We need help to enable Mal to get the cancer treatment he needs
Help us make it possible for Mal to access immunotherapy.
Auckland
At the start of January 2023, during an unrelated, random test on his colon, we discovered Mal had a reappearance of kidney cancer cells from over 24 years ago. Scans over the next few weeks showed lesions in his bowel, left lung, vocal cords, and throughout his brain. He is likely to have lesions elsewhere. Removal of the lesions is not an option.
In February, Mal had the first course of radiotherapy, thankfully covered by health insurance. This went well with very few side effects so far.
To deal with the other lesions in his body, he faces two years of immunotherapy, at a cost of over $100,000, of which only a fraction is covered by health insurance.
We, with the guidance of Mal's oncologist, have decided to try the cheapest (but still distressingly and exorbitantly costly) and most recommended immunotherapy option for treatment of the cancer in the body, in tandem with radiotherapy on the brain. Unfortunately, this treatment is not funded by Pharmac, nor is any other effective treatment for the type and locations of cancer lesions Mal has.
After over 35 years of community youth work, living mostly off gifts and donations, Mal and Jenny felt fortunate to be in the position of being employed and able to create a plan to sustain them for retirement in a few years. Then this showed up, seriously challenging their retirement preparation. The next two years involves intensive treatment, with uncertainty about how they can cover the costs. Please can you help them?
Use of funds
All money raised will go towards the cost of two years of immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab/Keytruda + Lenvatinib).
Latest update
Another round of therapy 6 March 2025
Kia ora lovely friends and family. I continue to feel reasonably well and enjoy being able to go to work at uni each day. Recent brain scans have shown some scar tissue from the radiation therapy. It's called radiation necrosis and is an expected side-effect of cyberknife radiation treatment. I'm not aware of it causing any problems but my oncologists want to treat it with four x three weekly infusions of a medication known to be good for controlling this condition. We have decided to go ahead with this medication because if offers the possibility of preventing potential serious problems from necrosis if left untreated. It has an added benefit of continuing to restrict the growth of new cancer and maintaining the benefits from my therapies in 2023 that reduced all my cancer spots and eliminated some. Like the other therapy drugs I've had and am on, it's expensive and not Pharmac approved and not covered by my medical insurance. Thanks to all of you who gave generously in 2023 we still have $10,000 from your donations that help pay for about half the cost. We will keep you up to date with how this treatment goes. Thanks, again, for your ongoing concern, thoughtfulness, and support. It really helps us keep going on this journey. Arohanui, Mal & Jenny and whānau.
Latest donations
Thank you so much. I'm fortunate to have colleagues like you on my journey. Thanks for your care, concern, and generosity.
Thanks again, Graeme, for helping us on my journey. So blessed to have you in our lives. Love from us.
Thanks so much for your lovely donation. I'm so fortunate to have colleagues like you supporting me. Cheers
Dear Peter. Thank you so much for keeping us moving towards the goal. We appreciate your love, care, and support. It's all helping us keep going on the treatment journey. Regards and blessings, Mal and Jenny and whānau.
Kia ora Tara. Thanks so much for your support in our journey with Mal's cancer. We're encouraged by your thoughtfulness. Ngā mihi nui, Mal and Jenny
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