Welcome to our Fight Carcinoid Cancer Blog

The Fight Carcinoid Cancer blog has been established for several reasons.  

My Dad, Larry Wardenburg, was recently diagnosed with Carcinoid/NET Cancer at the age of 65 ... a very rare and incurable form of cancer not typically diagnosed until it has metastasized to other places in the body, like the liver, pancreas, lymph nodes, or other organs. This was the case with my Dad - it wasn't diagnosed until it had already metastasized to his liver .  Like all cancers there are different treatments but one of the newest and most successful for Carcinoid cancer is the PRRT (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy). This is not a cure but it helps to slow down the progression.

Larry Wardenburg

The worst part for my Dad, and for the others who receive this diagnosis, is that PRRT  is not covered by Medicare and insurance because it is still considered experimental... even though the FDA has approved it. In the United States, the treatment is available at a few locations, including Houston. However, since it is still classified as experimental (only recently approved by the FDA), it is extremely expensive. In fact, the cost of the treatment is about three times the cost in the US compared to overseas. An alternative location for PRRT treatment is in Basel, Switzerland.

The purpose of this blog is to:

1. Chronicle my Dad's experience and my family's journey through his diagnosis and treatment. His plan is to go for treatment in Basel because it costs less than having the treatment in the US. These experiences may serve to benefit others who are diagnosed with Carcinoid.
2. Share resources that we find along the way, in the hope they may help others battling this disease.
3. Raise money to help my Dad get the treatment he so desperately needs.
4. Beyond my Dad's treatment, continue to raise money to help others who share this diagnosis get the treatment they need.

Without the coverage of insurance, the treatment for Carcinoid is costly. So many sites raise money that goes only to research for a cure ... which is greatly needed ... but those sites don't serve the immediate need of treating those who are already diagnosed.  We've found a significant void in this area and this is where we hope to make a difference.