Life for Luke Fournier and Support for His Family
Donation protected
- Written by Chantal Fournier
Meet my brother Luke, his wife Breanne, and their five month-old son Elijah.
Luke works as an environmental scientist, Breanne is a social worker, and they live in Edmonton, AB. Life has been pretty good to them, and it got even better on February 23, 2020, the day they found out Breanne was expecting and their little family of two would be expanding to three.
Unfortunately, exactly one year after finding out the greatest news of his life, Luke was given the worst news of his life. On February 23, 2021, he went to the hospital as he had been experiencing intense headaches for several days. The doctors quickly discovered that he had a brain tumour, and said they needed to remove it.
On March 1, he underwent a craniotomy to remove almost all of the tumour. On March 9, his neurosurgeon told him that it was a high-grade glioblastoma, that it would come back, and that he was facing a median survival rate of around 14 months. We have learned since then, that this particular tumour has a rare mutation, which gives it a more specific name: diffuse hemispheric glioma H3F3A G34R mutant type.
This diagnosis is both devastating and scary. But Luke is not willing to accept any prognosis that will prevent him from being able to see Elijah grow up. He has chosen to fight this tumour head-on, and is starting treatment on April 12 at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.
Unfortunately, the current accepted treatments for malignant brain tumors are very limited in Canada. Around 1000 people are diagnosed each year, and currently there are no approved treatments outside of radiation and chemotherapy existing in Canada. Research and statistics show that survival outcomes for people with glioblastoma are greatly increased if people can access treatments and therapies in addition to the standard radiation and chemotherapy, and also if they access them as soon as possible after diagnosis. Radiation and chemotherapy is all that is currently offered within our healthcare system.
Most people need to wait until the tumour recurs to be eligible for targeted treatments through clinical trials, and hope that something promising is recruiting at the time of recurrence. Many trials require extensive travel, and even relocating for a period of time to receive this much-needed care. Successful treatments that are approved in the U.S. or elsewhere are not yet approved in Canada, and therefore carry a crushing financial burden in order to access it here at home.
Alternative and complementary therapies are also costly, since they exist outside of the standard of care for brain tumours, and are up to the person to seek out and pay for on their own. This is a problem with our system and a barrier to care, but Luke does not have the luxury of time to wait and see when these treatments will be approved and be readily available.
Time is literally of the essence.
To be able to give Luke and his family the best possible chance against this cancer, they will require a lot of financial support to be able to access the treatments he desperately needs, and to help them navigate through this time of stress and uncertainty. This fundraiser is dedicated to making sure he gets that best chance.
The fundraising goal also would help to pay for beneficial therapies that are in addition to the limited and conventional radiation and chemotherapy that he will receive. This includes a U.S.-approved medical device called Optune that is not currently approved in Canada ($21,000 USD per month), and for the costs associated with participating in the soonest available clinical trials.
Luke and Breanne are also brand-new parents. Luke is currently on a leave from his employment, and Breanne is on maternity leave.
Thank you for considering donating to help Luke and his family have the best possible chance against this disease. He, and those who love him, are endlessly grateful for any support you are able to give.
Meet my brother Luke, his wife Breanne, and their five month-old son Elijah.
Luke works as an environmental scientist, Breanne is a social worker, and they live in Edmonton, AB. Life has been pretty good to them, and it got even better on February 23, 2020, the day they found out Breanne was expecting and their little family of two would be expanding to three.
Unfortunately, exactly one year after finding out the greatest news of his life, Luke was given the worst news of his life. On February 23, 2021, he went to the hospital as he had been experiencing intense headaches for several days. The doctors quickly discovered that he had a brain tumour, and said they needed to remove it.
On March 1, he underwent a craniotomy to remove almost all of the tumour. On March 9, his neurosurgeon told him that it was a high-grade glioblastoma, that it would come back, and that he was facing a median survival rate of around 14 months. We have learned since then, that this particular tumour has a rare mutation, which gives it a more specific name: diffuse hemispheric glioma H3F3A G34R mutant type.
This diagnosis is both devastating and scary. But Luke is not willing to accept any prognosis that will prevent him from being able to see Elijah grow up. He has chosen to fight this tumour head-on, and is starting treatment on April 12 at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.
Unfortunately, the current accepted treatments for malignant brain tumors are very limited in Canada. Around 1000 people are diagnosed each year, and currently there are no approved treatments outside of radiation and chemotherapy existing in Canada. Research and statistics show that survival outcomes for people with glioblastoma are greatly increased if people can access treatments and therapies in addition to the standard radiation and chemotherapy, and also if they access them as soon as possible after diagnosis. Radiation and chemotherapy is all that is currently offered within our healthcare system.
Most people need to wait until the tumour recurs to be eligible for targeted treatments through clinical trials, and hope that something promising is recruiting at the time of recurrence. Many trials require extensive travel, and even relocating for a period of time to receive this much-needed care. Successful treatments that are approved in the U.S. or elsewhere are not yet approved in Canada, and therefore carry a crushing financial burden in order to access it here at home.
Alternative and complementary therapies are also costly, since they exist outside of the standard of care for brain tumours, and are up to the person to seek out and pay for on their own. This is a problem with our system and a barrier to care, but Luke does not have the luxury of time to wait and see when these treatments will be approved and be readily available.
Time is literally of the essence.
To be able to give Luke and his family the best possible chance against this cancer, they will require a lot of financial support to be able to access the treatments he desperately needs, and to help them navigate through this time of stress and uncertainty. This fundraiser is dedicated to making sure he gets that best chance.
The fundraising goal also would help to pay for beneficial therapies that are in addition to the limited and conventional radiation and chemotherapy that he will receive. This includes a U.S.-approved medical device called Optune that is not currently approved in Canada ($21,000 USD per month), and for the costs associated with participating in the soonest available clinical trials.
Luke and Breanne are also brand-new parents. Luke is currently on a leave from his employment, and Breanne is on maternity leave.
Thank you for considering donating to help Luke and his family have the best possible chance against this disease. He, and those who love him, are endlessly grateful for any support you are able to give.
Organizer and beneficiary
Alyssa Noel
Organizer
Squamish, BC
Luke Fournier
Beneficiary