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Manitoba Teacher Funds Own Cancer Treatment
27 Feb
Summary
- A retired teacher is raising awareness for a new cancer therapy.
- Provincial insurance does not cover the NanoKnife procedure.
- He fundraised $37,000 for treatment in Ontario.
A retired Manitoba teacher is spearheading efforts to increase awareness of the NanoKnife treatment for prostate cancer. Thomas Reid, who was diagnosed with the disease last summer, found that provincial health insurance would not cover the procedure he desired. He opted against traditional radiation or surgery due to potential side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
Reid discovered NanoKnife, a minimally invasive therapy that uses electricity to target cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. However, Manitoba Health stated that the procedure is not covered by any Canadian provincial health plan, citing a lack of sufficient evidence on its long-term effectiveness and complications. This has led some patients to seek alternative funding.
Despite the provincial stance, Reid managed to fundraise $37,000, exceeding his initial $25,000 goal, with significant contributions from former students. He is scheduled to undergo the NanoKnife procedure in Ontario in March. Reid intends to use the excess funds to promote wider adoption and availability of NanoKnife treatment within Manitoba, emphasizing the province's excellent existing healthcare services but noting the absence of this specific therapy.
