More time for Malcolm

$53,120 of $200,000 goal

Given by 170 generous donors in around 10 months

Our dad is a loving generous man that has sadly been diagnosed with Melanoma. There are currently no funded drugs available in NZ.

Auckland

+6 images

Malcolm Benjamin is a loving husband of 41 years, a fantastic father and a grandfather.

He has prided himself on how fit and healthy he has been all his life. In the early years it was through Rugby and League, he then moved onto Marathon running, and now rides 6 days a week, cycling up to 300km.

Malcolm is the kindest most generous father anyone could wish to have.

About 12 months ago Malcolm had a routine mole removal from his lower back. After finding out it was a Melanoma, Malcolm then had to have all the lymph nodes in his left groin removed (Lymph node dissection) as the Melanoma had spread.

There were a few complications with this surgery, but in February this year everything was looking very positive and it seemed there had been no more spread, and he was disease free.

Sadly a few months ago after another PET scan it was revealed that the cancer had in fact spread to some of his internal organs. Luckily not to the brain yet. This is now stage IV cancer - the highest stage.

The prognosis is very grim. Because of the type of Melanoma Malcolm has the only funded drug available has little to no success rate. Malcolm would be willing to consider participation in a drug trial but there are no current trials available and the clock is ticking.

Treatment options are limited, but his Oncologist has suggested that a drug called Yervoy (Ipilimumab) will give the best chance of life extension. Treatment with Yervoy (Ipilimumab) is very expensive ($240,000.00) and there is no funding by Pharmac (Government). All costs are Malcolm’s responsibility, if he wants any chance of life extension.

Yervoy (Ipilimumab) has had successful results overseas and is funded in countries like Australia but not in NZ.

After receiving a cycle of Yervoy (Ipilimumab) patients are then eligible to receive a cycle of another drug that is provided by the drug company on compassionate grounds.

Malcom and his family realise that this is not a cure but has the potential to extend his life, and he won’t give up without fight.

Please help Malcolm enjoy some more years with his family, and maybe even see his granddaughter start school.

Jodi and Kristy Benjamin's involvement (page creator)

We are raising money to help pay for unfunded cancer treatment for Malcolm Benjamin (our dad)

Fathers Day 7 September 2015

For me a day here and a day there is not important so let’s call it 365 days (really about 350) since my stage 4 melanoma diagnosis.

In the words of the first oncologist my life expectancy was months so to see another father’s day on Sunday close to a year later was great.

I am still working and try to keep active. The blood tests every 3 weeks before oncologist appointments provide the indicators of how the body appears (I use the word appears because it’s not concrete proof) to be progressing. The oncologist is very encouraged by his observations. Of recent times the only negative blood indicator has been low hemoglobin count. This results in low energy (get puffed out) as oxygen is not being distributed around the body. It’s typically resolved for a while with a top up of blood. That’s a small price to pay for good progress.

I am in line for a scan (that’s when the public health system sees fit to give me an appointment) because this will show if we have had tumor reduction or on the other side expansion. The waiting is frustrating.

I have a great family network supporting me along with great friends. Believe me a serious diagnosis effects the extended family as much as the patient. We all live with the unknown. My next milestone is a birthday in December followed by Christmas. After that the sky’s the limit (I just might get to see my granddaughter start school in 3 years).

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