Charlie!

Hi, my name is Charlie Raskovics.  I live in Taos, NM, and enjoy a mountain life experience.  I have coached Taos Youth Hockey for over three decades and look forward to living out my life here.  
                                                      




Overview:
In 2009,  I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  At that time, radical prostatectomy was the only treatment recommended, but due to the numerous, negative side effects that would effect me for the rest of my life, I declined-- thinking, they've got to come up with something better than taking the whole thing out.  

I began my journey of "alternative health" with a Doctor of Oriental Medicine here in Taos, who gave me treatment alternatives, which I pursued.   The journey has lead me to change my lifestyle, my diet, and down many non-traditional avenues of trying to eliminate this cancer: clinics in Mexico, labs in Greece, and other alternative Doctors have come and gone the past 9 years.   Fortunately, my cancer has been non-aggressive so there has been time to fortify my health and lifestyle and for new treatments to be developed. 


"High Risk"
After recently being turned down as a candidate for HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultra Sound) at the University of Miami, it was also determined that the cancer had progressed to "high risk."   
Looking for other options, I came across a new experimental procedure called the Irreversible Electroprolation (IRE), also called the Nano Knife, performed by the Vitus Clinic out of San Diego.  This new procedure, developed in Germany, and only being performed in three places in the world, has very favorable results treating prostate cancer WITHOUT the common negative side effects in the several hundred cases in which it has been employed.   

Upcoming Treatment:
In the past few weeks since I read about IRE, I've been able to have my records transferred to the team of Doctors who then reviewed my case and approved me as a candidate, Skype with the Doctor in Germany who developed this procedure, contact the surgeons who will perform it-- and I am scheduled next week, the week of April 16th.  This has all progressed very quickly, but as the status of my cancer recently changed, I am ready to take action and the timing feels right.  



Funds: 
I am very excited about this new technology and expect excellent results; however, because IRE is so new, with limited clinical data, Medicare and health insurance do not yet cover it.   For that reason I am reaching out for help with the expenses for the procedure. 

Estimated cost for the procedure is $29,000.  I retired last winter, partially due to a shoulder injury, which is scheduled for surgery later in the spring, (covered by Medicare!) but will leave me disabled for 9-12 months and make it difficult to cover my living expenses.  With that in mind, I humbly ask for your help.   


 My Vision:
It is my hope that in the near future, cutting edge technology such as IRE will become the norm.  No man should suffer the loss of his urinary continence or virility; yet, in the wake of a diagnosis of prostate cancer, men often make a treatment decision which sadly results in those exact side effects.   I have expressed my desire to the surgical team that upon my successful treatment I would like to be a representative and spokesperson so that I may help other men who find themselves in similar circumstances.   

In Conclusion:
Thank you for your love, support and prayers-- I appreciate all of you very much.  I look forward to posting updates from San Diego in the next few weeks.  And cancer-free, you can look forward to my updates for many years.  

Thank you again.