Mark’s Cancer Journey

26th October 2016, our lives changed forever.

Dad was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called Neuroendocrine Tumours.

(A neuroendocrine tumour is a rare tumour that are neoplasms that arise from cells of the endocrine and nervous systems , can develop in many different organs of the body. It affects the cells that release hormones into the bloodstream.

This type of cancer is not curable and dad will need to be taking medication ongoing which only stabilizes the growth of the tumours and assists with his quality of life. This type of cancer is a slow growing malignant tumours and has metastasized (spread) to 6 parts of Dad's body. Dad has not worked since 2016 and would never be able to work again.

Dad has been taking chemotherapy tablets for the past couple of years since diagnosis and it has got to the stage where it is not effective in helping his type of cancer. The treatment wears off.

We recently found out dads tumour by the heart has spread near his right ventricle and there is another spot on the left ventricle which is really dangerous and if we don’t act quick , Dads chances of blood clots and strokes are high, this could cause Arrhythmia and the heart will stop. There is a treatment in NZ but not funded called Everolimus (drug) which is a clinical trial.

How effective this would be we do not know , but if dads lifespan can be extended we are willing to give it our best shot.

We are reaching out and asking for any support to give dad the best quality of life.

This challenge we face ahead with family and friends and the help from everyone, dads fighting spirit and wicked sense of humour will definitely keep him going.