Joshua's Melanoma Treatment Fund
Donation protected
My name is Joshua Rast, I am 28 years old and live in Bozeman. MT with my beautiful wife and amazing 1-year-old son. In January 2014, I found a weird looking mole on the top of my back so I went to see the dermatologist. He removed the mole for biopsy which soon came back with the scary results that it was Melanoma cancer. I had an additional surgery to remove a large margin around the mole, a sentinel lymph node biopsy and a skin graft. After this additional tissue came back negative, I thought I was in the clear.
However, in April of 2016 I had a lymph node that had been swollen for a while so my doctors thought I should have another surgery to remove and test the lymph node. I had the surgery the day before my wife and I packed up to move to Montana. Results came back that the melanoma had returned, this time in my lymph nodes. Although scans have not been able to detect further melanoma, my doctors believe it is likely that there is still microscopic melanoma in my body that is currently too small to detect with the available scans.
My family and I have been looking into the best course of action as to where we go from here. Many conventional treatments would do more harm than good in my case and don’t show very good results. I have dramatically changed my diet to try and boost my immune system to fight the cancer. The most promising treatment I have found is Rigvir. Rigvir is a virus that essentially hunts down cancer cells, leaving good cells alone, and also unmasks cancer cells so the immune system can recognize the cancer as a threat. There are no known side effects of Rigvir and it has good results, especially for Melanoma.
Unfortunately, Rigvir is not currently available in the United States and I must travel to Europe to get the treatment. This is where I need your help. Insurance is not going to pay for treatment outside the US and while the treatment is inexpensive compared to options in the States, it is still more than I have. I will need about $15,000 for me to go the Latvia for a week to get the treatment, more in order for my family to come with me. Also the week I had my surgery in April unknowingly ended up being the week after our insurance ended and before other insurance started so we are left with at least $7000 out of pocket to pay. I hope to get the funds I need by November of this year.
Later stage Melanoma is a scary diagnosis for me and my family. I hope to still be around years down the road and to see my kids grow up. I believe God will heal me and that this treatment could play a big role in that healing. My family and I would really appreciate any help you would be willing to give, both financially and in prayer.
Thank you!
Joshua Rast
However, in April of 2016 I had a lymph node that had been swollen for a while so my doctors thought I should have another surgery to remove and test the lymph node. I had the surgery the day before my wife and I packed up to move to Montana. Results came back that the melanoma had returned, this time in my lymph nodes. Although scans have not been able to detect further melanoma, my doctors believe it is likely that there is still microscopic melanoma in my body that is currently too small to detect with the available scans.
My family and I have been looking into the best course of action as to where we go from here. Many conventional treatments would do more harm than good in my case and don’t show very good results. I have dramatically changed my diet to try and boost my immune system to fight the cancer. The most promising treatment I have found is Rigvir. Rigvir is a virus that essentially hunts down cancer cells, leaving good cells alone, and also unmasks cancer cells so the immune system can recognize the cancer as a threat. There are no known side effects of Rigvir and it has good results, especially for Melanoma.
Unfortunately, Rigvir is not currently available in the United States and I must travel to Europe to get the treatment. This is where I need your help. Insurance is not going to pay for treatment outside the US and while the treatment is inexpensive compared to options in the States, it is still more than I have. I will need about $15,000 for me to go the Latvia for a week to get the treatment, more in order for my family to come with me. Also the week I had my surgery in April unknowingly ended up being the week after our insurance ended and before other insurance started so we are left with at least $7000 out of pocket to pay. I hope to get the funds I need by November of this year.
Later stage Melanoma is a scary diagnosis for me and my family. I hope to still be around years down the road and to see my kids grow up. I believe God will heal me and that this treatment could play a big role in that healing. My family and I would really appreciate any help you would be willing to give, both financially and in prayer.
Thank you!
Joshua Rast
Organizer
Josh Rast
Organizer
Bozeman, MT
