks ago to get it looked at and now today she is in hospital receiving a Chemotherapy tablet apparently called Telpam?
She is also having injections in her face to speed up the process of renewal of skin to reduce the risk of spread. In addition, they also plan to surgically remove layers of skin from her shoulders where all the moles are.
My questions for (please any doctors/those in the know out there):
Firstly does this all sound normal/standard treatment - I am slightly suspicious of third world medical systems - especially those that charge for more work done.
Secondly should more or less time have elapsed between the first inspection of her and the treatment starting
She is not certain what they have been telling her medically, yet she is about to face some pretty daunting treatments and the info I can find here doesn't seem to match what she is having done over there.
Could what they are going to do make things worse or be unessecary? Or does it sound normal?...
Re: Possible skin cancer - third world hospital - help!
First, I am not a medical expert. However, this all sounds very bizarre to me. Not to mention very painful. Does your friend fully understand the procedure she is undergoing? Is she fully comfortable with her path of treatment? I would say if she cannot answer "yes" to these two questions, she should not allow this medical facility to continue. But then, as I stated, I'm not an expert and I do not know which country we are talking about, so my comments may be unfair and out of line.
Perhaps some one with more experience and knowledge can give better insight. I hope all the best for your friend.
Re: Possible skin cancer - third world hospital - help!
Hi,
at first, it would be very useful to know what`s the country she is in right now, because no one can really speak of normal or not normal treatments, if one doesn`t know the correct destination.
Perhaps, there is some kind of international medical establishment in that country? I would advise to go there, cuz these doctors may be more professional dealing with patients which are not native ones.
Well, I am not a specialist too, so, the only thing I can advise is to look for professionals, and I really do believe, that in any country (even in the third world countries) there is at least one appropriate medical establishment.
Kind regards,
Jasmiina
Re: Possible skin cancer - third world hospital - help!
Hi,
at first, it would be very useful to know what`s the country she is in right now, because no one can really speak of normal or not normal treatments, if one doesn`t know the correct destination.
Perhaps, there is some kind of international medical establishment in that country? I would advise to go there, cuz these doctors may be more professional dealing with patients which are not native ones.
Well, I am not a specialist too, so, the only thing I can advise is to look for professionals, and I really do believe, that in any country (even in the third world countries) there is at least one appropriate medical establishment.
Kind regards,
Jasmiina
