Help Kevin Arcand and family with medical bills

In October of 2020 while at work Kevin felt like a small pebble shot into his nose. He didn’t think anything of it until a few days later he noticed a small pea sized lump. He called his GP and she gave him some nasal spray. When that did not work and the tiny lump grew a little he called the GP again, this time antibiotics. Still no results and the lump is bigger and hard about the size of a quarter, this time he asked to see a specialist. Kevin with his wife Sherry went to the specialist over the Christmas holidays, they scoped him and thought maybe it is a wart. He was sent for a CT Scan on Jan 12th...back to the specialist on Jan 18th for results and a biopsy. The specialist told them to brace themselves and that Kevin indeed has cancer (SCC – Squamous Cell Carcinoma) in his nose and that two lymp nodes in his neck are inflamed. They sent him for a second CT Scan to check his chest to make sure the cancer was not spreading. Kevin is now referred to Dr Scott Durham Head, VGH Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, appointment date Feb 2nd. Dr Durham gave the news that if he did not have surgery the cancer would kill him. The surgery consists of them removing his nose and rebuilding it with bone from his left wrist and skin graphs from his wrist and forehead. At this point there are no words to describe how scared they are and what is racing through their minds. Second appointment on Feb 8th at the Cancer Clinic with Dr Eric Berthelet, Director of Head and Neck Cancer Radiation Oncology, Dr Berthelet asked if it was okay that he be used in a study, Kevin agreed. Dr Berthelet said that the type of cancer Kevin has is rare and they only see this type once every 1 to 3 years. 

It is a fast growing aggressive cancer. Kevin has 6 weeks of vacation time at work, which is paid at a lower rate than if he was at work, then after the 6 weeks he will have to go on Medical EI for 17 weeks. He will be off work at least 6 months. This is going to be a long journey for the family, but they are ready to fight it with all they have.




On Tuesday, February 9th they got the call and now have a booked surgery date...Wednesday, February 24th...




 

Kevin went from being a healthy 52 year old hard working family man and in a matter of weeks finding out that he has “CANCER”.