Mithu's Cancer Battle Fund
Donation protected
Dear friends,
It is with heavy hearts, but hopeful spirits that we are starting this fundraiser. Abdul-Mannan Mohammad, or Mithu, as most of you more affectionately know him, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer (spread to the liver). We really wish that we did not have to organize this fundraiser, but we need your help. This is his third battle with this disease. As members of his family and his friends, we are humbly starting this fundraiser to fund Mithu’s treatment, which is not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). We are most grateful for your support.
Mithu is many things to different people. He is an amazing husband, father, uncle, brother, friend, and so much more. As many of you know only too well, he aims and strives to make others laugh every chance he gets.
Mithu’s diagnosis came as a shock to everyone. There were no warning signs or symptoms of his ailment. Although he experienced immense pain during the last 2 times he was diagnosed with cancer, this time he was feeling fine and so the diagnosis has taken everyone by surprise.
In November 2019, while undergoing a colonoscopy after many years of being cancer-free, doctors once again discovered polyps in his colon. A subsequent CT scan taken in December 2019 revealed that colon cancer has returned and spread to his liver. The doctors say that the situation is very serious because he has an aggressive form of colon cancer, called microsatellite instability-high (MSI-high) colon cancer.
The oncologist says that Mithu has a 2% chance of surviving 2 years if he does not undergo any form of treatment, 30% chance of surviving 2 years if he undergoes chemotherapy, and 85% chance of surviving more than 2 years if he undergoes immunotherapy. Our focus right now is to help him battle and defeat cancer once again.
The oncologist said the type of immunotherapy required to treat Mithu’s cancer would cost $16,000-$20,000 per month. At the minimum, he needs to undergo the treatment for 6-8 months. Of course, the longer treatment goes on, the better his chances are since the cancer is at stage 4 and has affected the liver.
It was devastating to hear the doctors utter these numbers. Although our minds raced with the darkest of thoughts, we knew that giving up was not an option and that we must try to get the best form of treatment.
Although Mithu’s cancer is very aggressive, the doctors have indicated because it is MSI-high, immunotherapy will serve as the best form of treatment. The immunotherapy drugs he needs are Nivolumab and Ipilimumab. He needs to start immunotherapy as soon as possible because liver cancer is extremely aggressive.
Whereas treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are funded by OHIP and fall under the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s standard of care, unfortunately immunotherapy does not. This is why we are asking for everyone’s support in funding the treatment, as there are no governmental programs or initiatives that fund it. We have been desperately contacting different people and organizations, but have not managed to find avenues of governmental funding. Moreover, we have been actively looking for clinical trials that would give us access to the necessary drugs with no success.
The funds raised will be used solely for immunotherapy. As some of you know, Mithu has started chemotherapy during the first week of January 2020 at The Ottawa Hospital - Cancer Centre. The proposed immunotherapy will also be carried out at The Ottawa Hospital, alongside chemotherapy, and under the supervision of the same oncologist.
Immunotherapy gives Mithu the best chance to beat his cancer. He is a fighter: during his last two bouts with cancer, he underwent 60 rounds of chemotherapy and 30 rounds of radiation therapy. This time too he is is not going to go down without a fight. We know that he still has a lot of jokes, stories, and good times to share with everyone. He is a family man who has always done his best for his loved ones. Even faced with what feels like an impossible challenge, he is iron-willed and ready to give it his all.
From Mithu’s family, thank you in advance to everyone from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you to everyone who has already reached out. You have been with us through thick and thin, and we know that you will continue to do so. We are eternally grateful for everyone’s help. Please keep us in your prayers.
Sincerely,
Shirin Shazi & family and friends of Mithu
Mithu’s History with Cancer
In 2003, Mithu first was diagnosed with cancer. He suffered for a long time before the doctors eventually discovered that he had a tumour in his colon. He underwent surgery to remove the tumour and then endured chemotherapy for 6 months.
The second time, in 2009, while Mithu was in follow-up care, polyps were detected again in his colon. During surgery to remove the polyps, doctors learned that his stomach was also compromised, and removed 40% of his stomach. He underwent chemotherapy again, as well as radiation therapy for 6 months.
For several years, praise be to God, Mithu was healthy. In 2014, he was declared cancer-free.
Between 2014-2019, Mithu did not experience pain that he suffered from twice before. Moreover, the doctors never requested any form of screening. We realize now that this was a mistake: he was supposed to undergo regular colonoscopies to watch out for a recurrence of cancer, his case was improperly handled, and he was never scheduled to undergo any form of necessary screening.
It is with heavy hearts, but hopeful spirits that we are starting this fundraiser. Abdul-Mannan Mohammad, or Mithu, as most of you more affectionately know him, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer (spread to the liver). We really wish that we did not have to organize this fundraiser, but we need your help. This is his third battle with this disease. As members of his family and his friends, we are humbly starting this fundraiser to fund Mithu’s treatment, which is not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). We are most grateful for your support.
Mithu is many things to different people. He is an amazing husband, father, uncle, brother, friend, and so much more. As many of you know only too well, he aims and strives to make others laugh every chance he gets.
Mithu’s diagnosis came as a shock to everyone. There were no warning signs or symptoms of his ailment. Although he experienced immense pain during the last 2 times he was diagnosed with cancer, this time he was feeling fine and so the diagnosis has taken everyone by surprise.
In November 2019, while undergoing a colonoscopy after many years of being cancer-free, doctors once again discovered polyps in his colon. A subsequent CT scan taken in December 2019 revealed that colon cancer has returned and spread to his liver. The doctors say that the situation is very serious because he has an aggressive form of colon cancer, called microsatellite instability-high (MSI-high) colon cancer.
The oncologist says that Mithu has a 2% chance of surviving 2 years if he does not undergo any form of treatment, 30% chance of surviving 2 years if he undergoes chemotherapy, and 85% chance of surviving more than 2 years if he undergoes immunotherapy. Our focus right now is to help him battle and defeat cancer once again.
The oncologist said the type of immunotherapy required to treat Mithu’s cancer would cost $16,000-$20,000 per month. At the minimum, he needs to undergo the treatment for 6-8 months. Of course, the longer treatment goes on, the better his chances are since the cancer is at stage 4 and has affected the liver.
It was devastating to hear the doctors utter these numbers. Although our minds raced with the darkest of thoughts, we knew that giving up was not an option and that we must try to get the best form of treatment.
Although Mithu’s cancer is very aggressive, the doctors have indicated because it is MSI-high, immunotherapy will serve as the best form of treatment. The immunotherapy drugs he needs are Nivolumab and Ipilimumab. He needs to start immunotherapy as soon as possible because liver cancer is extremely aggressive.
Whereas treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are funded by OHIP and fall under the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s standard of care, unfortunately immunotherapy does not. This is why we are asking for everyone’s support in funding the treatment, as there are no governmental programs or initiatives that fund it. We have been desperately contacting different people and organizations, but have not managed to find avenues of governmental funding. Moreover, we have been actively looking for clinical trials that would give us access to the necessary drugs with no success.
The funds raised will be used solely for immunotherapy. As some of you know, Mithu has started chemotherapy during the first week of January 2020 at The Ottawa Hospital - Cancer Centre. The proposed immunotherapy will also be carried out at The Ottawa Hospital, alongside chemotherapy, and under the supervision of the same oncologist.
Immunotherapy gives Mithu the best chance to beat his cancer. He is a fighter: during his last two bouts with cancer, he underwent 60 rounds of chemotherapy and 30 rounds of radiation therapy. This time too he is is not going to go down without a fight. We know that he still has a lot of jokes, stories, and good times to share with everyone. He is a family man who has always done his best for his loved ones. Even faced with what feels like an impossible challenge, he is iron-willed and ready to give it his all.
From Mithu’s family, thank you in advance to everyone from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you to everyone who has already reached out. You have been with us through thick and thin, and we know that you will continue to do so. We are eternally grateful for everyone’s help. Please keep us in your prayers.
Sincerely,
Shirin Shazi & family and friends of Mithu
Mithu’s History with Cancer
In 2003, Mithu first was diagnosed with cancer. He suffered for a long time before the doctors eventually discovered that he had a tumour in his colon. He underwent surgery to remove the tumour and then endured chemotherapy for 6 months.
The second time, in 2009, while Mithu was in follow-up care, polyps were detected again in his colon. During surgery to remove the polyps, doctors learned that his stomach was also compromised, and removed 40% of his stomach. He underwent chemotherapy again, as well as radiation therapy for 6 months.
For several years, praise be to God, Mithu was healthy. In 2014, he was declared cancer-free.
Between 2014-2019, Mithu did not experience pain that he suffered from twice before. Moreover, the doctors never requested any form of screening. We realize now that this was a mistake: he was supposed to undergo regular colonoscopies to watch out for a recurrence of cancer, his case was improperly handled, and he was never scheduled to undergo any form of necessary screening.
Organizer
Sultana Shirin Shazi
Organizer
Gloucester, ON
