Dean Trakas' Prostate Cancer Fund
Donation protected
For the last 20 years, local architect Dean Trakas (my dad) and his wife Kelly Trakas (my mom) have lived in Tryon, NC. Throughout their life in Tryon and everywhere else they've lived, they have been very involved in all areas of the community, including local schools, churches, arts and culture and business and civic life. They've had their setbacks and health problems (my mom has had Multiple Sclerosis for 26 years and is disabled), but they feel very blessed and thankful for the life God has given them.
My dad had never experienced real health problems, (though he's persevered with my mom through all her hard times and countless doctor and hospital visits over the years) until this past fall he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer.
After consulting at great length with his urologists and radiation oncologists, in particular his primary advisor Dr. Joseph Busch, the course of action that was decided on was the advanced technique of Focal Laser Ablation, a very precise MRI-guided laser treatment that completely destroys the tumor in the prostate without damage to the surrounding tissue or other vital organs. This technology has been used very successfully for years with many cancers and is the standard of care in other countries on the cutting edge of cancer research and care.
As a sister therapy to the Laser Ablation, his excellent medical team also strongly recommended a course of therapeutic immune therapy vaccines, produced from actual cancer cells from tissue samples from his biopsy, which will allow the immune system to recognize and destroy these cancer cells anywhere in his body should some find their way out of the prostate.
We (his family, friends and particularly his friends who have had or now have prostate cancer) are all very supportive and excited about the prognosis of this dynamic treatment plan, which will start the week of February 4th, 2019.
Here's what the treatment plan looks like:
-Feb. 4th 2019: The 1st of 4 immune therapy vaccines. This will involve a one-time trip to Grand Cayman, as that is where the headquarters of Perseus PCI (the company who makes the vaccine) is located.
-Midway through the vaccines (which are spaced 1 month apart) he'll go to Houston on March 21st to receive the focal laser ablation from Dr. Ara Karamanian, who is very renowned in this field.
The single great hurdle to overcome in his upcoming journey is of course cost; currently no insurance companies cover any of the charges for the focal laser ablation or immunotherapy (though the FDA is in the final approval stage for both).The projected out-of-pocket costs for both these treatments, along with travel and lodging, is over $39,000, and due to his modest income and my mom's disability and her constant medical needs, he's unable to come up with such a sum, especially in such a short time frame…and time is of the essence in dealing with this disease.
My dad helps so many without ever asking for anything in return. We're praying that if he's had a positive impact on your life, or if you've experienced this ordeal or have been affected in some way by cancer, you might consider helping in some small way. We'd be forever grateful!
-Anna Trakas
My dad had never experienced real health problems, (though he's persevered with my mom through all her hard times and countless doctor and hospital visits over the years) until this past fall he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer.
After consulting at great length with his urologists and radiation oncologists, in particular his primary advisor Dr. Joseph Busch, the course of action that was decided on was the advanced technique of Focal Laser Ablation, a very precise MRI-guided laser treatment that completely destroys the tumor in the prostate without damage to the surrounding tissue or other vital organs. This technology has been used very successfully for years with many cancers and is the standard of care in other countries on the cutting edge of cancer research and care.
As a sister therapy to the Laser Ablation, his excellent medical team also strongly recommended a course of therapeutic immune therapy vaccines, produced from actual cancer cells from tissue samples from his biopsy, which will allow the immune system to recognize and destroy these cancer cells anywhere in his body should some find their way out of the prostate.
We (his family, friends and particularly his friends who have had or now have prostate cancer) are all very supportive and excited about the prognosis of this dynamic treatment plan, which will start the week of February 4th, 2019.
Here's what the treatment plan looks like:
-Feb. 4th 2019: The 1st of 4 immune therapy vaccines. This will involve a one-time trip to Grand Cayman, as that is where the headquarters of Perseus PCI (the company who makes the vaccine) is located.
-Midway through the vaccines (which are spaced 1 month apart) he'll go to Houston on March 21st to receive the focal laser ablation from Dr. Ara Karamanian, who is very renowned in this field.
The single great hurdle to overcome in his upcoming journey is of course cost; currently no insurance companies cover any of the charges for the focal laser ablation or immunotherapy (though the FDA is in the final approval stage for both).The projected out-of-pocket costs for both these treatments, along with travel and lodging, is over $39,000, and due to his modest income and my mom's disability and her constant medical needs, he's unable to come up with such a sum, especially in such a short time frame…and time is of the essence in dealing with this disease.
My dad helps so many without ever asking for anything in return. We're praying that if he's had a positive impact on your life, or if you've experienced this ordeal or have been affected in some way by cancer, you might consider helping in some small way. We'd be forever grateful!
-Anna Trakas
Organiser and beneficiary
Anna Trakas
Organiser
Tryon, NC
Dean Trakas
Beneficiary
