We have been trying to move to Arizona for the past several months as we are aging and feel the need to be in a warmer climate.  We have worked fervently to make this move possible. However, during the summer, my husband Frank, lost over 40 pounds for no apparent reason.  He also experienced some throat irritation that he kept pressing on.  After a call to his primary care provider he was quickly scheduled for a CT scan revealing some suspicious growths on his tonsil and necrotic lymph nodes.  He then completed a CT scan with contrast followed by a biopsy.  This revealed stage 3 Cancer of the throat - squamous cell - that had metasticized into the lymph nodes.

While dealing with the medical system here, he was given a vicious treatment plan, including: 35 successive radiation treatments with concurrent weekly chemotherapy (which could continue for as long as the medical team deemed necessay), and a feeding tube for as long as needed as the throat would have 3rd degree burns and swelling. This treatment has a high potential for life-long consequences, reducing quality of life for an otherwise healthy, active man.  While you might think that the standard is enough, we wonder why the standard creates so many other health issues, costs of continued care, and a potential for the cancer to return despite such treatment.  And even standard care is costly as the co-payments for testing have already racked up.

Frank decided to postpone treatment and to pursue better options in Arizona.  Arizona is home to Mayo Clinic and several affiliates, as well as, Euromed, Envita, and Oasis cancer treatment centers.  We have had the opportunity to discuss Franks condition and shared his medical records with a few clinics out there.  We are impressed with the options available at Envita and hope to pursue treatment there.

But, we have to get to Arizona first before we take the next step with Envita Cancer Center.  Our insurance will not pay for care here, but Envitas treatments make the most sense, are most humane and the prognosis seems good in Franks case. We are trying to find a way to deal with the out of pocket costs, originally estimated to be upwards of $200000.  Today, after an in depth discussion with their oncology team we learned that they will offer the treatments for $50,000. This amount isnt as daunting but it is still unaffordable.  The treatment bypasses the need for radiation all together and the chemo/glucose solution will be injected directly into the cancer itself rather than putting it in through a port that spreads it throughout the body.

If you are inclined because tou know Frank, myself, or you are just compelled, anything helps. 

Of course without treatment or a continued delay, there is the obvious spread and increased health risk as a squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive, fast acting form of cancer.  We hope to bypass the harsh standard of medical care to utilize a more effective and life-enhancing approach such as that through Envita. 

Any help would be a blessing.

Anita