‘I Can Wait But Cancer Cells Won’t’
By Sobrina Rosli

Brunei-Muara - It has been two months since a 20-year-old Brunei Permanent Resident from Seria started waiting for the availability of a drug that he needs before he could undergo a bone marrow transplant to beat leukaemia.

The new cancer treatment medication called Clofarabine, which is supposed to help clear the cancer cells, is not available in the sultanate.

Desmond Chin Yun Chun said he might opt to go to Thailand to avail himself of the medication prior to his bone marrow transplant.

"I can wait but the cancer cells will not," he told The Brunei Times in an interview at his hospital bed yesterday.

Desmond, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in April 2005, was readmitted to Ripas hospital four days ago as his white blood cell count was too high.

For the past two years Desmond responded to treatment sessions for the cancer. According to Desmond's medical report, he suffers from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of cancer which causes abnormal, excessive quantities of white blood cells.

Desmond's last chance to beat the cancer is by having a bone marrow transplant, a procedure for which he is unable to apply for government financial support because he is a Bruneian PR.

The cost of the surgery will be between $100,000 and $200,000. Since Desmond's diagnosis, funds have been pouring in to help his family send him abroad for the surgery.

"In order for me to be fit to undergo surgery, the doctors need to ensure that the cancer cells are not inside my body anymore," he said. "I have been waiting for a new cancer treatment medication called Clofarabine which is supposed to help with clearing the cancer cells."

He added: "The doctors have assured me that the Ministry of Health has approved the medication, but what is taking so long is identifying the health companies here that are able to tie up with the distributors that have the medication.

"This is what I am worried about. It has been two months, and still no news," he added.

"I have already decided on going to Thailand for my surgery, but now I have two choices either to wait for Clofarabine and have it medicated to me in Brunei followed by surgery in Thailand, or if Chlofarabine does not arrive in time, I have no choice but go to Thailand directly as I can wait but the cancer cells will not."

The standard chemotherapy he has been receiving at the hospital has helped maintain, and control the cancer, but Desmond said there was an urgent need for the new medication to arrive so he could proceed to surgery.

Health experts refer to Clofarabine as a substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It is a purine nucleoside antimetabolite. It is marketed in the US and Canada as Clolar. In Europe, Australia and New Zealand it is marketed under the name Evoltra.

It is used in paediatrics to treat a type of leukaemia called relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, only after at least two other types of treatment have failed. It is not known if it extends life expectancy. Some investigations of effectiveness in cases of acute myeloid leukaemia and juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia have been carried out. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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