Princeton father battling cancer finally scheduled for treatment

KELOWNA – The glimmer of hope for a Princeton father battling cancer turned into more than just a glimmer on Wednesday.

“It’s the best thing that could have happened,” says Fred Cosman.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's the best thing that could have happened," says Fred Cosman.

Cosman was diagnosed with Lymphoma but struggled to find care, until Global Okanagan aired his story last Friday. His case garnered unrequested financial and moral support. It also sparked a debate in the B.C. legislature on Tuesday. Most importantly, it led to scheduled treatment for Cosman, and not a moment too soon.

READ MORE: Princeton man fears for his life, says health care system has ‘failed him’

“It’s not getting better so it’s good to see that things happened the way that they did,” he says.

Within 24 hours of the Global News broadcast, Cosman received a call from the B.C. Cancer Agency. On Wednesday, he met with a doctor at the Kelowna cancer clinic and was told he would be starting chemotherapy this Friday. His caretaker told Global News that doctors believe a full recovery is possible. Cosman’s family is delighted, but with the good news comes the same plea they had last week: to make changes to the province’s health care system.

“The way the system is with so much red tape, if you say something now, three months from now someone hears about it but by then it’s too late. So, we have to get some other way of communicating with the government and its agencies,” says Cosman.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The way the system is with so much red tape, if you say something now, three months from now someone hears about it but by then it's too late. So, we have to get some other way of communicating with the government and its agencies," says Cosman.

He says he will be getting treatment in Kelowna and Penticton for about six months.