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| Lenny Hirsch, Israeli prostate cancer survivor, support group founder and activist. |
I am sad and very angry. Sad, because my friend Asher Alkobi died to-day. Very angry, because there was no reason for him to have died. One and a half years ago he complained to his family doctor about urination frequency. She, the doctor, sent him for an ultra sound. On looking at the results she told that there was nothing wrong and to go home. Less than a year later he was hospitalized with tremendous pains. He was finally diagnosed with very advanced prostate cancer.
The recommended treatment for him was chemotherapy. Here in Israel chemotherapy for prostate cancer is not covered by health insurance. Asher could no longer work and they had started using their savings. The family soon realized that they were running out of money and an appeal was made to the President of the country for funds to continue treatment. Funds were made available for a limited time.
This was when I first met Asher and his wife Illana. I was impressed by their positive attitude. I was surprised that there was no bitterness shown towards the health authorities for the lack of funding for chemotherapy for prostate cancer. They could not understand why chemotherapy was covered in other cancers, but not in prostate cancer. Asher expressed to me his guilt towards the family. Not being able to provide for them and using up what little money that they had saved. I felt that this was sitting very heavy on him. His condition continued to deteriorate. The company that supplies the medication (Taxotere) used in his treatment denoted the doses he needed. After a while the treatment was no longer effective. To-day he passed away in tremendous pain at the age of 49.
My anger is aimed at the doctor who took upon herself to make the initial diagnosis, ignoring the fact that the patient had a genuine health problem. He should have been referred to an urologist who should have discovered the cancer and treated Asher in the early stages. If this had happened, Asher would more than likely still have been with us tonight. I am not sure that this is not a case of malpractice on the side of the family doctor.
Imagine a man fighting for his life. Experiencing excruciating pain and yet, still having the burden of finding the money to pay for the only treatment that might keep him alive. In Israel this coming financial year more than two hundred families are going to have to find the funds to cover the costs of chemotherapy. There is something wrong with the system where a committee has to decide on the allocation of limited funds which can mean life or death to one group or the other.
Israel to-day is the most advanced country in the area. We have launched satellites, our scientists and doctors win Nobel awards. Our disaster teams are the first team in when help is called for, yet we can not look after our own citizens.
Asher's death came on the very day that we heard that once again chemotherapy will not be available through the health funds for the coming financial year. How many more people have to die before we wake up to our citizens needs?
My anger stems also from the fact that money is available when the government needs to bribe or pay off another party to join the present collision government
Lenny Hirsch, Moshav Ben Ami
July 2005
Lenny Hirsch lives in Israel. At the age of 56, Lenny was diagnosed with PCa. He pioneers prostate cancer support and advocacy.
Contact his support groups by phone at:
Tel Aviv; 0528300467
Haifa and the north 0544570595
Website: http://www.shalomprostate.co.il/scripts/Shop.dll?shop=1039
