Alan Landers Has Passed Away

A few of us have been helping Alan with his fundraising & online presence.
(Harris Fellman has hosted Alan’s website for 10 or 15 years; Peggy McCarthy is a friend of his who also owns a medical marketing company, and Olivia is another friend of Alan’s)

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Dear Harris,

I spoke to Alan on Wednesday and he was not good; I tried to reach him numerous times on Thursday and Friday but no response. Last night I had a significant premonition that he died, called him this morning, and then got this note from Olivia, a friend of his whom you might know. Can you please post something on his Web site? Thanks, Peggy
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PEGGY,

WE JUST GOT A CALL FROM ALAN’S NIECE, ROBIN, THAT ALAN PASSED AWAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT IN HIS SLEEP…

HE WAS GOING INTO HIS 4TH ROUND OF CHEMO AND RADIATION ON MONDAY, BUT NEVER MADE IT. I FEEL SO SAD, I CAN’T EXPLAIN IT.

I WILL WRITE YOU MORE LATER.

OLIVIA
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We’ll post more information when it comes available.

Sadly,
Harris

Half-Way Through Radiation

I completed the half way mark for my radiation on Friday, the 13th. Life is pretty rough now!! I can still swallow but my voice is pretty much gone; I manage a rough whisper and get some sound out but it really hurts. I am on pain medication now as well as antibiotics since my lips, mouth, and throat are full of sores. I try to keep my spirits up because I know that is the only way I can beat this thing. The most important thing for me is that I am now half way through the radiation. I have 15 days of treatment left, and after today, Monday, it will be 14 and with every day that number will drop. I have chemo today, as well as the radiation. Mondays are the big day for me ,and I am exhausted by the time I get home. Please remember to keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

There’s a front page article about me in the Ft Lauderdale Sun Sentential today - I’ll try and see if there’s a link to the article and post it here.

As always, your donations, prayers, and comments are welcome and appreciated.

Love, Alan

Treatment Has Begun

Chemo starts next week

Thanks so much to those of you who have already responded to my need for financial assistance to get treatment.  I am getting the treatments in Ft. Lauderdale rather than having to make a daily roundtrip to Miami. My insurance company finally listened to my strong appeals to get physicians I liked and respected. I have found and met with them already and feel ready to go. I will begin chemotherapy next Monday and radiation therapy the following week. I will have radiation daily, Monday through Friday for six weeks. The chemo will be given once  a week.  I know it will be rough; radiation to the throat also means that within a short period of time I will have great difficulty swallowing, but I feel I know what to expect and I have been through rough spots before with cancer.

Just as I did with earlier treatments, I will survive this round, as well!!!!  I’m older and may need more help with this one, such as home-health care assistance and friends in the area. But I know I can make it through the treatment. 

I will keep you updated on my treatments through-out. Please remember me in your thoughts and prayers. And thanks again to all of you who  will choose to help me out financially. I’m not sure how I would get through with without your assistance! Some of my friends recommended that I set a ‘donations goal’ based on how much all of this is going to end up costing. To be honest, I have no idea how much it will be in the final tally - but I’m sure it will be well over $25,000. 

So, let’s set the goal at $25,000. As of right now, $1250 has already been raised online - so that leaves $23,750 to go. Again, thanks to everyone that already has or will give a little help. If you’re like me and don’t really get around a computer too well - you may prefer to send a check and that’s fine too. Again, here’s my address if that’s the case:

Alan Landers
3740 Inverrary Drive, #2B
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33319

Thanks again,

Alan

Another Fight with Cancer & I Need Your Help

It’s 2009, and many people counted me out years ago but I am still alive!!!!

This was to have been a great year for me with the opportunity to finally have my day in court within the next few months, but late last year I was diagnosed with inoperable throat cancer, just one more powerful blow from tobacco!

In the past few weeks I have spent the bulk of my time with various medical specialists, getting scanned, measured, and evaluated for treatment. In the next few weeks I hope that treatment will begin, but first I have yet another crippling round of fights with my insurance company that does not want me to be treated in Miami where I have great confidence in the oncologists who want to treat me…..compared to the docs in Ft Lauderdale who simply told me I was dying.

I have fought too long and hard to give up now, and I want to go to Miami. However, even if the insurance company covers my treatments in Miami  I am going to need help from my many friends, acquaintances,  those who only remember my old Winston ads on TV or in magazines, or those who have heard me speak about the dangers of tobacco and have seen the many physical scars I carry around every day because of my addiction to tobacco.

Right now I am unwilling to give the defendants in my case their wish: to postpone the date of my trial so much that I would be die first! I want and intend to beat this latest challenge, but I need your help so I can carry out this unexpected and certainly unwelcome battle.

I will be treated with radiation daily, Monday through Friday,  for six weeks with targeted radiation to the tumor over my voicebox. I nearly lost my voice once before after a bungled surgery as part of my earlier cancer treatments. My voice is my livelihood; while I am in treatment I will probably not be able to continue as an acting teacher. My co-payment for each treatment is $25 and, in addition to the actual radiation treatments, I will have transportation costs, other medications that will be required to keep me going during this time, possible home-healthcare, and other unexpected expenses.

Once I finish the radiation, my doctors want to give me chemotherapy for another number of months.  God only knows whether I will be able to return to my profession ever again.

I have lived at near-poverty level for the past  twenty years since my first diagnosis of lung cancer twenty-two years ago, in 1987. Since then I have faced one medical challenge after another, and, since my second diagnosis in 1993, I have survived with only two lobes of my lungs. Right now my lungs look good, but I now have to deal with the blow to my  throat, the only thing I have left from which to make some income over my disability and social security.

It pains me greatly to have to ask you readers to help me. I live simply, but spend as much as I make every year. My savings are gone and I expect that my income from teaching will also stop once I start treatment. I am desperate. Please help me by clicking the ‘donate now‘ link found on this blog or by sending a check for whatever you can to:

Alan Landers
3740 Inverrary Drive, #2B
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33319

Once my treatment begins I will use this Blog to keep you posted on how I am doing on a daily basis. I will also keep you posted on the latest legal issues regarding my case.

Thanks so much for your kind help. Remember what goes around comes around and if and when you need help may it be there for you.

God bless you,
Alan

PS I’d love to hear from you as well. Please post your comments below.