My sister Natalie is one of the most positive, caring and optimistic people I know. For example, when her long term boyfriend Caleb was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011, she was at his side through all his treatments. When he heard the news he had testicular cancer the following year, she was by his side the entire time through intense chemotherapy with a smile on her face, holding his hand and telling him it would be alright. In the end it was, he survived and was given the all clear.
Then, in a twisted turn of events, the worst case of bad luck, little over a year later it was Caleb’s turn to be there for Natalie when she too, at the age of 26 found out she had Cervical Cancer. Ever positive, and ever the optimist, Natalie never complained as she went through chemo-radiation therapy. There was no time to harvest her ovaries, but she came to terms with the fact that she might never be able to have children - living was the most important thing.
To anyone who asked how she was Natalie would reply ‘Good thanks, how are you?’, but in reality she felt like she had the worst hangover ever, was dizzy and violently ill.
When the tests came back that her cervix was clear of cancer we all celebrated and let the world know via Facebook. It was a real high time for us as a family. However, a few months later she developed intense pain in her hip that was almost unbearable. During numerous trips to different doctors and the emergency department her symptoms were explained as side effects of her previous treatments. Despite this and her weakened state Natalie persisted and got an MRI scan, confirming our worst fears - the cancer had spread into the muscles surrounding her hip bone, this time it wasn’t going to be such an easy fix, it was too late.
Natalie underwent another intensive course of chemotherapy, much stronger than the last time and the type that you lose your hair. Natalie now had to face the fact that she was very sick and it was staring back at her every time she looked in the mirror. Incredibly brave, she put on her wig, slicked on some red lipstick and went out to face the world. Her wig made her feel like she was normal, that life was carrying on as normal.
Heartbreakingly, after weeks of chemotherapy, scans showed that the chemo was having little effect. The cancer wasn't going away and the best option was surgery, one that only had a 25% chance of being successful and she would probably not ever be able to walk properly again. Saying goodbye to her as she went into the operating theatre was one of the hardest things we have had to do, but it was our best shot at saving her life. During the 8 hour surgery Natalie lost a kidney, around 90% of a hip muscle (psoas), had major blood vessels replaced with artificial ones and lost a serious amount of blood. Most importantly though, she survived and the operation was a success! We cracked open the champagne that day. There was just a little bit to ‘mop’ up which radiation and chemo should be able to do easily.
After undergoing chemotherapy (again) for six weeks and withstanding increasing levels of pain, an MRI scan showed that the chemo had been unsuccessful and that a ruccurrence had sprung up against the base of her spine and was pushing against the major nerve that runs down her right leg (which explained the pain).
At this stage, the doctors at the hospital said that Natalie is moving towards palliative care as they didn't believe there was anything else available for them to cure her. They refered her to the Otago Community Hospice to manage the pain and have started her on two weeks of radiation therapy in an effort to reduce her pain. Unfortunately Natalie’s cancer is causing her agony due to it’s location on the major nerves that come out of the spine. Morphine hasn’t worked and they are now using Methadone and Ketamine.
Natalie, Caleb and our family are left with the decision to either admit defeat like the Dunedin Specialist’s or continue to fight on and explore alternative treatments. Natalie’s cancer, although recurrent, is very small and localised at the base of her spine. It hasn’t spread throughout her body or to her blood stream. Logically (in our minds anyway), this c-word is curable!
With the drugs Natalie is on combined with the pain she is in and radiation, means that we as a family have been tasked with carrying on the battle. As best we could we have investigated all the options available to patients with cervical cancer around the world. We think we have found that in Targeted Next Generation Photodynamic Therapy, although we are still open to other options.
We have already raised quite a lot of funds but would appreciate and welcome help from our family and friends to ensure that a) Nat gets enough courses of treatment and b) Natalie doesn’t travel alone overseas and she has a family member with her. Every little bit helps and lets Natalie know that she is not alone in this battle, we are an army behind her. xxx
