this looks more like some condition that he had for a month or two and didn’t appreciate the severity.

The biggest problem with mercenary healthcare is that people with no spare cash - ie 80% of us - will delay or skip a medical test in the magical hopes that next week or months they’ll have the spare cash if they just sacrifice a bit more, and then they can get examined. People are too poor to both take up a new medical hobby and eat.

Based on the fact he complained about the cost, but never brought up not being able to afford it,

Because “affording it” ever happens?

its unknown [whether] he didn’t seek treatment earlier because he didn’t know that he needed to, or that he couldn’t afford it.

Or both. Probably both, since the cost is guaranteed to be high.

Biopsies and specialists take time

And money.

There’s a theme here but I’m not sure whether I’m making it clear enough.