58-year-old male celebrity Shen Yulin was diagnosed with leukemia in July last year. Now, one year after major illness and recovery, his health has stabilized and he is returning to the screen in full force. Yesterday (17th), he attended a press conference for a new show, officially announcing his new hosting job. He now has a total of four shows in hand, with a monthly income estimated to exceed NT$5 million (about RM630,000). Shen Yulin emphasized that maintaining a regular work rhythm and following medical advice to "not treat himself as a patient" are the best ways for him to recover these days.
In terms of treatment, Shen Yulin revealed that after assessment, his doctor believes he doesn't need a bone marrow transplant for the time being and is currently relying on self-paid oral targeted medication to control his condition. A single pill of this drug costs NT$13,000 (about RM1,649), and he takes the medication for 14 days and stops for 14 days each month, totaling a monthly medication cost of NT$182,000 (about RM23,000). He has now been taking it for three months. He admitted that although the expense is staggering, compared to other patients whose medication costs NT$200,000 to NT$500,000 per pill (about RM25,000 to RM63,000), he considers himself a "small spender."
The high cost of medication also gave Shen Yulin much to reflect on. He pointed out that while many new drugs have significant effects, they have not yet been included in health insurance coverage, and commercial insurance often doesn't cover outpatient prescription pickups. He lamented, "Medical technology keeps advancing, but health insurance can’t keep up—eventually, it truly becomes 'if you have money you can live, if not you die,'" believing that this is a social issue worthy of public reflection. Now, in addition to regular blood draws and follow-up visits, he has completely adjusted his routine, goes to bed at 11 p.m. every night, and has almost quit smoking, hoping to maintain his health as he continues accompanying his family and returning to work.
Source: Apple News