The Cost Of Living With A Chronic/Terminal Illness

Until you have been through a health condition that sapped your energy, drained your pockets and made people hardly recognise you, you may not understand the wealth of healthy living. “A terminal illness is any condition expected to end in death. Examples include some cancers, advanced heart disease and organ failure. Treatments aim to improve your comfort rather than cure the disease. Learning how to cope with your condition can help improve your quality of life” Cleveland Clinic. “Common chronic diseases include diabetes, functional gastrointestinal disorder, eczema, arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders and some viral diseases such as hepatitis C and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome” Wikipedia.

According to Erasmus Onyebuchi a patent store owner “Tenoric tablet 50mg cost N7000 a pack of 2 cards for 28 days and clopidogrel N500 a card for ten days” an average medication for a hypertensive person. For individuals managing their health with drugs such as Tenoric 50 mg and Clopidogrel, understanding the cost implication over time is crucial.

Here is a simple breakdown of the monthly and yearly expenses for these drugs. Monthly Cost Breakdown: Tenoric 50 mg: A packet containing 2 cards (sufficient for 28 days) costs N7,000. Since one packet covers a month, the monthly cost remains N7,000. Clopidogrel: Each card of Clopidogrel costs N500 and lasts for 10 days. For a 30-day supply, 3 cards are required:N500 x 3 cards = N1,500 Total Monthly Cost: • Tenoric: N7,000. Clopidogrel: N1,500. Combined Monthly total: N8,500. Annual Cost Calculation: To calculate the yearly cost, multiply the monthly total by 12 (the number of months in a year): N8,500  x 12 months = N102,000 .

Final Summary: Managing these medications for a year will cost N102,000 . Breaking it down further: Tenoric contributes N84,000 (N7,000  x 12 months). Clopidogrel contributes N18,000  ( N1,500x 12 months). This simple calculation shows the average amount spent on medication for a hypertensive patient for a year. Aside from the hospital’s other bills, the registrations, monthly checkups, health options and others. Now, think of other chronic illnesses that require oxygen, a specialist and a specific kind of lifestyle. These considerations open our eyes to the need to choose a healthy lifestyle from abinitio.

According to WHO statistics, “Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. The most common cancers are breast, lung, colon rectum and prostate cancers. Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity. In addition, air pollution is an important risk factor for lung cancer. Cancer-causing infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis, are responsible for approximately 30 per cent of cancer cases in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Many cancers can be cured if detected early and treated effectively”. The cost of cancer treatment in Nigeria varies significantly based on factors such as the type and stage of cancer, treatment modalities, and healthcare facilities. Here is an overview of the estimated expenses according to PubMed Central: A study conducted at a tertiary health institution in Nigeria reported an overall mean cost of cancer treatment at approximately $5,306.9 (about ₦4,000,000), with costs ranging from $1,089.3 to $48,829.4 (₦800,000 to ₦36,800,000). In addition, Nigerian price commented that the cost of a full course of chemotherapy sessions varies between ₦600,000 and ₦1.5 million, depending on the duration, type of cancer, and specific drugs used.

Considering a lifestyle that helps you secure a healthy future also saves costs. Living healthy can be expensive but not a gateway to choosing ill health because eventually, you must pay a price. Living with a chronic or terminal illness comes with profound physical, emotional, and financial burdens. From the daily costs of medications like Tenoric and Clopidogrel for hypertension to the astronomical expenses of cancer treatments, the toll on individuals and families is overwhelming. These realities highlight an undeniable truth: health is wealth, and investing in a healthy lifestyle from the outset is not a luxury but a necessity.