Help Peter Paul "Peewee" Flores fight Lymphoma

Peter Paul Andrew T. Flores, or “Peewee” to his family and friends, has been battling cancer since 2018 and in May 2019 was finally diagnosed with Peripheral T-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer. Due to the aggressiveness of the disease and the shrinking typical options, Peewee finds himself maintaining two doctors exploring possible treatment options; one here in the United States and one in the Philippines where he is based. To date, he has consulted at least nine doctors and  has already spent more than $96K/P 4.8 million with his current regimen, not including the cost of trying to find a proper diagnosis for over a year and the projected cost of proposed treatment options. In short, the initial treatment options have not been effective nor have they resulted in the ideal outcome, requiring further treatments that are proving incredibly costly. Family and loved ones have observed Peewee’s drive to continue the battle and find a cure diminishing, due to the stress from mounting expenses related to his current regimen and treatments needed in the immediate future.

Peewee is a graduate of Don Bosco Technical Institute in Tarlac, Philippines and of the University of the Philippines (UP) as well as the UP College of Law. Currently, he serves as the System Procurement Office Director at UP and previously served as General Counsel for the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.  He is 50 years old, a caring partner, the eldest of four siblings, a great brother and uncle to his sisters’ children, and a caretaker of their father after their mom (Liza Flores) passed away from cancer in 2011. One can imagine the incredible challenge this presents to him, his partner, and the entire Flores family, emotionally and financially.

We would like to help him fight his battle with cancer by easing the financial burden related to his treatments. We ask you to join us by considering donating any amount if you are so moved, and let Peewee know that he is not alone in his cancer battle.

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To those who may want to know more details, please see below his background and progression:

Pee Wee Has been battling cancer since February 2018. Initial consults stemming from two swollen lymph nodes in the inguinal area with a Surgeon, Hematologist and Oncologist at St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Philippines required two of the multiple test samples (biopsy, blood work ct scan, xray, PET scan) be sent to the United States to determine  the extent of the proliferation. The results were negative for Leukemia, but due to some features identified on the cells, chemotherapy was the suggested treatment.

A second opinion from another oncologist at the National Kidney Transplant Institute advised him to undergo a bone marrow biopsy, which also resulted negative for Leukemia. PeeWee was given steroids (prednisone) to address the swollen nodes and since May 2018, has been subjected to regular monitoring check-ups for five months.

Searching for the best shot for a cure, In November 2018, Peewee went to the United States to consult with a doctor from Regional Cancer Care Associates in New Jersey. Another bone marrow biopsy returned negative for Leukemia. Furthermore, he was advised to undergo other tests. However, he was not able to undergo these tests as they were not medically available in the Philippines.

Back in the Philippines, further consultations with Hematologist and Oncologist and several tests finally led to his current diagnosis and the recommended treatment of chemotherapy plus stem cell transplant after the third chemo cycle.

In preparation for the stem cell transplant from Peewee’s brother, the doctors had to harvest Peewee’s stem cell for back-up as the transplant procedure requires wiping Peewee’s bone marrow clean. Unfortunately, the harvesting from Peewee did not produce the desired results despite the boosters given (150,000 harvested vs required 3 million). With the absence of back-up stem cells  and considering the risks involved, Peewee was relegated to the option of finishing eight chemo cycles. The fourth chemo cycle can only proceed if it is done under controlled conditions as Peewee’s blood counts were too low. Another option was recommended, however, while the required test yielded positive, the significantly low levels casts doubt on its effectiveness.

As of August 2019, Peewee’s lymphoma has not yet infiltrated the marrow. After further consultation and weighing options offered by his team of doctors that included lymphoma specialists in the United States, his primary doctor proposed a new chemo regimen known as ICE (combination of ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide).  Peewee began his first chemo cycle under the ICE regimen on September 26.

The costs of his ongoing regimen has been staggering, and his current recommended treatment is projected to cost millions. This is in addition to the ongoing  emotional toll on his family who has already suffered tragedy due to cancer. As Peewee’s doctors continue to work diligently to find a cure, let us join them and show support for Peewee in his family to help him stay strong and continue the FIGHT.