My Father's Fight Against Stage 4 Cancer

Hi, my name is Sonali, a resident of the UK, and I'm fundraising for my father's cancer treatment.

In February 2023, my father Rajan Misra was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. With a rare and dangerous combination of adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine (small cell) cancer. The cancer has spread to the rest of his body (liver, bones, lungs, spine).

Having never been hospitalised before, he has since undergone three rounds of chemotherapy, two rounds of radiation, and other procedures to help with side effects. We’ve seen his courage and positive attitude, with some moments of relief with him going into temporary remission and enjoying travel (visiting me in the UK) and engaging in his hobbies of singing and performing. He has also been instrumental in guiding people in our community to the right doctors and sharing his experience so others don’t suffer as he has – he has always been a mentor and a guide for people in our community, for the people who worked with him. But there have been dark moments of negative thoughts and hopelessness.

We are again in one of those difficult times now, with the unexpected early return of the dangerous neuroendocrine cancer. He is currently undergoing his third round of chemotherapy. This IV chemotherapy should now not stop – he will need it every 3–4 weeks. His private medical insurance has been helpful throughout these years, but it is not enough and we’ve reached its limit, especially as his case becomes more complicated. Over the past 2.5 years, our family has also personally funded his treatment (equivalent to £18,000). We are now reaching stressful times regarding our finances too and request your help in funding my father’s treatment.

Rajan, aged 68, is beloved by his wife, two children, three siblings, friends and neighbours, and elderly 15-year-old dog (also his BFF!). Rajan has been our moral compass, the man we call in times of trouble and joy, the source of our goofy dad humour and our love for the arts (having been a stage actor, writer, public speaker, radio host). Our family would be extremely grateful for any contribution you can make towards helping our dad live a longer life.

For transparency’s sake, here are our expected treatment costs in the next year in India:

1. Chemotherapy for one year (12 cycles x approx £550 per cycle) = £6,600

2. Kidneys stents replacement (once every year) = approx £1,300

3. PET scans (4 in a year) = approx £900

4. Bone density injections (12 in a year) = approx £1,150

5. Immunoglobulin treatment for his current infection and nerve damage in leg (14 x approx £200) = approx £2,800

Total for one year of treatment: £12,750

Any excess contribution will be used for his second year of treatment and/or donated to Cancer Research UK and Indian Prostate Cancer Foundation, who conduct cancer research and spread awareness. If our father’s case had been caught in earlier stages, he may have made a quicker, easier recovery. We also encourage anyone with a prostate (especially aged 40+) to get regular checks and be aware of symptoms to look out for. You can find more information at Prostate Cancer – NHS .