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Patryk Borkowski has medullary thyroid cancer. It is a rare cancer that is most often detected in an advanced stage. To gain access to non-reimbursed treatment, the 32-year-old wanted to sell the apartment.
A diagnosis that cuts you off your feet
In love and health, it is easy to account for assurances. Difficulty arises when one promise depends on the other. How does this relationship unfold in the history of Patryk Borkowski suffering from medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)?
Patryk he found out about the disease even before his thirtieth birthday. The diagnosis knocked him off his feet. He turned gray within three months. The question “why me?” it gave him no peace for a long time. He underwent surgery to remove the thyroid gland, a seven-week radiotherapy and another surgery to remove tumors from the muscles. Patryk developed liver and lung metastases.
At the same time as cancer appeared in his life, love also appeared. Patrick met his future wife. The circumstances were as trivial as they were romantic. During the company’s Christmas Eve, Patrick’s superior seated the two next to each other, feeling that the young people could like each other. The disease quickly proved the strength of their relationship: the girl accepted the proposal, and Patrick’s boss organized his work in such a way that he could remain professionally active.
“Don’t cry, everything will be fine”, Patryk promises his wife and takes responsibility for these words. Together, they want to create a happy family regardless of adversities.
Medullary thyroid cancer – a rare tumor
Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for only 4-5 percent. all cases of thyroid cancer. In Poland, it is detected in about 100 people annually. People in their 50s usually get medullary thyroid cancer. Recently, however, it is also more and more often diagnosed in young people. It is very aggressive, but early diagnosis gives a chance for its complete cure. This type of cancer arises in the C cells of the thyroid gland, which produce a hormone called calcitonin. Calcitonin plays a very important role in bone metabolism. The first symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer are enlarged lymph nodes, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.
Also read: Fights cancer and an absurd NHF recipe
Modern treatment is the only chance for patients
Almost 80 percent. patients have already metastasized to the lymph nodes, bones, liver or lungs when they are diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer. Half of these do not have access to treatment. Innovative therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors extends life and improves its quality. The only chance for treatment is the Emergency Access to Drug Technology procedure. Every three months, the doctor caring for the patient submits an application to the Ministry of Health for the re-admission of the next needed dose of the drug. For patients, the number of which is increasing under the RDTL is the roulette of uncertainty.
So where do two different promises intersect? One is made by the patient and his relatives, the other is spoken by the clerk. The Ministry of Health ensures that it will spend 100 percent. money that he has to reimburse drugs and he wants to do it efficiently. In the case of rare diseases, which include MTC, he admits that he will consider each case separately and look at the effectiveness of the therapy. It should therefore be repeated: swearing is a thing for the brave, it is nothing else than a game of va banque …
The editorial board recommends:
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