Support for Steve Benfield - Bladder Cancer

This Gofundme is for my dad, Steve Benfield, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 1 Bladder cancer.

My dad was experiencing discomfort and pain in September 2023 and went to the emergency room to learn through an ultrasound that there was a mass in his bladder. He was referred to a urologist and it was recommended to remove it. Dad had to wait another 2 months and one canceled surgery later he underwent a TURBT procedure where they successfully removed the mass on January 2nd. Within 24 hours we learned the mass was an invasive high grade papillary urothelial carcinoma. We are grateful that this was caught so early however there was a small spot in the lining of his bladder and it is an aggressive cancer. He has been recommended BCG (an immunotherapy) and chemo, which he is evaluating as well as, integrative therapies that will support his immune system and address the cancer stem cells.

No one wants to hear that they have cancer, however, this comes on the heels of my dad’s five-year fight with the Veterans Affairs office. He has struggled to convince the VA to acknowledge that the mental and physical effects he currently suffers from are a result of horrific conditions and experiences that he faced in South Korea as an infantryman. His service there included deployment to the DMZ and direct exposure to Agent Orange, which is now known to be a cancer-causing substance in which bladder cancer is a documented side effect. His experience has given me a firsthand view of how often our veterans must endure so many obstacles to receive basic care.

My 5 siblings and I will be doing everything we can to support my dad in his healing process. My first conversation with him about his cancer care asked what he is willing to do to heal, and he is 100% committed. That’s a crucial and positive first step!

More than anything, I cannot share all of this without mentioning that my dad is a believer and no matter what the outcome we will learn to say, “it is well with our souls.”

My dad’s needs are beyond what me and my siblings can afford to cover ourselves, so we are appealing to our community. I have put $40,000 for the goal as that covers the various levels of care he will need to best address the remaining cancer and cancer stem cells which chemo and immunotherapies do not address. Because toxic exposure was a driver of the cancer, he requires additional therapies not offered in in traditional cancer care nor does insurance cover them. We have identified a cancer center with the appropriate therapies that can give him the best prognosis to augment his chemo and immunotherapy.

I am grateful that you took the time to read this and hear our story out of the many you see everyday.

I will post updates as we do through this journey.

Hannah Ostoj (Benfield)