After donors gave greater than $50,000 to Fort Carson Sgt. 1st Class David Hong to cowl the price of a brand new most cancers therapy, the soldier now expects to provide all of it away to different most cancers sufferers.
“I used to be simply blown away,” Hong stated, in regards to the outpouring of help.
Hong, a spiritual affairs specialist, needs to see the cash assist different veterans and troopers with most cancers after his insurance coverage supplier, TRICARE, modified its place and paid for the therapy, referred to as histotripsy, to take away tumors from his liver.
“That is the suitable factor, you recognize,” he stated, noting he expects donors will really feel equally.
Hong was identified in July 2022 and has been by quite a few therapies for the stage 4 colon most cancers that unfold to different areas of his physique, corresponding to his liver and lungs. The care has included 23 chemotherapy therapies and a number of other surgical procedures, together with one which eliminated a part of his liver.
In mid-August at HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke’s in Denver, Hong bought the histotripsy process that depends on ultrasound to liquefy tumors and locations far much less pressure on the physique than surgical procedure. The lifeless tumor cells depart the physique naturally, and it would not require any warmth, radiation or chemotherapy.
The Meals and Drug Administration accredited the machine that delivers ultrasound waves, referred to as the Edison System, to be used in 2023. The maker, Histosonics, can also be testing the know-how to deal with kidney tumors.
Whereas the therapy is new, Medicare covers histotripsy when it’s deemed crucial, and it’s gaining acceptance amongst personal insurers. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Defend introduced it will cowl the therapy for its prospects in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia in July, in accordance with a information launch.
Hong stated he hopes his story raises consciousness in regards to the significance of histotripsy as a much less invasive possibility for most cancers sufferers.
“You at all times must have one particular person that should … make totally different organizations perceive that this therapy is the longer term, and they should settle for it and they should enable it,” he stated.
Hong believes his most cancers was attributable to his service in Afghanistan, partially, as a result of he would not have a historical past of colon most cancers in his household.
Analysis by the HunterSeven Basis discovered just a few years in the past that 520,966 active-duty service members since 9/11 have been identified with most cancers. The Division of Veterans Affairs additionally now assumes {that a} litany of cancers in Publish 9/11 veterans are attributable to publicity to poisonous burn pits.
The HunterSeven Basis raised the cash for Hong by Zeffy, a fee-free fundraising platform for nonprofits, in an outpouring that exceeded the $45,000 requested.
“I am very grateful for the help, however it will go to a better trigger,” he stated.
Per week after his histotripsy in late August, Hong stated he hoped to begin understanding once more in just a few days and he was aiming to take part within the Division of Protection’s Warrior Video games subsequent yr as he did this summer season.
He’s trying ahead to sit-down volleyball, the rowing staff and archery. He significantly loves staff sports activities.
The adaptive sports activities helped him by the stress of his therapy, each mentally and bodily. Transitioning to a vegan weight loss program additionally made an enormous distinction, he stated, noting it was an enormous change for an immigrant from Brazil used to a meat-heavy weight loss program.
He’s additionally medically retiring from the Army. After enlisting at 36, he’s now 52 and expects to remain in Colorado Springs and spend time along with his household, together with his spouse Monica and his three daughters.
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