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Harry was recently diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Harry and his family are in need of funds to assist with medical bills and gas money to drive to and from Iowa City for treatment. Harry will have to stay in the hospital anywhere between 3-5 days while receiving treatment. Therefore, funds will also help Harry’s family stay at a nearby hotel. Any donations to assist Harry and his family would be greatly appreciated, please read their story below:
February 3
Harry visited his family doctor in Perry, IA after not feeling well. His Doctor originally, thought Harry had Pneumonia but after running some tests it was determined that Harry had a 17-centimeter tumor in his left lung. After running a PET/CT scan results showed the tumor was cancerous and biopsy was required.
February 18
Harry underwent biopsy surgery at MercyOne in Des Moines, IA where a sample of his tumor was removed and sent to Mayo Clinic for testing. Unfortunately, Harry was able to return home several days later and was diagnosed with pneumonia as a result from the biopsy surgery. He soon found out that chemotherapy was most likely going to be a necessity.
February 27
Harry had a chemotherapy port implanted under his skin on the upper right part of his chest, allowing easy access to administer the medicine and if needed for blood transfusions. After six days, Harry was released from the hospital and was happy to go home. The biopsy report concluded that the tumor was a rare form on cancer called Synovial Sarcoma. This type of cancer affects the body’s soft tissues that connect, support and surround the bones, organs and lymph nodes. The family later learned that Synovial Sarcoma accounts for less than 1% of all cancers.
March 11
Harry and his family were referred to the University of Iowa Hospital where they met with the medical oncologist who specializes in Synovial Sarcoma. Harry and his family were later heartbroken to hear that the cancer started to invade Harry’s chest cavity and the cancer was predicted to be extremely aggressive. At this time, surgery was out of the equation due to the size, location and most importantly, it is too close and pressing against his aorta (main artery that carries blood to the body). Chemotherapy was recommended in hopes to stabilize and shrink the size of the tumor resulting in the opportunity for surgery. However, the Doctor explained chemotherapy only works for patients with Synovial Sarcoma 20%-30% of the time. He also recommended a study called CAR-T Cell (Chimeric Antigen Receptors). The CAR-T Cell study is where doctors remove the bodies T -cells, modify the cells by adding a virus, and then return the modified cells to the body where it will attack the Synovial cancer. Harry and his family are currently awaiting the results of several tests in hopes he qualifies for the CAR-T Cell study. While they wait for those results.
March 18
Harry and his family received an update phone call from his oncologist. Unfortunately, Harry does not qualify for the CAR-T Cell study, due to the lack of protein in his cancer type. Harry's only option now is to do 2 rounds of chemotherapy in hopes that it shrinks the cancer enough to proceed with surgery. The downfall with this option is that the odds of shrinking the cancer is about 20%. If they can proceed with surgery, they would remove his entire left lung along with some of his chest cavity. They would then rebuild his chest cavity that was removed and Harry would need to do 4 more rounds of chemotherapy to ensure the cancer is completely gone. Though there is a chance the cancer could return in the future.
March 19
Harry went to Iowa City to have an Echocardiograph before Chemotherapy. Doctors found out that Harry's Heart was functioning properly and looked healthy, but his heart was moved to the right due to the cancer pushing it. Doctors believe chemotherapy will slowly move his heart back to its original place.
February 3
Harry visited his family doctor in Perry, IA after not feeling well. His Doctor originally, thought Harry had Pneumonia but after running some tests it was determined that Harry had a 17-centimeter tumor in his left lung. After running a PET/CT scan results showed the tumor was cancerous and biopsy was required.
February 18
Harry underwent biopsy surgery at MercyOne in Des Moines, IA where a sample of his tumor was removed and sent to Mayo Clinic for testing. Unfortunately, Harry was able to return home several days later and was diagnosed with pneumonia as a result from the biopsy surgery. He soon found out that chemotherapy was most likely going to be a necessity.
February 27
Harry had a chemotherapy port implanted under his skin on the upper right part of his chest, allowing easy access to administer the medicine and if needed for blood transfusions. After six days, Harry was released from the hospital and was happy to go home. The biopsy report concluded that the tumor was a rare form on cancer called Synovial Sarcoma. This type of cancer affects the body’s soft tissues that connect, support and surround the bones, organs and lymph nodes. The family later learned that Synovial Sarcoma accounts for less than 1% of all cancers.
March 11
Harry and his family were referred to the University of Iowa Hospital where they met with the medical oncologist who specializes in Synovial Sarcoma. Harry and his family were later heartbroken to hear that the cancer started to invade Harry’s chest cavity and the cancer was predicted to be extremely aggressive. At this time, surgery was out of the equation due to the size, location and most importantly, it is too close and pressing against his aorta (main artery that carries blood to the body). Chemotherapy was recommended in hopes to stabilize and shrink the size of the tumor resulting in the opportunity for surgery. However, the Doctor explained chemotherapy only works for patients with Synovial Sarcoma 20%-30% of the time. He also recommended a study called CAR-T Cell (Chimeric Antigen Receptors). The CAR-T Cell study is where doctors remove the bodies T -cells, modify the cells by adding a virus, and then return the modified cells to the body where it will attack the Synovial cancer. Harry and his family are currently awaiting the results of several tests in hopes he qualifies for the CAR-T Cell study. While they wait for those results.
March 18
Harry and his family received an update phone call from his oncologist. Unfortunately, Harry does not qualify for the CAR-T Cell study, due to the lack of protein in his cancer type. Harry's only option now is to do 2 rounds of chemotherapy in hopes that it shrinks the cancer enough to proceed with surgery. The downfall with this option is that the odds of shrinking the cancer is about 20%. If they can proceed with surgery, they would remove his entire left lung along with some of his chest cavity. They would then rebuild his chest cavity that was removed and Harry would need to do 4 more rounds of chemotherapy to ensure the cancer is completely gone. Though there is a chance the cancer could return in the future.
March 19
Harry went to Iowa City to have an Echocardiograph before Chemotherapy. Doctors found out that Harry's Heart was functioning properly and looked healthy, but his heart was moved to the right due to the cancer pushing it. Doctors believe chemotherapy will slowly move his heart back to its original place.