Help Sami Fight Against Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer
Donation protected
In April 2024, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal Adenocarcinoma at the age of 32. Unfortunately, at the moment of diagnosis, the cancer had already managed spread to my chest lymph nodes, my lungs and badly to my liver. Radiation treatment was not an option, transplants weren't an option and surgery wasn't an option. I was given only a 5% chance to survive for the next 5 years. The only treatment options were a combination of IV chemo, oral chemo and immunotherapy for the next months until July 2024.
I pushed hard through these treatments and all the side-effects these gave to me. Unfortunately, we discovered mid-July 2024, that these treatments had had zero effect on my cancer and it had progressed further, worsening my prognosis. The public sector was no longer able to help me. I managed to find through private clinic a treatment plan for me that had a fairly good success rate in dealing with my type of metastatic cancer, especially for the critical condition of my liver. I went through expensive liver biopsies that were able to discover which treatments options had a good success rate to help me. We started the treatments right away and my private insurance covered these treatments as well.
End of July 2024, we heard that although these treatments worked, my liver was already in too bad of a shape to keep up with the ongoing treatments any further.. I was given couple weeks left if nothing could be done. However, my private oncologist refused to give up, and we ran new CT scans, blood work and kept my body up and going with cortisol hoping for a change within the following two weeks.
On the 13th of August 2024, a miracle had happened. My blood values had improved and the CT scan showed no further progression to any other parts or organs in my body. We were now able to look into alternative options to manage and treat my condition. However, these new options come with a huge cost, a cost that no one had prepared for, especially given the grim prognosis I had just received. These new ongoing treatments go beyond my private health insurance coverage and cost around 50,000€ for just 3 months. At this rate, I am not able to continue receiving further treatments anymore after October 2024, which I desperately need for my survival. If the outcome of these new treatments is good, I am looking at a longer survival time, and a good quality of life with my family and my wife.
My goal is to stay alive and keep fighting this cancer with everything I got. I desperately want to live and not give up, just because I am running out of funding for my treatments.
All the donations received through this fundraiser will be strictly used only for my medical treatments.
I will keep posting updates about my progress with the treatments whenever there is something new to share.
Thank you.
Updated bi-weekly cost breakdown for Abraxane, Ramucirumab and Gemcitabine treatments for next 2 months (September - October 2024):
- Reception visit, 45 min - €1,388
- Coordinating nurse planning - €197
- Planning and monitoring of drug treatment (extensive) - €1,300
- Medication guidance by nurse - €208
- Body CT scan - €1,824
- Doctor supervised treatment 2-4hrs - €1,788
- Cancer medical treatment (demanding) - €2,296
- Medicine preparation (very demanding) - €2,308
- Abraxane (nab-Paclitaxel) - €2,960
- Ramucirumab (Cyramza) - €11,716
- Gemcitabine - €108
- Blood tests - €1,200
- Policlinic fee - €128
Total: €27,421
Cancer treatment cost breakdown for each 3 months (full cycle, August - October 2024):
- Reception visit, 45 min - €1,041
- Care guidance by the coordinating nurse - €197
- Planning and monitoring of drug treatment (extensive) - €1,300
- Medication guidance given by a nurse - €208
- Doctor supervised treatment 2-4 hours - €2,235
- Cancer medical treatment, demanding 2-4 hours - €2,870
- Body CT scan - €1,824
- Drug preparation, demanding - 1,645€
- Doctor supervised treatment less than 2 hours - €1,872
- Cancer medical treatment less than 2 hours - €1,316
- Medicine preparation, basic - €1,316€
- Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) 200mg - €5,920
- Ramuricumab (Cyramza) 700mg - €24,606
- Clinic fee - €288
Total: €46,670
First treatment cycle (July - August 2024)
- Reception visit, 45 min - €347
- Care guidance by the coordinating nurse - €197
- Planning and monitoring of drug treatment (extensive) - €1,300
- Medication guidance given by nurse - €208
- Body CT scan - €912
- Doctor supervised treatment, less than 2 hours - €337
- Cancer medical treatment, less than 2 hours - €468
- Medicine preparation (basic) - €329
- Ramucirumab (Cyramza) 700mg - €4,101
- Clinic fee - €32
Total: €8,231
Initial first cycle total cost: €8,231
Each treatment cycle cost per 3 months: €46,670
Fundraising team (2)
Sami Blom
Organizer
Helsinki
Chantal Blom
Team member