“Almost all of my husband’s teeth had been extracted, but the pain still persisted until further checks confirmed that he was suffering from tongue cancer,” said Rahimah Mohamad Alias.
Rahimah, 30, from Kampung Belukar Sukai Kepong, is the wife of 33-year-old Mohd Arif Mahadi, who now requires up to RM100,000 for medical treatment.
The housewife said she is currently spending around RM4,000 to rent a homestay in Penang to stay close to her husband, who is undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Medical Centre in Bertam.
She said her husband initially sought treatment at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) before being referred to USM Specialist Hospital in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, and later to USM Bertam, which has cancer treatment expertise.
Rahimah added that the family is now appealing for public assistance to help cover the rising medical costs, which are expected to reach up to RM100,000.
She said her husband, a tailor with irregular income, can no longer work due to his condition, placing further financial strain on the family, which includes two young children aged one and three.
Her father-in-law, Mahadi Che Ngah, 63, said his son initially only complained of tooth pain, which led to most of his teeth being extracted.
However, the pain persisted even after the extractions, prompting further medical examinations that later revealed tongue cancer.
Doctors have since recommended urgent treatment to prevent the cancer from spreading further.
