Andrew Kishore needs your help

Andrew Kishore
Andrew Kishore

Legendary playback singer Andrew Kishore has been diagnosed with cancer. His family has resorted to online fundraising to meet the huge treatment cost.

He has been undergoing treatment in Singapore for the last 77 days.

Talking with Prothom Alo in Whatsapp on Sunday, Andrew Kishore said he will have to stay in Singapore till February next year for treatment.

Asked about the online fundraiser, he said, “Yes they have done it. I can’t bear the huge treatment cost anymore. I’ll have to take treatment for a long time.”

He said more than Tk 20 million more is needed for the treatment and his wife Lipika Andrew has started the fundraising effort at ‘Go Fund Me’.

Diagnosed with aggressive diffuse large B cell lymphoma, Andrew Kishore started undergoing chemotherapy at Singapore General Hospital in September, said the fundraising request.

“I didn’t want that (fundraising). But I had no other alternative. Can’t bear the treatment cost anymore,” the eight times National Film Award winner singer told Prothom Alo. 

Lipika said they had hastily gone to Singapore without taking preparations for the costly and time-consuming treatment.

So far Andrew Kishore underwent 12 chemotherapies in 3 cycles. Next cycle of chemotherapy is due to start on Tuesday. The physicians said he will have to undergo 12 more chemotherapies, which will cost Tk 21 million.

Each chemo costs around Tk 900,000. His family has already spent more than Tk 10 million for his treatment.

On 8 September, prime minister Sheikh Hasina handed over a cheque of Tk 1 million. A private television channel also donated Tk 1 million for his treatment.