MONTREAL – Ever since immunotherapy cancer treatment saved Matthew Schreindorfer‘s life, he has been lobbying the government to bring the potentially lifesaving service to Quebec.
“It’s a big step ahead for Montreal, for Quebec and for Canada,” Schreindorfer told Global News.
“We’re happy that the word is out there and that we know that we’re going in the right direction for new therapies.”
The federal government announced Thursday it is investing $15 million over five years to bring immunotherapy treatments to Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital.
READ MORE: ‘It’s been tough this third time around’: Matthew Schreindorfer on return of cancer
Along with that, the Quebec government will invest $2.5 million, with an additional $35 million coming from other partners to help bring the treatment to Montreal.
READ MORE: ‘We had been waiting for so long’: Matthew Schreindorfer talks cancer, crowdfunding and his future
In the summer of 2014, Schreindorfer was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and crowdfunded over $800,000 to seek experimental treatment in New York.
READ MORE: Matthew Schreindorfer heads to Maryland for CAR-T cancer treatment
He came back cancer-free.
Since going into remission, Schreindorfer has been pushing for immunotherapy to be introduced in Quebec.
WATCH BELOW: Matthew Schreindorfer’s journey
He has relapsed twice, but told Global News he’s “feeling good right now,” and he’s not ready to give up the fight.
“It feels great and I’m happy to know that the treatment is coming here,” Schreindorfer said.
Immunotherapy is a developing form of cancer treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to combat the cancer.
READ MORE: Matthew Schreindorfer lobbies for better cancer treatment in Quebec
In November 2015, Schreindorfer and his wife, Katia Luciani, attended a question period at the National Assembly in Quebec City.
The couple met with Premier Philippe Couillard to talk about improving access to different kinds of cancer treatment in the hopes of speeding up access to treatments for Canadians.
“Ultimately this will bring effective and affordable remedies more rapidly to Canadians and to the world,” said federal Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan.
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