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Roman Fracz Cancer Treatment Fund

Please help us raise funds to help cover the costs of an experimental cancer treatment for our caring friend Roman Fracz.  Anyone lucky enough to know Roman knows him to be an outstanding father, husband, grandfather, friend and teacher. He has devoted his life to his family (wife, four children and two young grandchildren) and to the teaching and mentoring of college students at Oakland Community College. In the short time I have known Roman, I have become humbled by his gracious spirit. He is a true giver, and does so without any expectation of reciprocation. This is why I am asking you for help, to give him a chance for life.

In 2008, Zbigniew Roman Fracz (known by everyone as Roman) was diagnosed with a rare cancer known as soft tissue sarcoma. The cancer was detected very late and had spread to many areas of the abdomen. No chemotherapy drug is known to successfully treat this kind of cancer and the best option was to surgically remove all cancerous growth. An aggressive surgery was followed by radiation treatment and thankfully the nightmare seemed to end. The doctors’ strategy was to monitor Roman’s body via scans every 3-6 months and if any new tumors were detected, they would be removed surgically.

In early fall of 2014 a new tumor of the same type was detected on Roman’s lung. This means that the sarcoma has metastasized from the abdomen to a new region of the body, making it a stage 4 cancer. Another surgery followed. Just when he seemed to be recovering, a new, larger tumor grew; this time in an inoperable location and growing at an alarming rate. Again, this cancer in the lung is a result of a metastasizing tumor from his abdomen (Roman has never smoked).

Since then, Roman and his wife have worked relentlessly to investigate a new and promising drug called RIGVIR which was invented in Latvia.  RIGVIR is a cancer virotherapy; a unique live virus containing anticancer medicine which uses biotechnology to convert viruses into therapeutic agents to treat diseases while boosting the immune system. It is a targeted treatment that does not affect the patient’s healthy cells, leaving few to no side-effects, unlike traditional chemo. It works on both new tumors and metastasized ones. Rigvir has undergone three stages of clinical studies in Latvia with very positive results, including examples of curing tumors previously deemed by doctors as incurable. It is already being used with great success in many countries such as Canada, Mexico, Germany, UK, Russia, etc. Roman has already traveled to the main RIGVIR clinic in Latvia for an initial assessment. His type of cancer was deemed treatable by RIGVIR and they expect positive results. Unfortunately, RIGVIR is still not approved by the FDA in the United States. This means that Roman’s insurance will not cover it. Thus, medical as well traveling expenses are quickly adding up. Any help you can provide to give Roman these treatments will be greatly appreciated. This therapy  is his last hope to continue to enjoy life and make a difference for his family, friends, and students.

Thank you kindly for taking the time to read his story and for helping out financially at this time in any way possible.  Please consider donating; no amount is too small.  Much appreciation.

Below are a couple links about this hopefully treatment called RIGVIR. The fact that it is still not approved here in the U.S. is astonishing and regretful.

http://www.virotherapy.eu/
https://youtu.be/zxOGGK4PDc4

Additional details of Romans treatment  and expenses:

1)  He is currently being treated by a University of Michigan oncologist that concurs on the RIGVIR treatment and monitors Roman’s health as he takes the drug brought from Latvia.

2)  His current treatment is broken into 3 month segments. Every 3 month he travels to Latvia for about one week of care and returns with enough medication until the next trip. The plan is to do this for 2-3 years.

3)  Costs per 3 month treatment: Travel & lodging vary of course, but flights to Latvia are about $1300. He gets one shot per week at $500 per shot ($2000 month). A conservative estimate puts each 3 month period around $8,000-$10,000. His initial trip was closer to $12,000.

4) Future cost of course are difficult to accurately predict, but it is easy to see how this may become overwhelming.

Thank you kindly for taking the time to read Roman's story and for helping out financially at this time in any way possible.  Please consider donating; no amount is too small.  Much appreciation!

Jeff Kowalewski
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $150 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Jeff Kowalewski
Organizer
Waterford Township, MI
Renata Fracz
Beneficiary

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