I have cancer. Prostate cancer. I was diagnosed three weeks ago. It can happen, especially with a 57-year-old (or only) man. I try to give it a place. Some days it works better than others. This is how life goes.
There is, after various investigations, a “treatment plan”. The prostate and surrounding lymph nodes should be removed.
I consider myself lucky because I live in Belgium and not in India or America. Our healthcare is global and will not go bankrupt. The government has a lot of money left over for my health and I’m very grateful for that.
Doctors who treat me, I have only very positive experiences with them.
The operation is urgent, as is the case with life-threatening diseases.
Today I was told that surgery might not be possible until January at the earliest. Since the previous corona wave, there is still a “catch-up”. Agendas are fully booked, perhaps with patients for whom it is more urgent. Understandably, I am no more important than the other patients waiting their turn.
The fourth aura wave made the situation even more dangerous.
I heard that half of the COVID-19 patients in intensive care have not been vaccinated. 50 percent of the beds available in intensive care are occupied by a minority of 10 percent of the population. This is an objective and statistically proven fact.
That’s why I have a question for all who haven’t been vaccinated or aren’t planning to. Do you realize that you are part of a group responsible for delaying my treatment and treating countless other patients? And do you realize that – sorry for the drama – this might be a matter of life and death for me and them?
sincerely
Chris Van den Abel
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