Greg Lawton's Cancer Battle
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Dear Friends and Family,
It is time to tell Greg's and Jacque's story and ask for prayers, emotional support, and financial help.
In January 2018, Greg was diagnosed with Stage IIIc melanoma with spread of the initial cancer from his leg to his lymph nodes. Although, Greg had proposed to Jacque in Ireland a few months earlier and an Autumn 2018 wedding was planned, they moved up the date to January 2018 so that Greg could be covered under Jacque's insurance. This also allowed Jacque's Dad, who was very ill, to attend his daughter's wedding.
Jacque, in addition to supporting Greg, spent a lot of time trying to help her Mom and Dad during his final months in Spring 2018. Her Dad died April 2018, leaving a huge hole, and the grieving has been very heavy.
Greg's treatment started at UCSF almost immediately in Jan 2018 but the cancer is very aggressive and, despite immunotherapy, the melanoma spread to his spine, lungs, and brain and is now Stage IV Melanoma. He happens to be one of the 50% of melanoma patients with a melanoma BRAF mutation and so, because immunotherapy was not working and the side effects were very difficult to handle, he was switched to BRAF-targeting medications.
Greg had to stop working due to the side effects of the medications and spread of the cancer and Jacque and Greg could no longer afford rent on their apartment. They moved in with Jacque's mom, Renate, and continue to live with her now. Renate works as a Nurse Practitioner.
Since diagnosis, Greg has had two Gamma Knife procedures on his brain which have helped to shrink and/or disappear most of the 26 brain cancer lesions, which is wonderful. He and Jacque love their radiation oncologist at UCSF, Dr. Raleigh. Greg, also had radiation on his spine and the cancer is now gone from this region as far as we know. The BRAF medications may be shrinking some of the cancers in other parts of his body, too, including areas on his chest wall, gallbladder, and bladder. We are hopeful that his treatment will ultimately be successful.
Unfortunately, we just received word a few minutes ago that Greg has leptomeningeal disease, which is a rare spread of the cancer to his cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid covering his brain and his spinal cord. This is causing severe nausea, vomiting and headache and he was treated in the ER yesterday for these symptoms. The radiation oncologist just recommended whole brain radiation which may happen as early as next week and carries some significant permanent cognitive side effects. Jacque is going to try to get Greg into a leptomeningeal specialist at MDAnderson in Texas. With this new news, Jacque is informing her employer this AM that she will be taking Family Medical Leave.
Although insurance and prior authorizations and a million phone calls are a pain, health insurance has so far covered the majority of Greg's health care costs. It is not clear if this will be the case for MDAnderson.
Will you please reach out to Jacque and Greg? Jacque, especially, would love to hear your voice, or better, a text message or FB message, and receive a virtual hug. Will you please pray for them? They are suffering greatly. Will you please support them financially if you can? The flights and AirBnB costs in SanDiego when they fly down to UCSD for doctor's appointments, especially, are very expensive. We are also hoping for a very special trip to Ireland in June so that Greg can spend time with his family there, if he is able to tolerate the travel.
Thank you, in advance, for considering support and thank you especially for your prayers.
It is time to tell Greg's and Jacque's story and ask for prayers, emotional support, and financial help.
In January 2018, Greg was diagnosed with Stage IIIc melanoma with spread of the initial cancer from his leg to his lymph nodes. Although, Greg had proposed to Jacque in Ireland a few months earlier and an Autumn 2018 wedding was planned, they moved up the date to January 2018 so that Greg could be covered under Jacque's insurance. This also allowed Jacque's Dad, who was very ill, to attend his daughter's wedding.
Jacque, in addition to supporting Greg, spent a lot of time trying to help her Mom and Dad during his final months in Spring 2018. Her Dad died April 2018, leaving a huge hole, and the grieving has been very heavy.
Greg's treatment started at UCSF almost immediately in Jan 2018 but the cancer is very aggressive and, despite immunotherapy, the melanoma spread to his spine, lungs, and brain and is now Stage IV Melanoma. He happens to be one of the 50% of melanoma patients with a melanoma BRAF mutation and so, because immunotherapy was not working and the side effects were very difficult to handle, he was switched to BRAF-targeting medications.
Greg had to stop working due to the side effects of the medications and spread of the cancer and Jacque and Greg could no longer afford rent on their apartment. They moved in with Jacque's mom, Renate, and continue to live with her now. Renate works as a Nurse Practitioner.
Since diagnosis, Greg has had two Gamma Knife procedures on his brain which have helped to shrink and/or disappear most of the 26 brain cancer lesions, which is wonderful. He and Jacque love their radiation oncologist at UCSF, Dr. Raleigh. Greg, also had radiation on his spine and the cancer is now gone from this region as far as we know. The BRAF medications may be shrinking some of the cancers in other parts of his body, too, including areas on his chest wall, gallbladder, and bladder. We are hopeful that his treatment will ultimately be successful.
Unfortunately, we just received word a few minutes ago that Greg has leptomeningeal disease, which is a rare spread of the cancer to his cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid covering his brain and his spinal cord. This is causing severe nausea, vomiting and headache and he was treated in the ER yesterday for these symptoms. The radiation oncologist just recommended whole brain radiation which may happen as early as next week and carries some significant permanent cognitive side effects. Jacque is going to try to get Greg into a leptomeningeal specialist at MDAnderson in Texas. With this new news, Jacque is informing her employer this AM that she will be taking Family Medical Leave.
Although insurance and prior authorizations and a million phone calls are a pain, health insurance has so far covered the majority of Greg's health care costs. It is not clear if this will be the case for MDAnderson.
Will you please reach out to Jacque and Greg? Jacque, especially, would love to hear your voice, or better, a text message or FB message, and receive a virtual hug. Will you please pray for them? They are suffering greatly. Will you please support them financially if you can? The flights and AirBnB costs in SanDiego when they fly down to UCSD for doctor's appointments, especially, are very expensive. We are also hoping for a very special trip to Ireland in June so that Greg can spend time with his family there, if he is able to tolerate the travel.
Thank you, in advance, for considering support and thank you especially for your prayers.
Organizer
Renate Flynn
Organizer
Stinson Beach, CA