£100,000 needed to pay for dad’s therapy after insurance firm refused
A FATHER-OF-TWO is desperately trying to raise £100,000 to fund potentially life-saving cancer treatment in the US after his insurance company refused to pay.
Mark Bryant, from Rhos-on-Sea, had hoped that flying mor than 4,000 miles to receive immunotherapy to treat his acute lymphoblastic leukaemia would be covered by his health insurance.
But now the 39-year-old’s insurance company has refused to pay – landing the fatherof-two with a £100,000 bill which he needs to pay in full before his treatment finishes in four weeks.
Mark was diagnosed with the rare cancer, which affects around 650 people in the UK every year, back in June 2015.
His brother gave him a life-saving stem-cell transplant in September 2015, but his disease was so rare it left him with a 50% survival rate.
He said: “I was diagnosed in 2015 when I had the most horrendous lower back pain, and ended up on morphine in hospital.
“I was told my bloods weren’t right and further tests revealed I had cancer.”
Despite treatment, which left him unable to see his daughters Amber and Ella for a month, Mark relapsed in April 2016 and he had to have chemotherapy and another stem-cell transplant.
Mark said: “March and April were extremely challenging times for myself and the family.
“We had to stare reality of the cancer in face. I researched night and day and learnt that the life expectancy is only six months for a patient that has a stem cell transplant and an early relapse.
“My relapse was in April 2016, so I am extremely lucky to be sitting here now.”
Despite being given the all-clear after treatment, in February Mark and his family received the devastating news that he had relapsed for a second time.
He said: “We had to make a quick life-saving decision. My cancer is a fast progressing disease and an overt relapse could occur rapidly.
“If that happened, getting it back under control will be difficult and would require more toxic treatment.”
After consulting with an oncologist in Florida, Mark opted to have immunotherapy treatment in the US.
But because he cannot claim on his insur- ance – as he has been told there are other forms of treatment in the UK – Mark has been left to foot the massive bill himself.
Determined to complete the treatment, the father-of-two set up an online fundraising page, which has so far raised more than £12,000.
He said he was prepared to do whatever it takes to be get better and see his girls grow up.
He said: “I have never asked for help before and feel extremely vulnerable as a man and father writing this.
“I have to remind myself that it isn’t about me, it is about Fiona, my wife, and Amber and Ella. I’m very lucky to have such three beautiful girls in my life, and I’m determined that I will continue to be here for them.”