Poor couple both diagnosed with cancer need help to afford treatment

December 08, 2025 - 02:28 PM

A husband and wife in Haiphong City, both suffering from cancer, are now in debt and putting their small home up for sale in order to pay for medical care.

Nguyen Thi Cham and her husband both suffer from cancer.

Nguyen Thi Cham, 46, has just undergone a round of chemotherapy for breast cancer and is visibly exhausted. Her face is swollen and pale.

Though fatigued and in pain, she still makes the effort to visit her husband, Nguyen Van Binh, 50, who is being treated for a gastrointestinal stromal tumour and liver cancer.

“He’s so weak, he can’t eat at all. Watching him suffering, I could only turn away and cry,” Cham said in a choked voice.

She went on to describe their family’s dire circumstances. The couple earn very little from hard manual jobs such as agriculture, labouring or construction work.

They have struggled for years to make ends meet and raise their two daughters.

In 2023, Binh began to suffer from persistent stomach pain and fatigue. After medical tests, the family was shocked to learn he had two cancers.

He underwent stomach removal surgery and subsequent liver radiofrequency ablation (RFA) plus hepatic artery embolisation. After the operation he was transferred to Kien An Hospital for targeted drug therapy to sustain his life.

Earlier this year, Cham experienced dizziness, chest pain and breathlessness. Thinking the strain of caring for her husband had caused exhaustion, she delayed seeking medical advice.

But as her symptoms worsened and she developed swelling and pain in her chest, she finally went to hospital. The diagnosis was devastating: stage 3 breast cancer.

Since February she has been treated at Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital. Each round of chemotherapy leaves her severely weak, hair falling out and skin pale. Yet as soon as treatment ends, she hurries back to Kien An Hospital to care for her husband.

Both parents now suffer from serious illnesses. Their elder daughter had to drop out of school to work in a factory; the younger daughter was accepted to university but hesitated to enrol. The family had to encourage her to continue her studies.

With both in grave medical condition and the family’s income basically non-existent, monthly expenses for drugs, travel and daily living add up to VND 12-15 million (approx. USD 450-570). Debts have already exceeded VND 300 million (approx. USD 11,400). To afford further treatment, Cham has reluctantly put up their home for sale.

Dr Dang Van Sinh at the Oncology Department of Kien An Hospital in Haiphong explained: “Patient Nguyen Van Binh, diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumour, underwent stomach removal in early 2023. Later he developed liver cancer and had RFA and hepatic artery embolisation. He is currently on targeted drug therapy at Kien An Hospital at a cost of VND 6-7 million per month (approx. USD 230-265). The family’s situation is extremely difficult. Both spouses suffer serious diseases while the family’s finances have been exhausted. We sincerely hope readers and philanthropic individuals will join hands to help the couple have a chance to continue treatment and fight for their lives.”

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