Family & Friends Cancer Fund for Patrick Cashin

Family & Friends Cancer Fund for Patrick Cashin

For those of you unaware, Our nephew & cousin Pat has stage IV, High Grade, Secretory Carcinoma with an NTRK gene fusion. It is a very rare form of cancer, rarer still, that it is high grade. He was originally diagnosed in 2009, at age 33, but it returned two & 1/2 years ago and spread throughout his body. He now requires treatment that is not yet available in Canada & he needs your help.

Pat & Monique have discovered a clinical trial at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, it is the cancer centre connected to Harvard Medical School. Pat has been referred there by his Cape Breton medical oncologist. Pat & Monique met with the trial team in Boston on October 19th & learned that Pat is a good candidate for the trial. They were told that the trial would not start until November 14th at the earliest. They came home with new found hope & started making arrangements to go back.

The pharmaceutical company , who created the drug, has assumed most medical costs associated with the trial however the “standard of care” expenses are not covered. These costs are for consults, & bloodwork completed upon arrival for each visit before treatment begins. The Nova Scotia government generally covers these costs, but has declined to do so in Pat’s case, as this is a phase 1, clinical trial, (meaning first in human). They have not taken into consideration that Pat’s rare cancer does not respond to traditional therapies. He is still alive today because of the two previous oral medicines paid for by pharmaceutical companies; the first by a compassionate use and the 2nd taken via single person trial, here in Cape Breton. Pat & Monique both have private medical insurance that will NOT cover the above mentioned expenses. The “Standard of Care” costs per visit are approximately $ 4,600.00 Canadian. There are 8 scheduled trial visits for a total cost of $36,800,00. Following the trial visits, additional medical costs for oral medicines not covered by MSI or insurance, will amount to approximately $1800.00 per month.

Pat, Monique & Bridget Claire did not want to ask for help when most people are struggling daily just to make ends meet. They have reached a point where they need financial assistance because this trial could extend Pat’s life and give him the quality of life that everyone deserves. The price tag attached is something they simply cannot afford.

Pat is a very private, humble man that never asks for anythings & never complains. We, his family & friends, have been asking him for months & months if we could set up a Go Fund Me page but his answer was always an adamant “NO”. He has finally given us permission & we are extremely thankful for this. If we could, we would take this disease from him but unfortunately this is not possible. Financially is the only way we can help & we’re fortunate to have so many family & friends that have been reaching out to ask us what they can do to help.

Patrick is 47 years old with an amazing 16 year old daughter, Bridget Claire & a loving wife, Monique, who has been instrumental in connecting with the incredible minds working toward new & innovative drugs to battle his cancer. He has a lot of life left to live. Thank you for helping us with Patrick’s journey.