Mike McColgan's Cancer Battle

Backstory
As you may know, my brother-in-law, Mike McColgan, has been fighting stage 4 lung cancer since 2017. At the time of his diagnosis stage 4 cancer and the potential life implications seemed surreal to all of us, especially my sister Julie and my niece Maya and my nephew Michael.

Even before any treatments began two years ago Mike just wanted to know when he could be healthy enough for his family and return work. Anyone who knows Mike, knows that he lives for his family and is at his best when he is working and making people happy. From the get-go, Mike used the prospect of full health and returning to work as motivation to endure the unknowns of stage 4 cancer treatment that lay ahead.

The goal for Mike in 2017, as laid out by his doctors at Sloan Kettering, was to treat the cancer with rounds of Radiation and Chemotherapy. The objective of these treatments was to shrink a tumor impacting his lung and rib cage so they could operate to remove it. Mike left work shortly after beginning chemotherapy in the Fall of 2017. Mike, being Mike, even tried to go back to work part-time last Spring after completing his 2nd round of radiation, but the cancer progressed and forced him to be home bound. 

The financial challenges faced by Mike, my sister and the kids since Mike had to leave work 2 years ago have been substantial. The fundraiser for Mike in 2017 organized and attended by his friends in Tuxedo was a tremendous show of support and community that helped Mike and my sister enormously and we were all so grateful. Unfortunately, today in 2019 with treatment these new expenditures looming, the family is at a dire financial crossroads.

New Treatment
The tumor on Mike's lung and rib cage is aggravating all the nerves in and around his upper right torso. As a result, since the Fall of 2018, Mike has had to cease all chemotherapy and radiations treatments.  This pain has essentially left Mike without the use of his right arm.

Mike has been undergoing pain management treatments to try and suppress the insurmountable pain the tumor is causing.

After countless emergency trips to Sloan Kettering over the past 6 months and significant weight loss, the doctors have tried everything to give Mike some relief from the pain. He has been on a Fentanyl drip since December and will be undergoing a Cordotomy on 2/13  as a last attempt to alleviate the pain and offer him a better quality of life.

Although Mike has had some success with radiation and Chemotherapy along the way, he is now in need of an experimental drug that could save his life. This new drug will not only target the cancer and potentially shrink the tumor, it will hopefully provide some relief from the pain caused by the tumor.

Due to the nature of this experimental treatment, Mike’s health insurance will not cover the monthly expenditures. Our family believes that this new treatment will be a possible breakthrough in combating Mike’s cancer.


How You Can Help

So many of you have asked how you can help.
Here's How:
Please make a donation through this Go Fund Me- all donations will go directly to Mike's treatments.
No amount is too small. 

Help us get the word out! Please share this link to your Facebook Timeline, your Instagram account and any other way you can!

This journey has and will continue to humble Mike and our family. 
Thank you for all of your love and support.