My name is Tony Blackborrow, and I was diagnosed with Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma in June 2024. The only medication that has treated my cancer is Selpercatinib, which costs $15,000 a month, and I cannot self-fund this medication to fight the cancer.
Diagnosis
I was admitted to the Alfred Hospital on 4 May 2024 to have a thorough check-up consisting of x-rays, CT scans, blood tests etc., given I had had prostate cancer in 2018, which was successfully treated with a BRACHY seed implant. On June 26, 2024, it was found that I had a serious, rare cancer called Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma, which spread to the liver. The cancer was very vigorous in both areas, and I spent most of June waiting for answers and many timelines on the discussion of my future. The Alfred Hospital had no expertise or facility to combat this cancer; all the bells rang out for assistance. I must say that all the staff at the Alfred were brilliant, compassionate and wonderful people.
After a few days, I got word from the Alfred Hospital crew that Peter Mac Hospital could have some way to fix our problem and so I was transferred to their care. There, I met an Oncologist, she is firm and clear and wonderful to work with. She explained that Peter Mac had just completed a 3 ½ year trial to treat a rare cancer with a tablet called Selpercatinib. While this was great news, the medication would cost me $15,000 per month, this was an impossible task to rake up funds for this. My oncology consultant wrote a letter explaining that if I do not receive the tablets, I will definitely pass away. After fierce negotiations from Peter Mac, we received access to a 3-month supply without extension. On 24 July 2024, I commenced Selpercatinib, as compassionate supply. The tablet worked very well, there was a 40% reduction in lesions in Thyroid cancer and 30% reduction of lesions in the liver.
Then the Selpercatinib tablets ran out, the bell rang out again for a tablet that may work, a German company provided a tablet called Cabozantinib, this tablet worked well for about 5 weeks, then it all collapsed. These tablets were causing serious symptoms, including significant weight loss. As a result, I was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at Frankston Hospital. The Oncologist of this hospital and the Oncologist at Peter Mac decided to stop all medication for 3 months and monitor the progress. Since then, my health improved, and cancer became dormant. This was okay for just 2 months but then I had a surge of cancer, and the cancer increased to 40% more than when we started in July 2024.
This is why I need Selpercatinib, because nothing else will work to save my life.