CHRIS Brugger has only one wish - he wants to be alive to see his kids grow up.
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Mr Brugger has been fighting cancer for seven years.
His bid to kick the disease to the curb gained new momentum on Wednesday, as his mates launched a short social media video in his name.
It is hoped the video – aptly tailored to Mr Brugger’s modest personality – will draw attention to the “My Name Is Chris” campaign.
“It’s very me,” Mr Brugger said.
“I’m not a fancy sort of bloke; I’m just a basic family man. That’s me.”
Mr Brugger realises he is at “plan Z” in his attempt to overcome Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for the fourth time.
His doctors have told him his best chance of survival is treatment through an expensive drug known as Brentuximab Vedotin, which is not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for use with Hodgkin’s.
Just one dose of the drug is worth more than $20,000.
"It’s a lot of money – and that dose takes half-an-hour to give,” Mr Brugger said.
“But I’ve had one dose and I’m just so much better than I was before Christmas.”
Mr Brugger said the “incessant itch” he felt before the treatment has subsided.
The sores on his legs have cleared.
“It was a bad, bad itch,” he said.
“I would rub my feet and scratch all the skin off.
“I’ve had one dose and I’m not itching.
“I’ve had enough treatment to know that it is working.”
Mr Brugger said he carried out self-research and discovered the drug had been used to success in the US and Germany.
“There’s people that have been fighting (Hodgkin’s) for five years with other drugs that have never had remission,” he said.
“They’ve got on this drug and are getting remission.”
Health officials will meet in March to consider the drug for the PBS.
“We’re going to push to get this on there. That’s the aim,” Mr Brugger said.
“I want to get it there for others.”
To donate, visit mynameischris.com.au and on Facebook.
