"As A Cancer Specialist, If I Could Change Just One Thing for Better Health—This Should Be It"
- drteoyinkeong
- Nov 13, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 8
Johor, Malaysia
As an oncologist, I spend a great deal of time with my patients—listening to their stories, walking with them through difficult decisions, and often forming bonds that go far beyond the traditional doctor-patient relationship. Over the years, many of them have become more than just individuals I treat. They’ve become close friends.
But even with all the advancements in cancer care, one of the most painful things I still witness is the desperation that often follows a diagnosis. It’s completely understandable—cancer is scary, and the path ahead can feel overwhelming. In that vulnerable moment, many patients start searching for a sliver of hope, a miracle cure that promises healing without pain, without effort, and without time.
I’ve seen this happen far too often. Patients get drawn into the promise of quick, natural solutions—treatments that claim to be painless, side-effect free, and “secretly suppressed” by the medical system. The hope they offer feels comforting… but it’s dangerously misleading.
If I could change one thing to improve health for everyone, I wish the relevant authorities would step in and strengthen how we monitor and regulate all aspects of cancer-related care—not just hospitals and doctors, but also pharmaceutical companies, traditional healers, supplement sellers, and folk remedy practitioners.
Whether it’s hospital-based chemotherapy, herbal concoctions passed down through generations, online cancer supplements, or alternative therapies like "miracle mushrooms," apricot seeds, alkaline water, or enzyme drinks—all of these must be supervised with clear, enforceable policies.
Why? Because far too often, I’ve seen patients and their families fall victim to unethical businesses that exploit their fear and confusion. Cancer is already a heavy burden. Patients should never have to face financial ruin or delayed treatment just because they were promised something that sounded too good to be true.
We all know that nothing truly good comes easy or fast. But when faced with a complicated disease like cancer, desperation takes over. The more complex the illness, the more overwhelmed patients and families feel—and that’s exactly when they become most vulnerable to false promises.
And that’s what hurts me the most.
When people start chasing after "natural," side-effect-free cures without any scientific backing, they end up delaying proper treatment, losing precious time, and spending hard-earned money on ineffective or even harmful alternatives. They fall prey to businesses that offer hope on the surface but ultimately slaughter them financially and emotionally.
So here’s my heartfelt advice:
Cancer is not a simple disease. It develops over time. There are no shortcuts.
Before considering any treatment outside of standard medical care, ask these critical questions:
Is this treatment registered and approved by the health authorities?
Is it backed by credible clinical research, or is it just based on personal stories?
What’s the science behind it? What are the expected results? What are the side effects—and how are they managed?
I do not wish to keep seeing patients come back to me with disease that have advanced due to delayed treatments. I do not wish to see patients emptying their bank accounts on treatments that do not work. I do not wish to see families suffer from guilt because they didn’t know who to trust.
I truly hope the authorities can review and improve current policies, actively monitor all healthcare and alternative treatment channels, and ensure fair, transparent, and safe practices for anyone facing cancer. Because patients deserve better. They deserve protection, honesty, and care they can trust.
Choose carefully. And don’t walk this journey alone.
Cancer Awareness & Education Brought To You
By 👨⚕️Dr Teo Yin Keong | TEOncology
Clinical Oncologist, Johor, Malaysia
马来西亚新山肿瘤专科医生张引强
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