In April 2018 I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer - stage 4 (Locally Advanced EGFR-mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). This mutation is extremely rare and only 5% of men develop it and there is a 5-year survival rate (7%).

When it was discovered it was in such an advanced stage that surgery was not a possibility. 

Since this surprising and devastating news, I have been fighting with a group of doctors in and out of Miami. 

This is what we have done so far:

1. April 2018 to July 2020

In the first attempt of treatment, we used Osimertinib pills to try to stop the growth. It only worked for a year and a half, where it temporarily prevented the spread. 

2. August 2020 to January 2021

The next step was chemotherapy and immunotherapy together.

I had 4 rounds of intravenous chemotherapy intercalated with 6 rounds of immunotherapy.

On January 2021's CT Scan, it was discovered that both treatments were not effective, allowing the cancer to spread to the lymph nodes, liver, and bones.

At this point, my doctor advised me to do a stronger chemotherapy treatment and if this option didn't work, he said that I would live for 6 months to a year.

With this new development, I decided to look for options/opinions.

3. January 2021 - April 2021

In January CT Scan we found activity in the liver, pleura, and bones (pelvis, ribs, sternum, column vertebra L3). 

With another doctor in Orlando, we found a trial treatment that would attack and treat my specific mutation. It was good news! 

I did 2 rounds of a new (not yet approved) medicine, and with many extensive exams, we found out that it was not working. 

The plan was to leave chemotherapy as the last option. 

4. April 2021 - present

In the latest CT Scan (May 2021), we found that I have 30 new points of cancer activity in my brain and radiation is what is required for treatment. This is set to begin next week (the last week of May 2021).

I also need to do another CT Scan of the entire body - to find out how the cancer has progressed. And for that,  we are looking for a new trial treatment that will accept my advanced condition. 

So far, since I have been diagnosed, I have had to find ways to keep working to be able to pay, all the costs of travel, housing, etc. I live in Miami and the treatments have been in Orlando.

Latest development: as a family, we decided to look for alternative treatments, not only to use those already known for this fight but also to investigate what is available outside the traditional medicine in the hopes to reach the goal that is to win this battle. Unfortunately, these alternatives are beyond our financial possibilities, as insurance does not cover these.

This is a fight that I am not willing to lose, that is why we want to use all options available against this "invisible opponent", who does not understand that is wrong in thinking that it is going to beat me!

I have a lot of faith in God and this has been pushing us forward!

This is a race for my life, and I will not give up. 

Your help will get me to the finish line! Every step counts.

I thank you in advance and really appreciate your support in my most important race!

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