Donations welcome at Access Credit Union
An Arborg resident battling cancer is getting a helping hand from loved ones and friends who’ve set up an account into which community members can make a donation that will help him pay for transportation costs as he undergoes radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
Mark Patterson, who’s originally from Stonewall where his mom Judy still resides, said he’s grateful for the financial assistance as he has to drive to and from the city and then believes he’ll be sent to the Gimli hospital to receive chemotherapy treatment.
“The donations will be used for driving from Arborg to the city for my treatments and to Gimli,” said Patterson. “I’m doing radiation treatment right now. I’m not feeling sick from the radiation, but after this week, I take a week off then I have to go on chemo.”
Patterson got a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. He’s fighting small cell lung cancer, an aggressive type of cancer that has spread to his brain via the blood. The goal of radiation treatment is to try to shrink the tumour(s) before he receives the chemotherapy drugs.
“[The doctors] said I had two years-plus [to live] then it was a year then it was six months. So I don’t know how long I have,” said Patterson. “They say that after the chemo, the average person lives about six months.”
About 25 per cent of lung cancer patients experience brain metastases (brain tumours), according to American Lung Association. Brain metastases occur when cancer cells are carried by the blood from the original tumour site to the brain. There can be one tumour or many tumours in the brain.
As the tumours grow, they put pressure on the brain and change the function of surrounding brain tissue. They can cause symptoms such as slurred speech, blurry vision, weakness in the limbs, headaches, confusion, memory problems, a change in personality and seizures. The risk of lung cancer spreading to the brain is highest in small cell lung cancer.
“I’m not feeling too bad about [my cancer], but I do have my days,” said Patterson when asked how he’s coping with his illness. “I don’t think about it much. I have my girlfriend and all my friends and my family to support me.”
After Patterson finishes radiation, he’ll be having four chemotherapy treatments that will be spread out across a number of months.
As he’s not able to work, he’s facing some financial challenges that are common to many Interlakers who can’t access specific medical treatments in some communities.
Patterson has out-of-pocket costs for his travel to and from Arborg and the city – as well as parking costs in the city. He’ll soon have to drive between Arborg and Gimli. His girlfriend is driving him to and from his medical appointments.
“I’m not able to work now,” said Patterson, who worked as a prep cook at the Arborg Chicken Chef, “and it’s difficult paying for transportation.”
People who want to help support Patterson with his travel costs can make a donation at the Access Credit Union in Arborg where a special account for him has been set up.
They can also visit Patterson’s Facebook page for more information about how to donate.
