Fundraiser Created to Help Currents Guitarist Ryan Castaldi Fight Cancer
Leave it to the American healthcare system to require musicians to seek the help of their friends, but we’re here once again — this time thanks to Currents guitarist Ryan Castaldi’s recent stage 3 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma diagnosis.
Thanks to the insane amount of medical debt that Castaldi’s likely staring down the barrel of, a GoFundMe page was created to help raise $60,000 for treatment costs. Having been diagnosed since last November, it’s pretty much a certainty that the bills have already begun coming in, with at least another two years of treatment on the horizon.
In a statement following the GoFundMe’s creation and Castaldi’s diagnosis, the rest of Currents released an optimistic statement that called on anyone to help contribute.
Our dear friend and brother Ryan Castaldi has been diagnosed with Low-Grade Follicular Lymphoma, which is a non-Hodgkin’s type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system. He was diagnosed in November 2022.
Six months prior to diagnosis, Ryan noticed a small lump in his armpit that slowly grew larger. A biopsy in October showed that it was indeed cancer. It is called “low-grade follicular lymphoma because the abnormal cells are slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can go undiagnosed for years. The abnormal cells develop in clumps inside lymph nodes. This type of lymphoma is considered controllable, but not necessarily curable because it is slow growing.
Ryan is currently in Stage 3 and the cancer was detected both above and below Ryan’s diaphragm.
Ryan began his treatment with Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center at the end of December and his treatment includes both chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody. This treatment will last for six months followed by 2 years of maintenance monoclonal antibody treatment.
Overall, the prognosis for Ryan is very favorable but it will be a long journey. During the first six months of treatment, Ryan will not be touring with Currents. If treatment goes well, Ryan is hoping to be back on tour with the band during the summer.
Ryan has a very positive attitude and his outlook about his current situation but will truly miss touring and being on the road with his Currents family.
All donations and support will go towards medical expenses (deductibles, co-pays, and maximum out-of-pocket expenses), treatments, and living expenses.
Thank you in advance for all your generosity, prayers, and support for Ryan in his fight against cancer.
He will beat this.
If you have any ability to contribute to Castaldi’s medical costs, feel free to donate whatever you can at the GoFundMe page.
