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We need help to enable Mal to get the cancer treatment he needs

  • Another round of therapy

      6 March 2025
    Posted by: Mal Green

    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.

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  • Two years after the initial diagnosis

      2 January 2025
    Posted by: Mal Green
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    Kia ora tātou. Nau mai ki te tau 2025. Hi everyone. Welcome to 2025.

    A phone call from a North Shore Hospital registrar on 4 January 2023 told me traces of my renal cell carcinoma from 1998 had appeared in a biopsy of a polyp in my colon. A series of scans showed the presence of cancer in multiple sites in my body and brain.

    The initial prognosis was short term but a brilliant medical team initiated effective therapies from March to July successfully treating all the cancer spots and giving me a long term prognosis confirmed by regular body and brain scans. While managing the many side-effects of the daily cancer-inhibiting drug Lenvatinib is annoying, it maintains the wonderful curative and controlling effects of the therapies.

    I continue to enjoy being engaged in research and teaching at Massey University and presenting my research findings to my peers at conferences. I'm looking forward to another year of enhancing and strengthening the communication discipline at Massey and plan to present at a conference in Denver, USA in June.

    None of this would be possible without your ongoing support in so many ways over the past two years. I am truly grateful to all of you. I hope 2025 is a good year for you and your loved ones. Noho ora mai - all the best.

    Ngā manaakitanga

    Mal and whānau.

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  • What a difference a year and all of your generosity makes

      27 February 2024
    Posted by: Mal Green

    Kia ora koutou. Twelve months ago we were facing a diagnosis of widespread cancer spots in Mal's brain and body with high uncertainty about possible treatments and their effect. Any treatments were beyond our budget and the prognosis was fairly short term. Now Mal's oncologists are saying the radiotherapy and immunotherapy have worked and the regular scans are continuing to show all cancer spots have either shrunk incredibly or disappeared. They are using the word "remission." He's still on an inhibitor drug with annoying side effects but they're all manageable and the drug is working. Mal is enjoying being back on full duties at university. We're blown away by the difference we're experiencing in February 2024 compared to 2023. This is because of your love, thoughts, prayers, and generosity that has covered all medical costs not included in our health insurance. We are so grateful to all of you and we're looking forward to a great year. Ngā manaakitanga. Mal and Jenny and whānau.

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  • After nearly 12 months

      6 December 2023
    Posted by: Mal Green

    Kia ora koutou. In the last update I was stopping immunotherapy because my liver was reacting dangerously. My liver is slowly heading back to normal after three months of steroids and I continue to take a daily inhibitor medication that slows the growth of existing cancer spots and helps prevent new ones developing. I’ll keep going with this for as long as it’s working and the side effects are not too serious. My oncologists are pleased that the radiation therapy in February and four months of immunotherapy have reduced the cancer spots in my brain and throughout my body. This and the unusually long time it took for my renal cancer to reappear (nearly 25 years when the longest known case is 15 years), encourages them that I have “a long years’ prognosis” of six to who knows how many years. So, onwards we go and see where this journey takes me. Thanks to all of you for your love and support in so many ways. January and February 2023 were the hardest two months Jenny and I and our whānau have been through. We’re now in a much better place with a better outlook. Without your support we could not have got here. Tēnā rawa atu koutou. I am incredibly grateful to be able to keep enjoying doing pretty much everything (including work). Arohanui.

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  • Closing the fundraising page

      12 September 2023

    Kia ora koutou,

    Seven months ago, we started this page to help with Mal's cancer treatment costs and the response has been incredibly generous and overwhelming.

    Ngā mihi nui to everyone for your contribution which made it possible for Mal to get the treatment he needs.

    You'll see in Mal's latest update that, unfortunately, he has to stop the infusion immunotherapy. This means we do not need to continue raising funds to the the $100,000 goal and the total already reached has covered treatment so far and will cover ongoing treatment not covered by insurance. This is only possible because of your wonderful support and donations.

    So, on the advice of the lovely people at Give a Little, we will close the page for now, as we can always reopen it when we know more about what treatment is needed as well as the cost.

    For ongoing updates, please sign up to the "Mal's health updates" Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/591970586106387 If you don't do Facebook and would like to keep up to date, please let us know and we will find another way. Mal will be posting updates occasionally on LinkedIn, FB, and Instagram.

    Ngā mihi nui anoo, for your part helping Jenny and Mal and our family on Mal's journey with cancer.

    Arohanui,

    Green Whānau

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  • Change of plans

      7 September 2023
    Posted by: Mal Green

    Kia ora koutou.

    We met my oncologist this week and he told us my immunotherapy (Keytruda/Pembrolizumab) infusions have to stop because it's too dangerous for my liver. It's disappointing that I can't go the full 24 months but I can keep taking the oral medication (Lenvatinib) that inhibits growth of metastases. And I can have more radiotherapy if it's thought effective. It seems five months of therapy has had a good effect with reductions in the metastases in my brain and body but a scan next month will tell us more. Then I'll get a scan in another 3 months to see what's happening without the immunotherapy infusions. But, it seems my cancer might be encouragingly slow growing. So, the roller coaster ride continues.

    Through your incredible generosity, all treatment costs so far have been fully covered and we have a balance to cover known ongoing treatment costs. Thank you so much. This means for now we will suspend fundraising until we see what therapy possibilities there are in the future. Thanks to everyone who has shown so much love, concern, and support for us. We'll keep in touch with updates on this page, the FB page our family set up, and social media posts.

    Arohanui

    Mal and Jenny

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  • A bit of a rollercoaster

      1 September 2023
    Posted by: Mal Green
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    Quick update from Mal. My liver has reacted badly again after the first restart dose of the infusion. So I'm back on high dose of steroids to try to get it settled. We're seeing the oncologist on Tuesday to talk about the way forward with immunotherapy. We met my cardiologist yesterday and he's okay with my blood pressure fluctuations as a necessary side effect of treating the cancer. Met my radiation oncologist today and he says the response of my brain lesions to the radiotherapy is remarkable. Apparently I was the first patient that he used the cyberknife on in NZ and he's thrilled that it was so successful. He thinks the immunotherapy is also working on my brain. He's very hopeful of a long term benefit. This wouldn't have happened without the amazingly generous support of so many. We're incredibly grateful to you for getting us closer to the total needed to make my treatment possible.

    So, it's a blood test on Monday to see how my liver function is going and then see what my oncologist says. I'm feeling good and enjoying getting into work each day and achieving lots (including writing a few articles and presenting on my PhD to a local community group).

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  • Personal update from Mal

      7 August 2023
    Posted by: Mal Green
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    Kia ora tātou.

    Three weeks ago, the immunotherapy seemed to be working & I was coping with the side effects. I was enjoying getting back into work at uni & life & ready to give 3 presentations with uni colleagues at a conference. All this thanks to the amazing generosity, care, concern, & support of whānau, friends, colleagues, & neighbours sending messages & contributing $80,000 through this page & direct donations. I’m grateful to my medical team (7 specialist doctors, a few specialist nurses, & a great pharmacist) who have worked well together to keep me going.

    Then, on 17 July, a known but sudden & serious complication from the therapy appeared in a blood test & I had to stop immunotherapy, start steroids, & ultimately cancel travel to the conference. The combination of all these changes took its toll mentally & physically & the next two weeks were bleak. However, this last week has been a turning point & the complication seems under control, I’m reducing the steroid dose, back on one of the immunotherapy drugs, & preparing to go back on full immunotherapy in a few weeks. I’m feeling good again & had a very productive last week.

    We are now only $20,000 away from reaching the amount needed to fund my treatment over the next two years. Six months ago, this seemed impossible but now it is almost a reality. Jenny & I & our whānau are so blessed to have all of you making my journey possible in so many ways beyond just the finances.

    Ngā mihi nunui – a big thank you

    Mal

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  • July Update - 5 immunotherapy sessions down

      1 July 2023
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    Kia ora koutou.

    Recently, Mal and Jenny met Mal's oncologist who reported a scan of his brain and body shows the treatment is continuing to shrink the metastatic lesions. He's happy with how Mal is tolerating the drug therapies, which means we can keep going with the planned two year treatment programme.

    Mal has just had the fifth three-weekly immunotherapy infusion and started the fourth round of daily oral medication.

    All this is only possible because of the incredible $77,000 donated through the Give a Little page and direct donations.

    We're overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people - some of whom we don't know. Thank you everyone not only for your gifts but for your love, care, and concern.

    This leaves $23,000 to cover the rest of the cost of the remaining two year therapy programme. We know things are tight for many of us and

    fully understand that financial support may not be possible right now. If you are able to help, please visit the Give a Little page set up by the family or contact Laura about other ways to support Mal and Jenny.

    Arohanui,

    Green whaanau

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  • Hune / June Update

      11 June 2023
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    Kia ora e te whānau,

    Mal had his 4th infusion of immunotherapy last Wednesday.

    We are pleased to say everything is proceeding smoothly. He has had minimal side effects and we are keeping a close eye on those.

    A scan next week will show how the cancers in the brain and body are responding to the therapies.

    Thank you for your ongoing love and support for us, which makes this experience so much more bearable.

    We are incredibly grateful for the $68,000 in donations that have made the treatment possible, with just $32,000 needed to cover the remaining costs for the rest of the treatment.

    We are cautiously optimistic Mal will be able to maintain this feeling of wellness and that the initial curative effects of the treatment will continue.

    Arohanui,

    Mal, Jenny & the rest of the whānau

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  • May Update : Some great news 💚

      8 May 2023
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    Kia ora koutou,

    Mal and Jenny met with the specialists today and received news the immunotherapy is working. The lesions on Mal's vocal cords and in his brain are responding well to the treatment and "shrinking" / "melting away" (the specialists' words).

    As a whaanau, we are so thrilled and relieved to hear this news. We are thankful for the tautoko of whaanau and friends - the words of encouragement, financial support and all the ways that we have been supported in the past 5 months. Without all this, immunotherapy and these results would not be possible.

    The support of family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours has raised two thirds of the amount needed to cover treatment over the next two years. We are so grateful to everyone. We look forward to updating you as treatment continues.

    Ngaa manaakitanga,

    Mal, Jenny, Alannah, Michael, Laura and wider Green Whaanau

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  • April 14th Update

      14 April 2023
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    Kia ora koutou,

    It has been one week since Mal’s first immunotherapy infusion and starting with taking daily capsules. The days following this were a bit up and down with a few aches and pains and chronic indigestion. However, in the last couple of days, Mal has felt reasonably well again albeit with the usual tiredness that he has been experiencing.

    We are absolutely blown away by the generosity of people. All this good news is a relief and helping us get better sleeps at night and think more positively about what is ahead.

    Mal still hasn’t had his review with the radiation oncologist but that should be happening sometime next week.

    We're getting great input from hospice and cancer society counsellors.

    Ngā mihi nui,

    Green Whānau.

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  • We are so grateful

      1 April 2023
    Posted by: Mal Green

    Kia ora koutou. In only two weeks since our family started this page, your support and generosity has resulted in just over half the amount we need donated (through this page and in direct donations). Two weeks ago we were very stressed and afraid that Mal wouldn't be able to start immunotherapy. Through your kindness, we are now feeling much more settled and calm (we're even sleeping through the night!) and ready to start the two year treatment on Wednesday. There's still a way to go to cover all the cost but you have given us hope that we'll get there. Thank you so much. Your messages of love, care, and concern continue to help us make our way through this new part of our journey. Lots of love, Mal and Jenny ❤

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  • Kia ora rawa atu (thank you so much)

      25 March 2023
    Posted by: Mal Green

    Kia ora koutou (hi everyone).

    It's been just one week since my family created this page to help finance my cancer treatment. Jenny and I have continued to be overwhelmed and humbled each day by the number of people who have responded, the generosity of your gifts, and the messages of concern, love, and support. What seemed like a prohibitive cost is now one third covered (with donations here and extra gifts made directly to us) and still donations are coming in. Thank you so much for helping us through this unexpected situation. We know times are tough for many so your kindness at this time is very much appreciated. We still have a long way to go to cover the cost but you have given us hope that we can make it. We have enough now to cover the first three or four rounds of immunotherapy starting in the first week of April. I will keep you updated once I start this next phase of my treatment. Ngā mihi maioha (Kind regards with much appreciation).

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  • Humbled and overwhelmed

      20 March 2023
    Posted by: Mal Green

    Thank you everyone who has donated so far. We know it's early days and there's a long way to go but your response in the past 24 hours has encouraged us. Thanks so much for your love, thoughts, prayers, and support.

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