At the age of 80, veteran Hong Kong artist Lo Kar-ying has undergone treatment for liver cancer, followed by a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Having fought cancer four times, Lo revealed on October 6th at an investment brand event that apart from providing living expenses for his wife, Liza Wang (Ah Jie), he has to spend over 10,000 Hong Kong dollars per month on medical expenses, which is why he dare not fully retire.
According to reports from Hong Kong media, Lo Kar-ying has endured a long battle against cancer. Back in 2004, he was diagnosed with stage three liver cancer and had to undergo surgery to remove part of his liver to stabilize his condition; in 2014, tumors recurred in his liver, leading him to undergo a second surgery.
In 2019, Lo Kar-ying was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which was later treated through surgery to remove the prostate. Recently, he has been diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time, with doctors estimating his remaining lifespan to be only 8 to 9 years. Faced with this recurrence, Lo Kar-ying has explicitly refused radiation therapy and chemotherapy, preferring not to subject his body to the strong side effects of treatment. He has chosen to take medication daily and have regular injections of female hormones to suppress the cancer cells, intending to coexist with the disease for the long term.
At 80 years old, Lo Kar-ying has no plans to retire. He mentioned that despite declining many work offers, his schedule remains packed with book launches, seminars, Cantonese opera performances, commercial shoots, and film projects, leaving him too busy to even travel. He admitted that some invitations are hard to turn down due to societal expectations, but economic concerns also play a significant role.
Lo Kar-ying disclosed that he had initially considered reducing his workload to rest well, but due to the financial pressure of family expenses, he has to provide a fixed amount to Liza Wang for household expenses every month, while the accumulated medical expenses have become a considerable burden. During the interview, he calculated the expenses and lamented the high cost of medical treatment, revealing that he spends over 10,000 dollars each month on medication and routine check-ups.
Having not purchased commercial health insurance earlier in life, Lo Kar-ying mentioned that he now has to bear all medical expenses himself. He emphasized, “As one ages, having savings on hand allows one to hire caregivers when mobility becomes difficult, otherwise, life in old age can be extremely challenging.”
When asked about his financial management approach, Lo Kar-ying stated that his investments have fared well, with holdings in investment funds and some savings. Regarding Liza Wang, he humorously remarked that his wife is very conservative in her investment choices, opting for safe and stable financial methods, saying, “She only does fixed deposits.” When pressed on who between them is wealthier, Lo Kar-ying instantly replied, “Of course, Ah Jie is wealthier. Asking such childish questions!”
Lo Kar-ying is preparing to start filming a new movie. He revealed that he will collaborate with Bak Yuk-ching, with whom he has been acquainted for many years, in a new film directed by an Indian director, where they will portray a married couple. This marks their reunion after many years, with their last collaboration tracing back to the period when they signed with “Asia Television”.