My family and I need your help

UPDATE 2/29/24:

First let me say thank you to all of those that have helped us. Your support has been an absolute blessing and has helped keep my family and I safe, warm and fed. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I DO have a tumor on my brain. It is very small but none-the-less, it is there.

So my actual diagnosis is Neuroendocrine Small Cell Cancer. There is no chance of survival. However as of today 2/29/24, I have had four chemo treatments and I feel much better than I did when this all first started. I have good days and bad days. I still get dizzy and short of breath as well as not having any energy but for the most part the chemo is working. During my last labs/checkup with Jasmine, a Nurse Practitioner for Dr McCarty at U.T. Cancer Specialists, she informed me that my body did seem to be responding well to the treatments but they will not know to what extent exactly until they re-scan my body. I am scheduled to start the new scans in early March. Fingers crossed.

I did get approved for disability but it's nowhere near enough to pay our bills and doesn't actually start until May. My Short Term Disability has ended so we currently have absolutely no income. Our bank account is currently in the negative. My wife Charina, actually started a new job today but it will be several weeks before her payroll cycle begins.

We still need your help. I hate to ask, God knows I absolutely, positively HATE being in the position I am in but we STILL NEED your help. Please, if you can give, please do. If you can't then PLEASE SHARE this. Every little bit helps. Thank You ALL!

UPDATE: I saw the oncologist on 12/7/23 and finally have a diagnosis. Neuroendocrine Small Cell Cancer / stage four, is what I have. It is a rare, very aggressive and fast spreading type of cancer. 3-6 months without treatment, 1-2 years with treatment. Survivability is slim. Dr McCarty believes I may also have a tumor in my head so he has ordered an MRI of my head. I have yet to receive a procedure date. I begin chemo next week on Wednesday (12/13/23). From here on out, everything pretty much depends on how my body and the cancer both respond to the chemo.

My family and I, myself especially, want to thank EVERYONE that has helped us so far. Your generosity and support has relieved a great deal of stress that I'm sure would have otherwise been unbearable for us. We can NOT thank you enough.

As for how I am doing, I am extremely dizzy whenever I am in an upright position. The tumor on my lung has made breathing difficult. I haven't been able to use the bathroom (poop) in over a week. I am constantly in a great deal of abdominal, back, neck and chest pain.

We still need your help and continued support. If you can donate please do so. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SHARE THIS.

EDIT: So I have had my second biopsy and pet scan. The pet scan shows the following;

ORDERING PHYSICIAN: JASTI, SIRISHA

REASON FOR EXAM: R93.5 Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of other abdominal regions, including retroperitoneum, PANCREATIC MASS

COMPARISON: 10/22/2023 CT abdomen and pelvis

TECHNIQUE: 10.9 millicuries of F 18 FDG were given per authenticated protocol.

PET/CT scan is performed from the skull base through the mid thighs. Low

dose noncontrasted (therefore nondiagnostic) CT performed for localization purposes only. Due to artifact any measurements made are an approximation only. Diagnostic CT, with oral and IV contrast if possible would be

recommended for further anatomic clarification. This includes evaluation for additional nonneoplastic processes. Fused PET/CT images were viewed using AW suite.

FINDINGS :

Large hypermetabolic mass pancreatic head and uncinate process: The mass measures approximately 6.5 x 5.5 cm in transverse dimensions and demonstrates homogeneous high level FDG activity, SUV 11.2.

Hypermetabolic estimated 4.2 x 3.7 cm nodal mass within the small bowel mesentery just inferior to the pancreas, average SUV 8.0.

No suspicious nodal activity along the retroperitoneum or pelvis.

Large ill-defined central bronchogenic mass left upper lobe with estimated transverse dimensions of approximately 8.2 x 7.2 cm with homogeneous hypermetabolic activity, SUV 7.3.

Hypermetabolic 3.1 cm left axillary lymph node with SUV of 11.4.

Multiple bilateral hypermetabolic deep cervical lymph nodes, the largest in the upper left neck near the angle of mandible measuring 3.0 cm with SUV of 14.5 and in the lower right neck measuring 2.5 cm with SUV of 13.5.

Focal hypermetabolic activity within a loop of small bowel right lower quadrant, SUV 7.8: corresponding noncontrast CT demonstrates equivocal short segment of small bowel wall thickening, images 1 70-173, series 7.

Small focus of high level FDG activity involves the proximal sigmoid colon with SUV of 8.0, image 179, series 7. No definitive corresponding CT abnormality. Etiology not determined.

No suspicious osseous activity.

Incidental findings: Complete atelectasis and consolidation of the left upper lobe with obstruction of left upper lobe bronchus by central bronchogenic mass. Mass extends to the anterolateral chest wall and may involve the intercostal space.

IMPRESSION:

1. Large ill-defined hypermetabolic neoplastic mass pancreatic head.

2. Large ill-defined hypermetabolic neoplastic mass left upper lobe with bronchogenic obstruction.

3. Hypermetabolic mesenteric, left axillary, and bilateral deep cervical lymph nodes.

4. Nonspecific focal hypermetabolic activity within short segments of a loop of distal small bowel in the right lower quadrant and within the proximal sigmoid colon. Etiology/significance not determined.

Dictated on: 11/20/2023 2:55 PM

Interpreted by: Scot S Vermillion, M.D.

Transcribed by: Powerscribe 360

Signed by: Scot S Vermillion, M.D.

So long story short... originally they believed I had pancreatic cancer. then they said I had lymphoma. now they're saying it is some sort of "rare tumor" that is "aggressively spreading". Dr Jasti told me the name but I cant remember. either way, it's cancer and it is far worse than initially believed. I have a tumor on my pancreas. a tumor in my intestines. a tumor on my lung. it has spread to my colon and my neck. the tumor on my lung has cause a partial collapse and a partial blockage of the lung.

in short, theyve given me 6 months to live. theyve referred me to an oncologist but my first appointment isnt until 12/07/23 so I still am NOT being treated. I am not working. I get dizzy whenever I stand up. im in a great deal of pain. no meds have been prescribed at this point. my family has absolutely no income. I have filed a claim for short term disability through my insurance at work. I have applied for leave of absence for the americans with disabilities act through work in an attempt to keep my job active and my health insurance current. we have applied for food stamps. I am applying for disability through the state... but all of these applications and claims take time, time that I do not have. please, I beg you please, if you can help us with anything you can spare, please do. I dont care if its a penny, anything helps at this point. thank you.

Hello everyone, my name is John. Writing this and asking for the help of complete strangers is something that is difficult for me to do however, life has left me little choice. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this.

I have recently been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer.

I had been feeling extremely tired and drained of all energy for about a year now. So much so, that on my days off, all I do is sleep. Then about four months ago, I began having severe abdominal pain which progressively got worse with time. Finally this past Sunday (10/22/23), I was in so much pain that I called 911 and asked for an ambulance to take me to the hospital.

That night, they did a CT Scan on my belly. The Physician's Assistant that did the scan told me I had a growth on my pancreas which was causing a partial bowel obstruction and that I had "white spots" on my bones. So I was admitted to the hospital and a biopsy was ordered. They performed the biopsy on Tuesday (10/24/23). While the results of the biopsy are not back yet (I go back on November 11th for a follow up to get the official biopsy results), the doctor said that the biopsy does confirm what they saw in the CT Scan.

At this point, all I know for certain is that I have Pancreatic Cancer. I do not know what stage it is in or how severely or how far it has spread. Because of the "white spots" seen on my bones during the CT Scan, they believe the cancer has spread to my bones. I have a hard time eating because the partial bowel obstruction makes it very difficult for me to go to the bathroom and I vomit more than I poop... I am scared.

The past two years has been rough for me and my family financially. The current economy has made a huge impact on my line of work to the point where I recently had to take a job making much less money than before. As a result, I have fallen behind on paying bills, I am behind on rent and my credit is in the toilet. I have been selling off personal items and possessions to help make ends meet and now, I've ran out of things to sell. To make matters worse, I now have the Pancreatic Cancer and unexpected medical bills to deal with. Due to my recent job change, I do not have health insurance. So all of these medical bills are coming out of my pocket. I was already struggling just to keep utilities paid and food on the table before getting sick... I desperately need your help.

My wife is from the Philippines and doesn't know how to drive (she does have a leaners permit and I've been teaching her whenever I have time) so she doesn't work. We have two small children, a 3yo daughter and a 1yo son that are the two absolute most important things in my life... they are the sole reason I am writing this. If it were just me, alone, then I would just "grin and bear it" but my children didn't ask for this and they sure don't deserve it.

Prior to getting sick I had been working between 60 and 70 hours a week, trying to make all the money I could in an attempt to get my financial situation turned around and back on track. Now, I don't know how much longer I am going to be able to work or if I am going to be able to work at all. I am sure at some point I will end up on disability but when that will happen, I simply don't know and I am worried about what will happen in the meantime. So at this stage my plan is to get my wife driving and working to where she is able to eventually stand on her own two feet and be able take care of our kids when I'm gone.

My family and I are having to make some major and sudden changes in our lives. We need your help. Any donations made will be used solely for medical expenses, getting our rent caught up, paying utilities, putting food on the table, diapers and clothing for our kids. That's it. If somehow by the grace of god we manage to raise more money than we need, then that money will be used to help my wife go to school to become a nurse. Please, I beg you, help us if you can. Anything helps at this point. I know in this economy times are tough for a lot of people and if you are unable to give then I understand completely. If you can not give then you can still help us just by sharing this and helping me spread the word. Please, I sincerely and humbly ask for your help. Thank you for taking the time to read this.