Paris Black: Fighting Stage 4 Cancer

Dear Friends, Fans, Colleagues,

I am setting up a Go Fund Me account for a multitude of reasons, but the most pivotal one is that I am battling Stage 4 cancer.

I foresee a series of treatments on the horizon that will not be covered under OHIP, one of which could potentially cost tens of thousands of dollars, possibly out of country.

In the short term, I am recuperating from green laser surgery, and although I returned to work merely 10 days post-op, I now realize that may have been too hasty.

There are indications that this may be hindering my recovery, so while I will still take on shifts, a full slate is utterly impossible for me at this time. I can only leave my home for approximately 4 hours at a stretch, and mainly, I need to be in bed, focusing on getting well.

If this surgery does not yield the desired results, it could leave me in the most dire of circumstances, rendering me unable to work at all.

I must admit that I absolutely hate having to ask for this help, but I am truly at a crossroads, and it is genuinely a matter of life and death. I am acutely aware that people are struggling, so if you cannot contribute financially, please pray that Jesus has mercy on me, or to whomever you send your prayers.

At this juncture, I yearn to finish my life on a grand note, as a grand encore, and spend as much quality time as possible with my darling wife, my nation of two.

Please, if you have booked me or wish to book me, do not assume that I will not be there or cannot take the booking. I am also very open to posing for fundraisers.

Finally, I urge my friends to tell those you love that you love them, offer a kind word wherever you can, and do not put off important plans with your loved ones.

Much love, Paris

Below is a list of cutting-edge cancer treatments that are either not fully covered or only conditionally available under Ontario’s public health system, based on general trends in cancer care funding and patient experiences. Note that coverage can depend on specific eligibility criteria, clinical circumstances, or whether the treatment is administered in-hospital versus at home.

CAR T-Cell Therapy (Beyond Specific Indications)

Description: Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy involves modifying a patient’s T-cells to attack cancer cells. It’s a breakthrough for certain blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

Coverage Status: Ontario’s CAR T-cell Therapy Program funds this treatment for specific conditions (e.g., relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or acute lymphoblastic leukemia) when patients meet strict clinical criteria. However, for other cancer types (e.g., solid tumors like breast or lung cancer) or off-label uses, it’s typically not covered as it’s still experimental and lacks broad approval.

Why Not Covered: Limited evidence for broader applications and high costs (often exceeding $400,000 per treatment) restrict its inclusion beyond approved indications.

Tumor-Agnostic Therapies (e.g., Larotrectinib, Entrectinib)

Description: These drugs target specific genetic mutations (e.g., NTRK gene fusions) regardless of cancer type, representing a shift toward precision oncology.

Coverage Status: While some tumor-agnostic drugs may be funded through the NDFP or Exceptional Access Program (EAP) on a case-by-case basis, they’re not universally covered. Approval often requires extensive documentation and proof of no alternative options, which can delay or deny access.

Why Not Covered: These are newer therapies, and Ontario’s funding process prioritizes drugs with established cost-effectiveness data for specific cancers, not broad genetic profiles.

Immunotherapy Drugs (e.g., Pembrolizumab/Keytruda, Nivolumab/Opdivo) for Non-Funded Indications

Description: Immune checkpoint inhibitors boost the immune system to fight cancer and are approved for cancers like melanoma, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Coverage Status: Ontario covers these drugs under the NDFP or ODB for specific, approved indications (e.g., Keytruda for untreated Stage IV colorectal cancer with MSI-H/dMMR mutations). However, for non-approved indications or after prior treatments fail (e.g., Keytruda for colon cancer post-chemotherapy), patients may need to pay out-of-pocket, as seen in cases where costs reach $10,000/month.

Why Not Covered: Funding is tied to clinical trial evidence and Health Canada approval for specific uses; off-label or expanded use often falls outside public coverage.

Proton Beam Therapy (For Most Indications)

Description: A precise form of radiation therapy that targets tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue, particularly useful for pediatric cancers or tumors near critical structures (e.g., brain, spine).

Coverage Status: Ontario does not have a proton therapy facility, and OHIP may fund out-of-country treatment only for rare cases (e.g., certain pediatric cancers) via prior approval. For most adult cancers, it’s not covered due to insufficient local infrastructure and evidence of superiority over conventional radiation.

Why Not Covered: High cost, limited availability, and lack of broad comparative data with photon-based radiation limit routine funding.

Targeted Radioligand Therapies (e.g., Lutathera, PSMA-Targeted Therapies)

Description: These therapies deliver radiation directly to cancer cells via molecules that bind to specific markers (e.g., Lutathera for neuroendocrine tumors, PSMA therapies for prostate cancer).

Coverage Status: Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) is funded under the NDFP for specific neuroendocrine tumors, but other radioligand therapies, like PSMA-targeted treatments for advanced prostate cancer, are often not covered unless part of a clinical trial or special program.

Why Not Covered: Emerging nature, limited Health Canada approval for broader use, and high costs restrict routine public funding.

Oncolytic Virus Therapy (e.g., Imlygic)

Description: Uses genetically modified viruses to infect and destroy cancer cells while stimulating an immune response, approved for melanoma in some regions.

Coverage Status: Not routinely covered in Ontario. While Health Canada approved Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec) for melanoma, it’s not listed in the NDFP or ODB formulary, leaving patients to seek private funding or clinical trials.

Why Not Covered: Limited evidence of widespread benefit and high costs deter public funding inclusion.

Personalized Cancer Vaccines

Description: Vaccines tailored to a patient’s tumor mutations to trigger an immune response, still largely in clinical trials (e.g., for glioblastoma or pancreatic cancer).

Coverage Status: Not covered by Ontario’s public system as these are experimental and not Health Canada-approved for standard use. Patients must join trials or pay privately (costs can exceed $100,000).

Why Not Covered: Experimental status and lack of regulatory approval exclude them from public funding.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Description: Delivers heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity during surgery, used for peritoneal cancers (e.g., mesothelioma, appendiceal cancer).

Coverage Status: OHIP covers the surgical component if performed in-province, but the chemotherapy drug costs may not be fully funded unless part of a specific regimen under NDFP. Access is inconsistent and often limited to specialized centers.

Why Not Covered: Variable evidence of efficacy and high resource demands limit standardized funding.

Notes:

Access Variability: Some treatments might be partially funded through programs like the Case-by-Case Review Program for rare, life-threatening conditions, but this requires extensive justification and isn’t guaranteed.

Out-of-Pocket Reality: Patients often turn to private insurance, compassionate use programs from drug manufacturers, or personal funds when public coverage is unavailable. For example, the Ottawa couple paying $80,000 for Keytruda highlights this gap.

Evolving Landscape: Coverage can change as new evidence emerges or drugs gain approval.