Dave's Cancer Treatment

Unfortunately I have Terminal Lung Cancer, and the treatment cost for Atezolizumab Immunotherapy is $83,592.36. This is not a funded treatment for Lung Cancer in New Zealand.

Without Atezolizumab therapy, the treament that is government funded includes whole brain radiation. This treatment has side effects of cognitive decline, loss of memeory, changes in brain function, changes in personality and early dementia, and a number of other side effects. These effects mean automatic loss of drivers license and will affect my ability to work to support my family.

Atezolizumab will help me maintain my current quality of life, extend my lifespan by almost double that of the government funded chemotherapy alone (from 8 months to 13 months), prevent a long, slow decline in health (instead causes a rapid decline at the end of life) and avoid the radiation therapy with its side effects.

What maintaining quality of life means for me:

The ability to drive means I can visit friends and family for the last time, some of whom I have not seen for many years - we'd all prefer to have the chance to say goodbye in person rather than at my funeral

The ability to continue to work which helps support my family by paying the bills

Keeping my brain functioning as it is now and not becoming demented

Avoid slowly decling health and becoming a burden on my family and the health system

You can follow my journey on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.browning.9235