A story of a woman’s long and arduous battle with ovarian cancer
KINLEY KHANDU CHODEN | Thimphu
Every morning, 55-year-old Wangzom wakes up in a room at the Kidu Guest House in Thimphu, preparing herself for another day in a battle that has lasted years. Armed with a crutch and unwavering determination, she slowly makes her way to the hospital for treatment, carrying a hope that one day she will walk independently again.
Originally from Kengkhar in Mongar, Wangzom has spent much of the past decade fighting ovarian cancer. Her journey has been marked by pain, uncertainty, financial hardship, and separation from her family. Yet, amid the struggles, she has also found compassion through the support of the government, the Kidu Guest House, and the Bhutan Cancer Society (BCS).
Wangzom’s battle began when she experienced severe abdominal pain and excessive bleeding. Like many patients living in rural Bhutan, she first sought treatment at her nearest health facility. Doctors were initially unable to determine the cause of her illness, prompting referrals first to the eastern regional referral hospital and later to national referral hospital because the necessary diagnostic facilities were unavailable closer to home.
It took nearly a month of specialized tests before doctors confirmed she had ovarian cancer. By then, she had already lost a significant amount of blood, requiring multiple blood transfusions.
“When I learned it was cancer, I was terrified,” Wangzom recalled. “I thought I was going to die.”
Despite suggestions that treatment abroad might be necessary, doctors assured her that chemotherapy offered a good chance of controlling the disease. She trusted their advice and began her long treatment journey in Thimphu.
The treatment was physically exhausting.
Chemotherapy caused all of her hair to fall out, leaving her completely bald. She spent seven months undergoing treatment before returning home, believing the worst was behind her.
But five years later, the cancer returned.
Her health deteriorated rapidly. She became so weak that she could no longer walk without assistance and had to leave her village once again for Thimphu. Today, she depends on a crutch for mobility while continuing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She has now spent another ten months at the Kidu Guest House, where she remains close to the hospital.
For Wangzom, returning to her village is no longer an option.
“I cannot walk properly, and I cannot work,” she said.
Back home, only her elderly father and her husband remain. Her husband is partially blind, able to see through only one eye, making it impossible for him to care for her.
Although she owns a house and land, the reality is that she cannot manage daily life in her village. Access to medical care is another major challenge. The nearest hospital is nearly three hours away, whereas in Thimphu she can slowly make her way to the hospital whenever treatment is required.
Remaining in the capital, despite being away from home, offers her the best chance of survival.
Throughout her illness, Wangzom has found strength not only in medical treatment but also in the support she receives from various organizations.
The Kidu Guest House provides her with accommodation and meals, removing one of the biggest burdens faced by patients who travel from distant districts for treatment.
Meanwhile, the BCS provides her with Nu. 3,000 every month to help cover personal expenses, along with occasional additional assistance. The organization has supported her for seven years, allowing her to purchase vegetables and other daily necessities.
“The support has helped me survive this difficult period,” she said. “I am deeply grateful to both the government and the organizations helping me.”
Her son also receives educational assistance from the government, covering school uniforms, books, and other essential expenses because Wangzom is no longer able to earn an income.
Even after years of treatment, uncertainty continues to shape her everyday life.
She worries constantly that her legs may suddenly give way while walking alone to the hospital.
More than anything else, she wishes to regain her mobility.
“I just hope my legs recover completely so that I can walk independently again,” she said.
While she expresses heartfelt appreciation for the support already available, she believes additional services could significantly improve the lives of patients like herself.
Having volunteers or caregivers available to assist patients with limited mobility would make daily life much easier, she said. Additional household necessities such as cooking utensils, clothing, and access to clean drinking water through water filters at the Kidu Guest House would also ease many daily challenges faced by long-term patients.
According to Karma Tobgay, Executive Director of the BCS, Wangzom’s case reflects the challenges faced by many cancer patients across Bhutan.
Cancer treatment in the country is centralized in Thimphu, meaning patients from remote districts often have to leave their homes and families for months or even years, to receive care.
Many arrive without relatives in the capital, making accommodation, food, and transportation significant challenges.
To help reduce these burdens, the organization operates a Care and Support Programme comprising seven areas of assistance, six of which support patients throughout treatment while the seventh provides funeral support when patients pass away.
One of the programme’s key components is monthly financial assistance.
Currently, around 35 patients receive Nu. 3,000 every month to help cover living expenses while undergoing treatment.
Although the amount may seem modest, the programme costs the organization approximately Nu. 90,000 every month and is entirely funded through donations.
Beyond monthly financial assistance, the BCS also helps cover travel expenses whenever patients need to return to their villages or travel back to Thimphu for follow-up treatment.
Additional support includes assistance for transportation, food, and other necessities, with some patients receiving up to Nu. 10,000 depending on their circumstances.
The programme relies entirely on the generosity of the Bhutanese public.
Around 5,000 members contribute regularly, with donations ranging from as little as Nu. 10 per month to much larger contributions from individuals living both inside and outside Bhutan.
According to the Executive Director, every contribution regardless of its size, helps ensure that cancer patients receive the support they need throughout their treatment journey.
The Executive Director hopes more people will join as contributing members, emphasizing that caring for cancer patients is not solely the responsibility of health institutions but of the wider community.
For Wangzom, every chemotherapy session represents another chance to keep fighting.
She says the treatment has helped her significantly. Although the side effects remain difficult, she often feels stronger after each session and is sometimes even able to prepare her own meals.
She has heard stories of patients who could not survive even a single round of chemotherapy, making her grateful for every opportunity to continue treatment.
While cancer has changed nearly every aspect of her life, it has not taken away her determination.
Far from her home in Kengkhar, separated from much of her family, Wangzom continues to fight each day—not only against cancer but also against the physical and emotional challenges that accompany it.
Her greatest wish is remarkably simple. Just the ability to walk on her own once again.
