Help Aaron save his prostate

In 2019, my husband, Aaron, was diagnosed with early-stage "lower-risk" prostate cancer. After much research and consuming two informative books on the subject, he (we) decided to try "watchful waiting" to see if or how it would progress before moving forward with the treatment options offered at the time of diagnosis (removing the prostate). Aaron is only 53, but his father lost his 6-year battle with prostate cancer at age 70. Aaron's diagnosis also came shortly after my father succumbed to the same fate, so you can imagine how seriously we took the news. He promptly adopted anti-cancer diets, upped his already active lifestyle, and dosed his smoothies with cancer-fighting mushrooms. All this, and as we monitored through blood tests and MRIs, the current diagnosis has slowly progressed to an "intermediate"-type of diagnosis.

At this point, we have reached a crossroads. It's time to do something more. Although a prostatectomy is still commonly recommended, the side effects Aaron could and likely would experience are life-altering, and Aaron's young age makes that a naturally unappealing choice. He could also undergo targeted radiation, but because he's so young, there's the risk of other radiation-related cancers later on, so that feels like a non-starter, too. He could continue to do active surveillance, but if he waits too long and it spreads, there would be other consequences, one of them being a missed opportunity to try different treatment options.

That's where High-Intensity Frequency Ultrasound (HIFU) comes in. This newer therapy is globally gaining ground as an effective way to treat prostate (and other cancers) without removing or radiating the organ. Approved by the FDA in 2015, urologists in the United States are beginning to recommend and administer this therapy to their patients. Still, it is not yet covered by insurance (insurance will likely cover it by 2025). Aaron medically qualifies for this treatment, but the out-of-pocket cost could be $20,000 - $25,000, and we could use some help. We aim to have the treatment by Jan/Feb 2023 (he is doing follow-up MRIs right now, etc.). After a lot of hard work figuring out the best option and timing, he has connected with a qualified Urologist in Portland with a high level of experience performing successful HIFU treatments. We didn't want this to be a cost-prohibitive option, as living a full "quality of life" means so much.

Please help Aaron keep his prostate for as long as he can. He lives for the river and the outdoors in general. He's been committed to preserving and protecting our forests for the last 20 years and continues to do so. He's raised his 18-year-old son since he adopted him just after his first birthday, who's now getting ready to launch into the world. He's a caring stepfather to my son, and he's been my rock through some of my most challenging ups and downs. We all need him to be happy and healthy for as long as possible. Your love and generosity will live on through him.

With humble gratitude,

~Jackie