Dan's fight with cancer

3 years ago my brother, Dan, during a doctor's visit asked the doctor to look at a mole on the back of his calf. The doctor waved it off and said we'll take a look at that next time you are in.  The doctor wasn't concerned so then neither was he.  Then last November (3 years later) the mole was bleeding.  He went to the doctor and was given the news it was melanoma.  He was stage 3c.  The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes.  He had surgery to remove the cancerous mole from his leg (that scar is about 12 inches long).  Shortly thereafter he had an additional surgery to remove all the lymph nodes in his groin which required skin grafting from his hip.  He started a very rigorous cancer treatment and his cancer seemed to not be spreading.  2 months ago (he had just returned to work part time) he started having horrible headaches.  He went to see a doctor who prescribed ibuprofin.  2  weeks later the headaches were worse and he was having trouble working.  He went back to a doctor and this one did a brain scan.  He had 2 tumors on his brain.  One was bleeding (which was causing the pain) and was "easy" to surgicaly remove.  The other one would be more complicated.  They took him by amubulance that night for surgery the next morning.  His surgery was successful.  The plan for the 2nd tumor is to undergo heavy radiation right to the tumor.  He will have this treatment 3 days in a row and then back the following week for the same. Needless to say he has not been able to work and requires full time care by his partner.  They are living on his disability and her social security.  This has caused them both even more stress.   His partner has been driving him from Forestville to Redwood City and South San Francisco for the surgeries and upcoming radiation treatments.  The expenses they have endured are tremendous and they are unfortunately far from done.  Friends and family have been helping but we are desparately seeking additional money to help him.  I'm mad at the doctor who 3 years ago waved him off.  And then more recently the doctor who prescribed ibuprofin.  They both should have been better at what they do.  Now all we can do is pray and help him so that he can continue his very brave battle with this horrible disease.  Please help Dan.  No donation is too small - anything is helpful.  Thank you so very much for your consideration.

Sandy Pelkey