Support Michael Swanner's Fight Against Cancer

I am Michael Swanner, a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, a cousin, a friend to many. On April 3rd of this year, I went to urgent care complaining of a sensation like something was stuck in the back of my throat. I told the doctor that when I tried to use a QuTip to remove it, it came back covered in blood. She could not see anything and felt like it was an abscessed tooth and prescribed me antibiotics. I immediately made an appointment with an ENT doctor. The earliest appointment was the first week in May. On May 3rd of this year, I was diagnosed with throat cancer. To be more specific, a squamous cell carcinoma of my left tonsil and base of my tongue.

To say I was shocked would be a gross understatement, as I have never used tobacco and drink less than six alcoholic drinks every couple of months. When I asked the ear, nose, and throat doctor what the prognosis was for my particular cancer, he told me the following… with successful treatment patients have an 85% chance of over a 5 year survivable rate. In patients who were heavy drinkers and/or smokers that percentage drops to 50-60%. In patients who elect to not get treated, only 12% survive past 5 years. So this was a battle I had to take on. What followed was biopsy results confirming his physical diagnosis. An initial PET scan that showed the cancer had spread to seven adjacent lymph nodes. Then 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments, and weekly chemotherapy treatments. I tried to work a reduced schedule at my job during treatment, but eventually the accumulation of treatment became too much. I just completed my treatment, and I am trying to recover and gain my strength back. To date I have lost 55 lbs and can only drink liquids. I will not know the outcome of my treatment until a PET scan the first week of November.

My hospital bills to date are approximately $100,000 dollars. My insurance is covering almost 90% of my medical expenses. I have not had a paycheck since the first week in July. Which brings me to the reason for my gofundme request. I am humbly asking anyone who reads this, to donate whatever they feel compelled to donate to help me pay my uncovered expenses. I realize we are all living in hard financial times. If you can not afford to donate, your thoughts and prayers will be just as good. If you can afford to donate, I would be forever grateful. It is not easy being out of work and asking for help, but I need it nevertheless. So to all of you, I love you, and be good to one another. Thank you for your consideration and prayers!