Britt's Cancer Battle

My name is Sharon and I am sharing this story on behalf of my youngest daughter, Brittany.

Brittany is 22 years old and has an aggressive and rare cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma, that mostly affects young people under 25.

Late last year we started this campaign to support Brittany's ongoing fight against Ewing's, and at the time started to explore options for innovative, evidence based therapies in other countries, as the options available in Australia do not offer a cure.

After looking at numerous possibilities we found a medical trial in the USA that offers us some hope and are in current discussions with the oncology and research team to enrol Brittany in the trial.

To join the trial requires Brittany and I to relocate to Los Angeles for an extended period of time (months, maybe years), until the medications are available in Australia.

Last week we had another set-back, which is on par with the roller-coaster ride that has been our life over the past 3 years. Brittany now has 6 small tumours in her brain, which means she will not be eligible for the US trial unless we can get rid of the tumours with more radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. While some of this treatment is inexpensive, other therapies are not on the PBS and are costly. So we are still fundraising, with the hope that the suggested treatments will work and she will once again be eligible for the US trial that could save her life.

Thank you to everyone who has given to this campaign. We are so grateful for the assistance your kindness has provided. It has enabled genetic testing of Brittany's tumour, which assisted us to find the right trial, and has offered some innovative pain relieving measures. It will also assist future medication and travel.

Thank you also for sharing this campaign and giving what you can so that my beautiful girl can have the future she deserves.

If you don't know Brittany read her story here....

Britt is 22 years old and should be enjoying some of the best years of her life. Instead, over the past 3 years she has endured more surgeries than she can count, has learnt to walk again 4 times, has had 20 rounds of chemotherapy and 12 weeks of radiotherapy, just to have the privilege of waking up each morning and putting her feet on the floor.

While we are eternally grateful that she is still bringing joy to our lives, we know that unless we can find a cure, we may not have her for many more years.

Ewing’s Sarcoma, is a rare but extremely aggressive cancer that affects young people. The tumours usually grow in the bones and organs, however Britt’s tumours grow on her spinal nerves. This makes them delicate to remove and difficult to treat with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Brittany was first diagnosed in March 2018, and after a year of surgery and intensive treatment she enjoyed a year of remission. During this time she worked at a school for children with disabilities and continued her psychology studies, thinking that the remission would last forever. She believed her future was bright and filled with hope.

However her world was shattered in June 2020 when the tumours returned and despite surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, every time the treatment stops they start to grow again.

Britt is an inspiration to many and over the last 3 years, has been fighting for a life that so many of us take for granted. Throughout this time, Britt has stayed positive, vibrant and courageous and has shown bravery, compassion for the others in her life and an unwavering faith that she would survive.

It breaks my heart to see my gorgeous, generous and caring girl losing this battle. She deserves a second chance at life and I am appealing to you to help us give her that.