A Corkman who is battling cancer has been given an early birthday present by the HSE who have agreed to fund pioneering treatment which is his last chance at life.
Tom Ryan from Passage West was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma three years ago, when he was in first year in CIT studying catering.
And despite an 80% success rate in treating this cancer, Tom’s treatment and a bone marrow transplant from his sister have failed to kill the cancer. Instead, it has spread and he now has the disease in his lower back, pelvis, arm, neck and chest.
The 22-year-old was told his only hope now is to be treated with a new drug called Brentuximab Vedotin, which costs 80,000 for the eight doses he needs.
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The family had set up a fund in the past week to help raise the money for the drug but have now been told by the HSE that they will fund the treatment.
He is due to start the treatment around his 23rd birthday on Wednesday of next week. September 5.
He said: “My doctors have informed me that my only hope is a new treatment, which has just come out of phase two trials in the USA and has been approved in Europe. It has shown excellent results in patients who have had as much chemo and treatment as I have.”
The first event for the Tom Ryan Fund will still take place in Sober Lane on Sullivan’s Quay tomorrow, when every euro spent on food and drink between noon and 3pm will be donated to the Tom Ryan Fund.
His dad, Willie, said any funds raised will now be directed to the Dunmanway unit in Cork University Hospital, where Tom is attending, and also to cancer research.