Hello, friends!

My name is Nikolinka and I am Evgeni's wife. In May 2023, after a lot of wandering from doctor to doctor at the Heart and Brain Hospital in Pleven, he had a biopsy and a scan.

When the results were ready we heard the most severe diagnosis - lung cancer.

We sought treatment at Ajibadem in Sofia, and they urgently asked us for PET scan results within two days. According to health insurance we had to wait at least one month, so we had to do it with our own appointments.

We paid 2200 leva at St. Marina Hospital in Varna and in two days we had the result, which confirmed the previous opinion, with a final diagnosis of lung cancer with lesions in the joints.

We went back to Ajibadem but unfortunately it was too late for surgery and they recommended we start chemotherapy immediately no matter where. We chose the Nadezhda hospital in Sofia.He had four chemotherapy treatments, although after the third one his haemoglobin was very low and after each chemotherapy he felt worse and worse, he was passing out day after day.He could not eat, the pain was very bad, there was a bump on his back from the lesion which was visibly growing. He had to be admitted as an emergency to hospital with low saturation and low haemoglobin, with much persuasion they did a blood transfusion and stabilised him.

We did a second PET scan the results showed that the disease had progressed, the chemotherapy had not stopped the tumour and lesions at all.

We decided to seek a second opinion at Anadolu in Istanbul. We sent all the tests and epicrises,they reviewed them and invited us for treatment. On 03.10.2023 we went to Turkey.After examination by oncologist and radiologist we were assigned blood tests, MRI, biopsy and NGS test. They suggested we start with radiotherapy to remove the pain and reduce the size of the lesion that was visible on the back, it was growing very fast and would break the rib.

We did five radiotherapy treatments, the results are visible, my husband has no pain, the swelling on his back is hardly noticeable, he is eating and the most important thing: HE BELIEVES HE WILL HEAL.

The results of the biopsy and NGS test are in, and as a result we have started a staged treatment with so called "smart drugs", a type of oral chemotherapy. We have run out of medication and are going back to Turkey. We need to do blood tests for tumor markers and the doctor will decide if we continue with this treatment or switch to traditional chemo, immuno and radiation therapy.

We don't have a definitive treatment plan yet we just know it will be long term. So far we have managed on our own funds, but unfortunately they will not be enough for the full treatment.

I am asking for your support so we can continue treatment, without you we will not cope. I believe that with your help he will recover. A huge THANK YOU to each of you who took the time to read our story and decided to support us!

Be healthy!