Teen with Brain Cancer Urgently Needs Proton Therapy

Sergey Makarov, a 14-year-old from Bashkortostan, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor – a germinoma. The tumor is located in such a way that surgical removal is impossible. The only effective treatment method is proton therapy, which needs to start in the coming days. However, quotas for this type of treatment for the current year have not yet been allocated.

• Patient: Sergey Makarov, 14 years old.
• Diagnosis: malignant brain tumor (germinoma).
• Required treatment: proton therapy.
• Necessary amount: 4,052,527 rubles (approximately $42,700 at current rates).

The teenager«s mother, Irina Korneva, shared the medical history:

My son was active, curious, did well in school, participated in Olympiads, and was fond of fishing and motorcycles. In December, Sergey«s school performance declined, he started complaining of fatigue, memory lapses, and was often tormented by thirst.

She continued:

We had an examination at the clinic, and the next day my son«s condition sharply worsened: confusion appeared, he couldn»t remember his last name, spoke incoherently, and vomiting began. An ambulance took him directly to intensive care, and based on MRI results, doctors detected a brain tumor with lesions in the spinal cord. Due to tumor growth, the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid was disrupted.

To reduce intracranial pressure, Sergey was operated on – a shunt was installed. Biopsy results confirmed the worst fears: my son has cancer, and the aggressive tumor is located in such a way that it cannot be removed through surgery. Doctors conducted a course of chemotherapy for Sergey and were able to stabilize his condition so he could start proton therapy. After all, only with this radiation can the disease be defeated. The proton center in St. Petersburg is ready to conduct the treatment, but unfortunately, the state quota for this year hasn«t been allocated yet, and therapy needs to start in the coming days. The treatment is very expensive, I can»t handle the payment on my own. Help!

Konstantin Boiko, head of the pediatric oncology department at the Sergei Berezin Medical Institute Proton Therapy Center (St. Petersburg), explained:

Sergey has a malignant brain tumor – a bifocal germinoma with metastasis to the ventricular system, status post-shunting and one cycle of chemotherapy. Considering the tumor«s location, the boy needs craniospinal (head and back area) proton irradiation. The risk of side effects and recurrences with this type of therapy is minimal.

For assistance, you can contact Rusfond by phone at 8-800-250-75-25 (free call within Russia) or by email at rusfond@rusfond.ru. Contacts in St. Petersburg are also available: 8-921-424-27-12, spb@rusfond.ru.

Rusfond (Russian Aid Fund) is one of Russia«s largest charitable funds, established in 1996. The organization specializes in assisting in the treatment of seriously ill children and people with disabilities.