Hello Everyone, My name is Vee and I’m raising funds for my father-in-law, who has been unfortunately diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer just recently. To make matters worse, he has additional, with complications involving his lymph nodes and thyroid. Based on his current diagnosis, he only has 2 months to live, however with the proper treatment and care at this point, his life can be prolonged to over 5 years. Please help us in this, our family’s fight against cancer!

He first began coughing blood in March. My in-laws live in a small town in Malaysia, where medical services are limited in both quality and availability.

After weeks of local scans and treatment attempts, the cancer was initially misdiagnosed, and we lost nearly two months without proper intervention. The situation became too urgent to rely on further local referrals.

While we are based in Australia, we made the decision to bring him to Bangkok for urgent treatment. This choice was not taken lightly — but we had a trusted referral from a close friend (a TB lung specialist in Thailand), who connected us with his former mentor, a highly experienced lung cancer specialist in Bangkok. The immediacy and clarity of action there gave us confidence we could not risk losing again.

Although Australia has excellent medical care, we were concerned about the referral delays, and more importantly, the cost and access as he is a foreigner. The cost of living and healthcare in Australia is high, and without public coverage, we feared the out-of-pocket cost for international patients would be even more overwhelming. In contrast, the Bangkok medical team was ready, experienced with complex cases, and able to act immediately.

In Bangkok, a PET/CT scan and biopsy were done the same day, confirming his condition was already Stage 4. More unusually, the cancer had spread to regions not typical in lung cancer behaviour, which led to the case being escalated as a special clinical study.

His case has since been reviewed by a joint forum of leading public and private hospitals in Thailand, not only to determine the best care for him, but also as a future case study to guide treatment in other complex cancers. What happens next could potentially help others — but for him, it may be the only shot at survival.

Doctors have proposed a three-phase treatment plan:

• Phase 1 (6 weeks): Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy – AUD $51,000

• Phase 2 (estimated 3+ months): Immunotherapy or Targeted Therapy – ~AUD $45,000+, depending on treatment response

• Phase 3 (after lung stabilises): Surgery to remove thyroid cancer

The most financially demanding stage is Phase 2. The treatment drugs involved vary widely in cost, and the hospital cannot give a reliable estimate upfront. Based on early consultation and independent research, targeted therapies can cost up to AUD $15,000 per month — and the length depends entirely on how his body responds.

The doctors expect to reassess after 3 months and adjust therapy accordingly, meaning this could become a long-term financial commitment. We are deeply afraid that when the time comes, we will not be able to continue treatment — especially since Phase 2 starts immediately after Phase 1, in just 6 weeks.

Doctors have also warned us clearly: if treatment must be stopped due to financial constraints, his condition will worsen rapidly. He will begin coughing large amounts of blood, and his life expectancy would be reduced to just 2 to 6 months.

We’ve already paid heavily out-of-pocket for diagnostics, travel, and early hospitalisation. But completing this entire journey is far beyond what we can afford alone.

Due to emotional and personal reasons, my father-in-law has asked us not to post photos or identifying details publicly. I fully respect his request and hope you can understand.

✅ All necessary documents and identity will be verified by GoFundMe before any funds are released. This helps ensure your support goes directly to a real, verified case.

If you're able to support or share this quietly with your circle, your help will not only give him a real chance — it may also contribute to future understanding of how to treat rare and complex lung cancer cases.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your loving contribution.

-Vee