Hakim Hayat
Only 25 per cent of people are aware of the cost of cancer treatment, based on data compiled from previous cancer awareness seminars, said BR-Nancy and Associates.
They also said that they found that 38 per cent are aware that only certain insurance covers the cost of treatment for cancer, and not all will have cover for early stages of cancer. Seventy-five per cent would also like to review their insurance policies to see if they had cancer treatment coverage.
BR-Nancy and Associates shared the information during a Cancer Awareness Talk attended by over 60 people at the AIA Brunei’s office at Pavo Point in the capital.
Three speakers were invited during an interactive panel discussion on the topic – cancer patient Mohd Rusdi bin Haji Selamat; mother of cancer patient Kok Wan Hoi and BR-Nancy and Associates Agent Cheng Chea Khai.
The panel discussion session moderated by Wan Ching from BR-Nancy and Associates, touched on the experience of battling cancers and how to prepare for oneself and loved ones.
On average, about 600 people in Brunei are diagnosed with cancer annually and over 20 per cent die. The Ministry of Health (MoH) also said that more than one in four Bruneians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. The two risk factors that continue to pose challenges in Brunei is smoking and obesity.
BR-Nancy and Associates Senior District Director Nancy Kwang shared her belief that prevention is better than cure.
“In the world of financial planning, the motto is: plan for the best and prepare for the worst,” she said.
Being in the industry of more than 30 years, she said they have established friendship with clients and helped them through difficult times.
“In the process of being there for them, we ourselves also learn a lot from their experiences,” Kwang said, adding that they hope to assist more clients, especially protecting their loved ones against cancers.