Caity’s 3000km for Cancer

After her kidney cancer diagnosis (papillary renal cell carcinoma) in 2018, and her brain cancer diagnosis (Low Grade Glioma) in 2019, where she lost 50% of her vision from the craniotomy, Caity has made it her goal to walk the 3000km trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff whilst raising money to support the work of the NZ Cancer Research Trust.

While the long term outlook is positive for Caity currently, the nature of Low Grade Gliomas (LGG) can lead to a poor prognosis (average 7 years) in young adults as there is a risk of the tumour progressing into a higher grade (more aggressive) cancer such as Glioblastoma Multiform (GBM).

One significant issue with brain cancer is that because it is so difficult to treat, most companies don't want to work in this area.

Part of the problem is when drugs are found that work on a cellular level, they often don't cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and thus don't work.

At the Cancer Research Trust they see that a key part of their role is to back high-risk, innovative research proposals like Dr Jose’s - to kick start whole new approaches to cancer challenges.

Dr Jose’s work:

This project aims to synthesize novel tumour specific drug-dye combinations having enhanced BBB crossing properties. These compounds will be tested for anti-cancer activities in patient-derived tumour cells. These compounds will accumulate in brain tumours with enhanced specificity.

Caity hopes to raise funds to support the research and development of these new methods and drugs to provide better treatment options and hope of survival for patients in Aotearoa and across the world so that less families have to suffer the pain and loss that cancer causes.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/131399468/24yearold-daughter-with-two-unrelated-cancers-walking-3000km-to-fundraise