Join Jonathan McFarlane’s Fight Against Cancer

We have created this fund to support our cousin, Jonathan McFarlane, who has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Jonathan is a youth support worker with Thunder Bay Community Living; he is a caring and selfless soul who always looks to help others. He enjoys working with his clients but, unfortunately, has not been able to work since the end of May. Jonathan's friends and family are so important to him, and he cherishes every moment spent together.

Synopsis of his journey so far:

In April of 2022, Jonathan was feeling completely himself, but his life quickly turned upside down after a seemingly innocuous symptom developed.

On April 27, Jonathan went to his family doctor with a cough. Jonathan’s bloodwork showed many inflammatory markers and a small bump first appeared on the side of his neck by mid-May. A biopsy was done, but was unable to determine exactly what it was; so he was referred to an ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor, and had a CT Scan and MRI which showed worrisome results. More tests were ordered, including a PET scan.

In June, Jon was referred to an oncologist at Thunder Bay Regional who determined this was a fast growing cancer that needed to be seen quickly by specialists. In the doctor’s words, “we have never seen anything remotely like this”. A second biopsy was done on June 28th, as the first biopsy results were conflicting and confusing to pathology.

Jon travelled to Toronto from July 4-6 to consult with four doctors at Princess Margaret hospital. The mass on the side of Jon’s neck had grown considerably in four months. Cancer of the thyroid was confirmed in addition to the huge mass growing on his right side of his neck, as well as a third small growth in a lymph node on the left side of his neck. It appeared Jon had two different types of cancer.

Jonathan’s symptoms quickly became worse: his cough intensified, he couldn’t swallow, his right eye began to droop, he had dizzy spells to the point of fainting, and he had lost 40 lbs by this point. While waiting for more tests/results, the lump rapidly grew to a point of a 2 lb mass that had pushed his trachea and esophagus over, making swallowing difficult and emergency surgery in Toronto was required.

After an eight-and-a-half hour neck dissection surgery that was much more complicated than originally thought, three masses, (his thyroid, a 980 gram tumour and a node on his left side), were all removed. His external jugular and other major neck muscles were also removed because the tumour had wrapped itself around them. Jon had 36 staples from his right ear down across his throat to the left side of his neck. The scar will heal, but the impact of what this cancer has done to him mentally, as well as physically, is a lot for anyone to bear.

He had to wait a total of six weeks for pathology from Mount Sinai, and it was confirmed that one of the cancers had mutated to anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), a very rare diagnosis and unusual for a young man of 30. The average survival rate for this cancer after diagnosis is five months, but with new treatment including immunotherapy, these odds are improving.

We are still currently waiting for further genetic testing of the mass - as Jon says, “I think they have enough of a sample now.” Thank God for his great sense of humour. After the surgery, it was hoped that all of the cancer had been removed. However, while waiting for his neck to heal from the surgery scar, some residual cells remained and a mass close to the same spot started to regrow to the size of a golf ball.

Jonathan is now in the midst of intensive treatment: paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy, once a week for seven weeks, radiation everyday for 35 days, and three treatments of an immunotherapy drug, Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda. The effects of the treatment have certainly taken their toll; swallowing became too painful, and he has been in the Regional Hospital since September 30, unable to eat. He has now lost 55 lbs. There have been three unsuccessful attempts in putting in a feeding tube, so he has been without food since he was admitted to the hospital, and is currently being fed through an IV with TPN.

The good news is that the immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments are working: the golf ball size mass has decreased to almost negligible. We have hope. He is a fighter and is doing his best to fight this.

Purpose of the GoFundMe:

Part of Jonathan’s treatment plan is an immunotherapy drug called Pembrolizumab. Unfortunately, due to the rarity of this type of cancer in such a young person, insurance will not cover the cost of immunotherapy. Each treatment is $8,800, and he needs three treatments (a total of $26 400). The drug therapy navigator told Jonathan and his family that he is unfortunately not eligible for the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan, Trillium, or the Exceptional Access Program, as the government does not fund immunotherapy treatment. All avenues to help Jon with his battle have been exhausted.

If we can help alleviate the slightest burden from Jonathan, it’s well worth the effort. So we would be humbled by your support of our cousin, and we thank you so much in advance for donating to such a worthy person.