Odile's Good Fight Against Rare Cancers

For cancer to be rare, means that it occurs in fewer than six people out of 100,000 people each year. I am one of those rare six people. I knew instinctively something wasn’t right and on 4th December 2021, my life was turned upside down. After spending the first 59 years of my life healthy and illness free I was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer.

My rectal cancer which was a 4cm tumour was unusual because I had a unique cancer called Squamous Cell Cancer (SCC). Somehow a type of cancer normally found in the layers of the outer skin had found its way into my rectum. The effects of this tumour were extreme rectal pain when I would walk, stand or sit. It affected every aspect of my life. After chemotherapy and 30 radiotherapy sessions, the tumour was gone. However, the cancer is still active and a further five-month treatment of chemotherapy is now necessary.

I cannot stress enough, that if something doesn’t feel right in any part of your body, it probably isn’t right. Keep searching for answers. You are your best doctor. Test and retest to ensure you are diagnosed early and the results are accurate!

So why have I commenced this Mycause page to raise much-needed funds for further research into rare cancers?

• People with rare cancers and their doctors face extra challenges compared to those with more common cancers.

• Rare cancers commonly take longer to diagnose and are more likely to be misdiagnosed.

• Guidelines that doctors use to plan treatment will usually be based on more limited evidence or may not even exist.

• Finding a cancer specialist with experience in managing rare cancer may be difficult or involve travelling to specialist centres far from home.

• Access to molecular testing or specific treatments may not be available or when available may not be reimbursed.

• Access to clinical trials or research programs is more likely to be limited.

• Support groups and information can be more difficult to find and access.

WHERE WILL YOUR DONATION GO?

The goal is to raise $100,000 so that a three-part approach project to medical research can be undertaken. It will be under the leadership of Professor David Goldstein and Professor Clare Scott, AM through WEHI.

Part 1: Hire a medical researcher to dedicate his or her time to understand the behaviour of rare squamous cell carcinoma of various types including gastrointestinal.

Part 2: Top leaders in the field from Australia to consult with leaders in oncology from around the world and understand how they treat rare cancers. Find out what's working and what is not working!

Part 3: Genetic Testing.

Therefore, it is the POWER OF WE that is making this project so exciting!!

IF YOU WISH TO DONATE PLEASE CLICK ABOVE ON DONATE

Tax deductible of course and Deductible Gift Recipient1 (DGR1) Status

THANK YOU
All the best to you and your family.

Love Odile

PS PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE. LET'S USE THE POWER OF WORD OF MOUTH TO HELP MANY OTHERS! Thank you.