Monstering Melanoma

July 2015 Anthony was receiving treatment for dehydration causing a headache that just would not go away. After having a few days off work he returned to his job but could not concentrate so went to hospital. The hospital did some scans of his head and discovered a tumour had grown and was causing the headache. He also had growths in his lungs

He had a craniotomy to remove the tumour and underwent radiation treatment to attempt to shrink the masses in his chest. A second set of radiation was done to try to ensure there were no cells in his brain that would cause future problems. We were told that if Anthony could stay well there was a possibility of taking part in an immunotherapy treatment study which would mean he would have access to the expensive treatments the hospital was recommending.

A few months later Anthony suffered a minor stroke during which he lost function along his right side and at the time it was discovered that there was another tumour sitting on top of the part of the brain which controls motor function. A second Craniotomy. With loss of function he was told he was not "fit" enough to take part in any experimental testing of the new immunotherapy range of treatments. We were told there was nothing more the hospital could do for him. Private funding was not possible.

The Doctors gave him 12 months to live

The Doctors have recommended a treatment of $12000/month for an inhibitor to slow the growth of the tumours.

We are hoping to be eligible for the immunotherapy treatment recently featured in the Press which is to be funded by Pharmac - Privately this would cost $23000 per month