Let’s help Ricky beat cancer!
Donation protected
As many of you know, Ricky was diagnosed (on July 2016) with a rare type of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Cancer (PNET), which metastasized to the Liver.
As hard and sad as it was to hear the diagnostic, he also learned that this was a slow growing type of cancer; and that with surgeries, follow up with treatment(s), he could have the hope that he could live for many years.
After reviewing the specialists on the matter and upon referrals, Ricky decided to have the surgeries be performed by a renowned surgeon oncologist in Portland, Oregon, who specializes in this rare type of Cancer Tumors. The specialist decided first to conduct surgery on the Liver and later on the Pancreas. So on October 2016, he had the first surgery; successfully removing many of the tumors in the liver. On March 2017, after months of recuperation for Ricky to be strong enough, the second surgery was performed to remove the tail of the Pancreas (where the original tumor was), time at which also the Spleen was removed
Having undergone two major surgeries and with months to recover, we kept hope that the Cancer tumors would be in remission for a while. Although there is no remission on neuroendocrine cancer.
Unfortunately, and we don’t know the reason why, Ricky’s tumors are growing much faster than usual and expected. Not only have they spread to the lymph nodes throughout his body, but keep growing much faster in the liver in number and size, this situation have the doctors very concerned. He started the first treatment a few months ago, with no positive results so far. Both, the Doctor in Portland and his Oncologist, here in Long Beach, are strongly recommending as his number one option to have a radiation treatment ASAP, called PRRT, which has had very good results on this type of tumors.
This PRRT treatment has not yet been approved by the FDA and Ricky had been pursuing to enter treatment on a trial basis, however the 5 spaces available for trial treatment were met, and thus leaving him out; he was number 6 on the list!
This treatment is currently available in Texas (only place in the US) and in Europe (England and the Netherlands), but as you can imagine, it’s expensive and not covered by his insurance. And unfortunately at this time, with all medical expenses adding up, Ricky is not capable to cover the amount of $40,000 plus travel expenses that this treatment will cost.
This treatment consists of a series of 4 strong radiation procedures. He will have to fly (wherever he can) four times and stay there a few days to undergo treatment.
After giving much thought to the above, and being basically the one and urgent option available to Ricky right now, it is why I have the courage to humbly reach out to you, friends and family, to ask for your help, in whatever manner you could possibly provide.
Prayers are much needed at this time too!
As hard and sad as it was to hear the diagnostic, he also learned that this was a slow growing type of cancer; and that with surgeries, follow up with treatment(s), he could have the hope that he could live for many years.
After reviewing the specialists on the matter and upon referrals, Ricky decided to have the surgeries be performed by a renowned surgeon oncologist in Portland, Oregon, who specializes in this rare type of Cancer Tumors. The specialist decided first to conduct surgery on the Liver and later on the Pancreas. So on October 2016, he had the first surgery; successfully removing many of the tumors in the liver. On March 2017, after months of recuperation for Ricky to be strong enough, the second surgery was performed to remove the tail of the Pancreas (where the original tumor was), time at which also the Spleen was removed
Having undergone two major surgeries and with months to recover, we kept hope that the Cancer tumors would be in remission for a while. Although there is no remission on neuroendocrine cancer.
Unfortunately, and we don’t know the reason why, Ricky’s tumors are growing much faster than usual and expected. Not only have they spread to the lymph nodes throughout his body, but keep growing much faster in the liver in number and size, this situation have the doctors very concerned. He started the first treatment a few months ago, with no positive results so far. Both, the Doctor in Portland and his Oncologist, here in Long Beach, are strongly recommending as his number one option to have a radiation treatment ASAP, called PRRT, which has had very good results on this type of tumors.
This PRRT treatment has not yet been approved by the FDA and Ricky had been pursuing to enter treatment on a trial basis, however the 5 spaces available for trial treatment were met, and thus leaving him out; he was number 6 on the list!
This treatment is currently available in Texas (only place in the US) and in Europe (England and the Netherlands), but as you can imagine, it’s expensive and not covered by his insurance. And unfortunately at this time, with all medical expenses adding up, Ricky is not capable to cover the amount of $40,000 plus travel expenses that this treatment will cost.
This treatment consists of a series of 4 strong radiation procedures. He will have to fly (wherever he can) four times and stay there a few days to undergo treatment.
After giving much thought to the above, and being basically the one and urgent option available to Ricky right now, it is why I have the courage to humbly reach out to you, friends and family, to ask for your help, in whatever manner you could possibly provide.
Prayers are much needed at this time too!
Organizer and beneficiary
Margarita Gutierrez Vivas
Organizer
Laguna Niguel, CA
Ricardo Vivas
Beneficiary
