Aaron's Cancer Treatment

Around March 10th I found a lump on the left side of my throat while showering, thinking it was a thyroid issue that had hit my father's side of the family I scheduled a check-up.  Over the course of the next 2 weeks, it was test after test and scan after scan. On March 24th I was diagnosed with a rare and agressive germ cell tumor called  Embroynal Carcinoma.  While things such as this cannot exactly be dated, I like to think I caught it fairly early.  The initial CET scan however, showed that even in a seemingly short time that the tumor had spread through lymph nodes all the way from my neck, down to my groin, with the greatest concentration being in my abdomen around the diaphragm.

Given the agressive nature of tumor and other flags marked in the tests, I was classified as stage 3B.  The Oncologist were adamant that we start treatment as soon as possible.  The prescribed treatment for this type of tumor is 3-4 rounds of what they call BEP chemotherapy.  Radiation was not an option, given that this was a non-seminomal germ cell tumor.  First round of treatment started April 10th.

I had lost my job prior to the first appointment, leading to 3 weeks of no income. While I was able to maintain insurance from that job, the coverage is in no way ideal, and after only a month, the initial bills are starting to roll in.  While I cannot be sure where the final total will land, it is becoming crystal clear what direction things are headed.

Those that know me well, know how prideful I can be when it comes to asking for help,  especially monetarily.  I wont even let people buy me drinks on the odd occasion that I do go out.  But this is no longer about me, or my pride.  This is about my newly expanded family and doing everything that I can to make sure that their dad is here for them.  From keeping a roof over their head, to food in the fridge and milk in the bottle, to just being able to spend time with them.  While the numbers are in my favor here, I dont want my family coming out the other side of this buried and struggling in a mountain of medical debt.