U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, in a lengthy threaded tweet Monday, recounted the unusual circumstances a year ago that led to him being diagnosed with a rare cancer.

He further detailed the expensive treatment process only made possible by insurance, something many Texans don’t have.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, in a threaded tweet on Monday, explained how a vehicle crash with a boar in Spain led to him being diagnosed with a rare cancer

  • While being checked out for injuries from the crash, a radiologist spotted two neuroendocrine tumors that appeared to have spread from his small intestine to his liver

  • Castro’s oncologist put him on a monthly Lanreotide injection, which slows and possibly freezes the growth of the tumors. The list price per injection is $24,000

  • Castro in February underwent surgery to remove some of the cancer. He will likely have cancer for the rest of his life, however 

Castro said that in July 2022 he was chairing a conference in Bilbao, Spain. The vehicle he was in was traveling along a dark stretch of highway when the driver struck a boar at 70 mph.

When first responders arrived, Castro said, they asked if he wanted to be transported to a hospital. He declined at first, but swelling and redness in his hand convinced him he needed an X-ray in case there was a break.

There was no serious issue with his hand, but testing revealed something else was very wrong. A nurse, struggling to speak in English, informed the congressman that a radiologist spotted two neuroendocrine tumors that appeared to have spread from his small intestine to his liver.

According to cancer.net, “a neuroendocrine cancer, often referred as a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) or neuroendocrine neoplasm, begins in the specialized cells of the body’s neuroendocrine system. These cells have traits of both hormone-producing endocrine cells and nerve cells. They are found throughout the body’s organs and help control many of the body’s functions.”

Further testing revealed that Castro had likely had the tumors for several years, though they were growing slowly and were relatively small.

Castro’s oncologist put him on a monthly Lanreotide injection, which slows and possibly freezes the growth of the tumors. The list price per injection is $24,000. Castro’s insurance company negotiated the cost down to $6,500 per injection, leaving him to only pay $60 out of pocket monthly.

In late February, Castro underwent surgery to remove some of the cancer. However, doctors didn’t attempt surgery on his liver because it is surrounded by tumors on both sides, making it risky. It is likely that he will have cancer for the rest of his life, he said.

So far, the injections are doing the job. His tumors haven’t grown.