Local cancer patient seeks treatment funding
AFTER eight months of chemotherapy, Richards Bay patient Marlize Walker's cancer is spreading to other lymph nodes and she will need additional treatment options.
Walker was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma stage 2b bulky disease - a cancer of the white blood cells - and began chemotherapy in January, but despite treatment, the disease is progressing.
As she is reliant on State hospitals for treatment, she has been travelling to Durban for chemotherapy at the Hematology Clinic at King Edward Hospital.
In April, Marlize was told that the first line of chemotherapy was not working fast enough to kill off the cancer cells.
She has since been put on a second line of chemotherapy which shrunk the mediastinal tumour in her chest and lymph nodes in her neck.
However, her third scan in September revealed new activity in other lymph nodes.
Despite the hurdles along the way, Marlize has maintained a positive attitude, and the love and support of family has helped her persevere despite the medical
reports.
"There is one more treatment option available for me which consists of two other chemotherapy drugs used together," she explained.
"One of these drugs can be supplied by the Department of Health, but unfortunately the other one is too expensive to be provided by our healthcare system."
The cost of the drug is more than R110 000 per cycle and Marlize would require at least six cycles.
"Unfortunately, I don't have
medical aid so would have to pay for the chemotherapy drug," she said.
"I appeal to the community for support to help us cover the cost of treatments."
Marlize's family has created a Back-a-Buddy page for fundraising, while her mom sells eyelash extensions to raise funds, and is running a raffle to win a set of lashes.
For more information, contact Marlize on 084 6678762 or donate online: www. backabuddy.co.za/champion/ project/marlize-walker