new Job, but Wife needs Cancer Treatment

You know that's not the case, not for everyone. Switzerland has its own problems, in particular a somewhat patriarchal, hierarchical social structure which may limit patients' ability to speak for themselves. I have no complaints myself, but I've heard plenty from others. It might be my big American mouth that helps me.

I don't know much about the UK. Personally, I don't like the GP/gatekeeper structure. On the other hand, lots of people do like the care they receive from the NHS.

The US is what I am familiar with, next to Switzerland, and it's a mess. I have friends who fight with insurers to make sure they get their regular scans, medication and the billing structure is abhorent. But there are also great places for care. And lots of research.

But the generalizations here drive me batshit crazy. Just because you've had a wonderful (or not so wonderful) experience, don't think it will happen to everyone else.

Exactly my first reaction!

I assume your wife likely isn't fluent in German/French? Yeah there are English speaking docs/nurses but not everyone does and it can be frustrating when you don't feel good.

Making new friends, etc all with the barriers that are already there regardless of health, maybe not the best time?

Unless she is excited, but stress, has a negative impact on health. Moving home is usually a huge stress, maybe she is fluent and super excited to move though, only she knows.

Why the groan FMF? There is tons of evidence to that effect- warnings published by all the major medical associations, pharmacological and research.

https://www.businessinsider.fr/us/br...at-risk-2018-3

Here is just one of them - there are so many more, from BMA, the Lancet, and so many more.

Belgiumum, how rude.

The closer an issue is to the heart, the less inclined people will be to speak about it on a public forum.

Could we possibly get back to helping the OP now by bringing him a diversity of ideas and opinions?

He might find something worth while or not.

Or perhaps it just might bring consolation. What ever the purpose or outcome of the thread, it's about help him, not bickering.

I chucked down the certainty in your personal opinion to the fact that you are native. Born here, know the place, experiences and stories of many. Maybe unlike some expats on a few year stint. I do not think you need to justify your opinion with anything, Sky, and thank you for your contribution. Somebody close to me just had a year of fab breast cancer treatment in CHUV, I do not think they could have done anything better. Of course that people's opinion will vary.

From Mr HH‘s experience, I don‘t think Switzerland has access to any secret medications or surgeries...

...but I do think the Swiss system is better funded (tiny, tiny understatement) and thus is able to make treatments available to more people.

Some examples:

- Avastin for colon cancer: approved for treatment in both UK and CH. NICE prohibits it other than in certain rare cases

- Bevacizumab: same

- Stivarga and Lonsurf: Not even on the „special circumstnaces“ list for NICE, available in CH as 3rd line treatments

- Palliative bile duct stenting: not available in (at least parts of) the UK - a friend died as the stenting was not available. Done without delay in CH. Mr HH‘s stents have kept him alive for 3+ years.

Ultimately a question of allocating rare resources (medications and doctor / nurse time....both ultimately an issue of money). THe NHS has not got the resources to provide the necessary services in a decent (non-waiting-time) way....the Swiss system has money, even if attention is starting to be paid to the rising costs.

In both countries, there are good and bad doctors, good and bad hospitals...and difficult and pleasant patients. But at least in Switzerland, one can get the treatment the doctor recommends (in nearly all cases) without a fight for funding, or a flat-out „not available“.

It's a bit sad this thread has turned into a CH vs Uk healthcare thing but I hate for wrong information to be on a public domain:

- Avastin is the commercial name for Bevacizumab

- Stivarga has NICE backing

- So does Lonsurf

I think this is a case of time passing, when we were looking at chemo options (2016) Stivaga and Lonsurf weren't available for colon cancer and I think Stivaga is only approved for liver cancer at the moment.

Either way it's good to have the up to date information.

Knowledge is power and this knowledge for prevention gives us more freedom. Medicine is an area of ​​human activity that deals with human health. Health, in turn, deals with the prevention and cure of diseases; this concept disappears in the dark. Balancing the body's pH is the best health insurance we have. Today's diet and lifestyle leads to a chronic condition of latent tissue acidosis.

You can't affect your bodies pH by anything you eat or drink, the body regulates it's own pH and anything you do to try and affect it makes your body work harder.

Those willing to look again, and with clear eyes, will be rewarded...The ph level of our internal fluids affects every cell in our bodies. Extended acid imbalances of any kind are not well tolerated; indeed, the entire metabolic process depends on a balanced internal alkaline environment. A chronically over-acidic pH corrodes body tissue, slowly eating into the 60,000 miles of veins and arteries like acid eating into marble. If left unchecked, it will interrupt all cellular activities and functions, from the beating of your heart to the neural firing of your brain. In summary, over-acidification interferes with life itself leading to all sickness and disease!"

"Sickness and disease, including the symptoms of cancer, Tumors, AIDS, diabetes, MS, lupus, HIV/AIDS, depression, hyperthyroidism, Wilson's Syndrome, Fybromyalgia, pain in every joint and muscle, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle cramps, allergies (food), asthma, bronchitis, frequent colds, candida, Hypoglycemia, allergic reaction to any chemical, fatigued all the time, food cravings, indigestion, inflamed joints, insomnia, mood swings, gas, bloating, diverticulitis, irritable bowel, pneumonia, ulcers, stomach and bowel cramps and even memory loss is the culmination of years of abuse of nutrition and acid build-up.

Nicky, acidosis and alkalosis are conditions which exist. Both of these conditions have a handful of potential causes and a handful of typical symptoms. This list of causes and symptoms looks nothing like the list that you provide. Unless you have one of these conditions, your blood pH is between 7.35 and 7.45 and unlikely to cause problems.

Certain types of false medical information can and do cost lives. For example, claiming that AIDS or cancer can be cured by any sort of quackery, especially dietary quackery, can lead to a delay in effective treatment, and such a delay can very easily lead to an otherwise preventable deaths. Unjustified claims that a trivial cure exists can also be offensive to both actual medical professions, and to those more directly affected by these diseases.

So when will you start?

Concerned that Nicky is targetting pms too.

'Sick tissue (cancer etc.) thrives in an unnatural environment rather than causing it. Similar to mosquitoes that visit stagnant waters but do not turn water into them. Those who can influence the milieu can consciously choose between illness and health. Everyone can influence the milieu of his body in every moment! Everyone is therefore responsible for their illnesses or their health. To tell the truth is not a judgment. People are not perfect and many do the best they can, based on their abilities.'

Perhaps Mods should act.

Now they are back as Alkalarian.

I already reported one of the posts, they are totally inappropriate for this thread.(or anywhere else for that matter)

Admin - please CLOSE this thread, whilst the first page or so was all very useful - thank you, it went off topic quickly.

Thanks all for your help and guidance

Welcome to the English Forum. Just another day in Paradise. Seriously, lots of good info, but you always need to search through and sometimes wear a hazmat suit.

Anyway, good luck with your decision and hope your wife‘s treatment goes well.

Stick around - just unlucky that a newbie chose this thread to pedle stupid quackery.

Bonne chance - and very best wishes, for your choice and for your wife's treatment x

Have you thought about letting your wife continue her treatment under doctors and a system and a language she fully understands and you commute for a few months ?