13-Year-Old Artyom Battles Leukemia, Family Appeals for Help
Thirteen-year-old Artyom Konstantinov from Kandalaksha continues his battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After achieving remission, he was found to have minimal residual disease, and a course of immunotherapy is required for a full cure.
The diagnosis was made in autumn 2023, although back in July of last year, Artyom had wished for health on his birthday. He underwent the first stage of treatment in Murmansk and was then referred to the V. A. Almazov National Medical Research Centre in St. Petersburg.
The teenager is well-informed about his illness and treatment methods. Between procedures, he is interested in computers, the profession of a long-haul truck driver, and dreams of returning home to his sister and grandmother.
According to attending physician Elena Lygina, to reduce the risk of relapse, Artyom needs to undergo immunotherapy with the drug Blincyto. «However, in Artyom»s case, the therapy with this drug is an individual prescription and is not included in the standard of medical care, so Artyom can only receive it on a paid basis,« she explained.
The total cost of nine packages of the medication is 1,539,000 rubles (approximately $17,100 at current rates). The family cannot pay for the treatment on their own, so a fundraiser was organized through the charitable foundation «svet.deti». Currently, 870,756 rubles (approximately $9,700 at current rates) are still needed.
Representatives of the foundation noted that the collected funds will help fulfill Artyom«s cherished wish — to defeat the illness and return to a normal life.
