In November, the council of the Gift of
Life cancer treatment foundation approved the funding of ten people. Among
others a 33-year old woman from Tallinn fighting cervical cancer was given hope
and a chance to live by receiving crucial treatment. Her Avastin treatment
costs nearly 9000 euros in the coming months.
The foundation also provides a 50-year old
Tallinn woman also suffering from cervical cancer with Avastin.
She writes: “I was diagnosed with
cancer in August 2016, when it had already entered stage four. Despite checking
my health often at the doctor’s, the cancer had managed to hide itself around
the corner, so to speak. I went through radiotherapy, followed by the
supporting chemotherapy. Those were tough times physically.
My treating physician was optimistic that
it was going to stop there. But in October this year we found out the sad truth
that the metastases had spread to other organs and new tumours had appeared.
This news knocked our entire family off
their feet, but my decision to not give up just yet and to not die before my
time and the support of my loving family and their strong hugs gave me strength
to go on with treatment. It turned out that a medication named Avastin could
also help me, but sadly the Health Insurance Fund does not compensate this in
the case of my diagnosis. The cost is not small – more than 2000 euros per
treatment. Unfortunately, my family cannot afford to pay such amount every
three weeks.
As a last resort, we decided to ask for the
aid of the Gift of Life cancer treatment foundation. All of my family cheered
when the foundation gave us a positive reply. This means that I can see my son
graduating basic school and hopefully his upper secondary school graduation as
well. I can congratulate my daughter for receiving her bachelor’s degree and
then her master’s degree. I will hopefully see my grandchildren as well and
grow old with my loving husband.
In a word, I can spend as much time as
possible with my family, relatives and friends – people dear to me.
I truly appreciate all the supporters,
because it is thanks to you that the Gift of Life can support those in
need.”
The foundation helps a 46-year old woman
from Pärnu fight lung cancer. Her medication named Keytruda costs over 17,000
euros in the coming months.
A 74-year old woman receives treatment with
lung cancer medication Xalkori that the foundation supports with more than
14,000 euros.
A 54-year old and a 75-year old woman both
suffer from bowel cancer – the foundation lent them a helping hand. A 60-year
old man is suffering from thyroid cancer. The Gift of Life supports his
treatment with several thousand euros a month and he has been receiving the
treatment with the foundation’s support for several years.
A 77-year old man from Tallinn suffering
from leukaemia will receive a medication named Imbruvica thanks to the
foundation’s support, which will cost more than 18,000 euros in the coming
months.
A 66-year old man from Tartu is suffering
from thyroid cancer and the Gift of Life buys him a medication named Nexavar,
which costs more than 1000 euros a month.
He writes:
“I would like to thank you and all the
kind benefactors for supporting my treatment this time. I have been facing this
terrible disease for nearly a decade now. After a major surgery I received
iodine therapy for several times that seemed promising initially, but
eventually failed to show the desired results.Three years ago I had to undergo another
surgery. After that the situation became somewhat more stabilised, but the
examination carried out last year revealed that the disease had reactivated.
The treating physician decided to try out a new medication that was partially
compensated by the Health Insurance Fund. A two-month treatment showed that the
medication worked really well. After a break of one year I needed yet another
treatment, but without the foundation’s support it would have been really
complicated.In order to not be only at the receiving
end and understanding that the foundation may be the last hope for many cancer
patients, my family and I have also become regular benefactors for the
foundation, thus making our own little contribution for some people in
need.”
A 58-year old man from Lääne-Viru County is
suffering from melanoma and needs a medication named Keytruda that costs more
than 6000 euros a month. His family has initiated a campaign in a small way in
his social circle, asking people to make a special donation to the foundation.
His family believes that starting from January 2018 the Health Insurance Fund
starts to compensate the said medication and should it happen, they want to use
the funds raised during the campaign for other patients’ treatments.
In 2017, the Gift of Life cancer treatment
foundation has raised nearly 1.3 million euros via fundraising and patients’
own contributions and supported the treatments of nearly 100 Estonian cancer
patients. The foundation has covered nearly a million euros’ worth of medical
bills alone this year.