Support Kids like Ifechukwu 2 treat Nephroblastoma
Donation protected
We want to thank all our donors and well wishers once again for the support to Ifechukwu. He is recovering and just got the second circle of chemotherapy post Op. We want to keep this campaign page open for other kids like Ifechukwu with Nephroblastoma. Therefore we continue with this campaign as one of our projects towards helping kids with nephroblastoma and poor Financial Background. Please feel free to support us on this . You can also donate directly to our account by going through our webpage www.mephida.org for our account details. If you do so, please write Nephroblastoma as reason for donation.
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Ifechukwu Offor has been diagnosed with nephroblastoma (wilms' tumor ) on the left kidney of size 10.2 x 9.5 x 12.1. He is 4 years old and has 3 siblings. His parents do petit business in Port Harcourt. They noticed that their son's stomach was very big and the left part of the abdomen felt different than the right side. They took Ifechukwu to the hospital, where Ultrasound was performed and the physician told them there was an unusual structure on the left abdomen and told them that only with a CT scan can one tell what the structure is . They travelled to Enugu where they did the CT scan because it was less cheaper than in Port Harcourt.
After the CT scan the physician advised them to sort treatment abroad that Ifechukwu had a huge nephroblastoma on his left abdomen.
His parents had no knowledge of nephroblastoma and where to go next. After several days of going from one hospital to the other with no outcome, through connection of a relative the received the hint that the National hospital Abuja Nigeria would be the best option. They finally got to Abuja, met with the specialist there and he just started with the chemotherapy, then surgery and finally chemotherapy or radiation therapy depending on the stage of the tumor. The family would be grateful for any help no matter how small to be able to finance his treatment which according to the doctors can take up to a year. The family is also looking at options to be able to do the surgery abroad because of the size of the tumor.
One renowed specialist from Germany wrote:
"As far as the images and the findings are concerned, it is most likely a localized one-sided Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma). This diagnosis would have to be confirmed in Germany based on the original images of referential radiology, because it is a possible Wilms tumor one will not do biopsy due to the risk of rupture.
The therapy initially consists of four relatively simple i.v. chemotherapies (actinomycin D and vincristine) at weekly intervals, see below. However, this requires a secure IV access Port.
After this chemotherapy, you would do a tumor nephrectomy. Thereafter, the following therapy in terms of length and intensity is decided after the surgery (completely removed?) depending on the histological findings. The therapy may thereafter be between "no further therapy" (very unlikely here due to tumor size), another four weeks as preoperative, or a maximum of up to 34 weeks and four drugs, i.e up to 12 scheduled chemotherapy cycles (see above).
Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict which therapy will be needed.
In any case, there are appointments for initial, preoperative and postoperative and final therapy staging by Sono and MRI under general anesthesia, as well as various outpatient appointments for blood value checks, and according to experience diverse interim stays due to fever or other complications.
Furthermore, the operation and follow-up care must be taken into account, as well as expenses for living, traveling, living, possibly interpreter (English should not be a problem here), etc ..
The prognosis quoad vitam is (in Europe / USA) the same everywhere and is over 80% long-term survival.
In principle, we could do the chemo here on site, the operation would have to be done in an experienced tumor pediatric surgery (Witten, Dortmund, Hamm, Münster, Essen, Duisburg, ...), which would be coordinated by us. Of course, clinics such as Dortmund, Münster, Essen, perform this treatment.
Unfortunately, I cannot say if and to what extent such therapy can possibly be carried out locally.
However, it is important to have a rapid start of therapy with chemotherapy, otherwise a (spontaneous) tumor rupture is imminent. The initial two-drug chemotherapy is quite simple, the drugs cost only a few euros and should be available worldwide. Maybe at least this preoperative therapy can be started locally? To transport the child through half the world during this phase, and consequently to lose time, involves not insignificant risks."
As advised by the pediatric oncologist, the treatment has been started locally at the Abuja National Hospital (https://nationalhospital.gov.ng/) with hope of using the funds to transfer him abroad for further treatment. Funds that cannot be used will be donated to an NGO that help children with cancer in underserved countries.
Why the aim of 30.000 Euros?
From making inquiries in different countries, including Germany, South-Africa and Nigeria, the amount of costs for the treatment has a very far range. The treatment in Nigeria is of course nearest and as time is very pressing as the tumor is growing rapidly, Ifechukwu has started Chemotherapy in Abuja. He is currently 3 weeks into Chemotherapy (02.06.2019). Including all the Chemotherapy cycles plus the surgery in Nigeria the costs will hit about 5,000-10,000 €, depending on complications and stage of the Tumor.
The optimal option like South Africa, where the treatment is on a higher level (the family was advised to think of treatment abroad as the treatment quality there is higher), would be approx. 20,000-40,000 €.
Having a treatment follow up in South Africa in mind, we are heading towards 30,000 € funding. Anyhow, every help counts and we are grateful for all help that we are getting and will use the money to the best. Thankyou so much!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ifechukwu Offor has been diagnosed with nephroblastoma (wilms' tumor ) on the left kidney of size 10.2 x 9.5 x 12.1. He is 4 years old and has 3 siblings. His parents do petit business in Port Harcourt. They noticed that their son's stomach was very big and the left part of the abdomen felt different than the right side. They took Ifechukwu to the hospital, where Ultrasound was performed and the physician told them there was an unusual structure on the left abdomen and told them that only with a CT scan can one tell what the structure is . They travelled to Enugu where they did the CT scan because it was less cheaper than in Port Harcourt.
After the CT scan the physician advised them to sort treatment abroad that Ifechukwu had a huge nephroblastoma on his left abdomen.
His parents had no knowledge of nephroblastoma and where to go next. After several days of going from one hospital to the other with no outcome, through connection of a relative the received the hint that the National hospital Abuja Nigeria would be the best option. They finally got to Abuja, met with the specialist there and he just started with the chemotherapy, then surgery and finally chemotherapy or radiation therapy depending on the stage of the tumor. The family would be grateful for any help no matter how small to be able to finance his treatment which according to the doctors can take up to a year. The family is also looking at options to be able to do the surgery abroad because of the size of the tumor.
One renowed specialist from Germany wrote:
"As far as the images and the findings are concerned, it is most likely a localized one-sided Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma). This diagnosis would have to be confirmed in Germany based on the original images of referential radiology, because it is a possible Wilms tumor one will not do biopsy due to the risk of rupture.
The therapy initially consists of four relatively simple i.v. chemotherapies (actinomycin D and vincristine) at weekly intervals, see below. However, this requires a secure IV access Port.
After this chemotherapy, you would do a tumor nephrectomy. Thereafter, the following therapy in terms of length and intensity is decided after the surgery (completely removed?) depending on the histological findings. The therapy may thereafter be between "no further therapy" (very unlikely here due to tumor size), another four weeks as preoperative, or a maximum of up to 34 weeks and four drugs, i.e up to 12 scheduled chemotherapy cycles (see above).
Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict which therapy will be needed.
In any case, there are appointments for initial, preoperative and postoperative and final therapy staging by Sono and MRI under general anesthesia, as well as various outpatient appointments for blood value checks, and according to experience diverse interim stays due to fever or other complications.
Furthermore, the operation and follow-up care must be taken into account, as well as expenses for living, traveling, living, possibly interpreter (English should not be a problem here), etc ..
The prognosis quoad vitam is (in Europe / USA) the same everywhere and is over 80% long-term survival.
In principle, we could do the chemo here on site, the operation would have to be done in an experienced tumor pediatric surgery (Witten, Dortmund, Hamm, Münster, Essen, Duisburg, ...), which would be coordinated by us. Of course, clinics such as Dortmund, Münster, Essen, perform this treatment.
Unfortunately, I cannot say if and to what extent such therapy can possibly be carried out locally.
However, it is important to have a rapid start of therapy with chemotherapy, otherwise a (spontaneous) tumor rupture is imminent. The initial two-drug chemotherapy is quite simple, the drugs cost only a few euros and should be available worldwide. Maybe at least this preoperative therapy can be started locally? To transport the child through half the world during this phase, and consequently to lose time, involves not insignificant risks."
As advised by the pediatric oncologist, the treatment has been started locally at the Abuja National Hospital (https://nationalhospital.gov.ng/) with hope of using the funds to transfer him abroad for further treatment. Funds that cannot be used will be donated to an NGO that help children with cancer in underserved countries.
Why the aim of 30.000 Euros?
From making inquiries in different countries, including Germany, South-Africa and Nigeria, the amount of costs for the treatment has a very far range. The treatment in Nigeria is of course nearest and as time is very pressing as the tumor is growing rapidly, Ifechukwu has started Chemotherapy in Abuja. He is currently 3 weeks into Chemotherapy (02.06.2019). Including all the Chemotherapy cycles plus the surgery in Nigeria the costs will hit about 5,000-10,000 €, depending on complications and stage of the Tumor.
The optimal option like South Africa, where the treatment is on a higher level (the family was advised to think of treatment abroad as the treatment quality there is higher), would be approx. 20,000-40,000 €.
Having a treatment follow up in South Africa in mind, we are heading towards 30,000 € funding. Anyhow, every help counts and we are grateful for all help that we are getting and will use the money to the best. Thankyou so much!!
Organizer
Mephida Medphys
Organizer
Offenburg
