Please help Carmel Dawe

Many people in our Leeton community know who Carmel Dawe is and would know a little of her story over the past eight years. 

 

However, for those who don't, our Carmie is a selfless, compassionate, kind, and incredibly strong person who helps anyone in need wherever she can.

 

But as a single mother of three beautiful children aged 17, 14 and 7, she now needs our help – even though she is not comfortable asking for or accepting it.

 

In 2013 at the age of 39, Carmel was diagnosed with Granulosa Cell Tumours (GCTs), a rare form of Ovarian Cancer.

GCTs are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy, so surgery has been the only practical option to date.

The cancer journey began then in 2013, at which time she had two surgeries within two weeks of each other.

The first was to remove what the doctors thought was a simple cyst, but after doing the pathology, it was found to be Ovarian Cancer. 

 

The second was to remove an ovary that was found to be cancerous and wash out the abdominal cavity, as they explained that, sadly, the contents of the tumour were spilt in the first surgery, which could cause cancer to spread again at a later date. It did!

 

After appearing to be in remission for around five years, tumours reappeared. 

 

In 2018, Carmel had radical abdominal surgery to remove numerous tumours, including a bowel resection, diaphragm stripping, and complete hysterectomy, hoping that tumours would not return to other places. 

 

The radical procedure gave her 11 months until, in 2019, the cancer was found to be growing and spreading again. 

 

Carmel started to endure chronic daily pain and other difficulties associated with organ removal and the advanced stages of this type of cancer. This pain is debilitating, relentless and difficult to control.

 

After being advised early in 2021 that surgeries may not be the best option long-term to help her survive, she also tried hormone therapy, but it too became ineffective. 

 

So, at this time, Carmel started immunotherapy on top of dietary and other natural therapies already supported by her treating team. 

 

These treatments are costly and have almost exhausted her funds, including her superannuation that she would otherwise have saved for a rainy day.

 

Unlike many other treatments, the immune/natural therapies had been working to a degree in that they have helped reduce her pain, help her regain some weight, and, most importantly, slow down the tumour growths.

 

From March through to September of 2021, there had been no reported tumour growth, and her markers had remained low. At this point, she had been on her immunotherapy and further natural treatments for nine months, and is still continuing.

 

She has tried every treatment available to her at this point, across many avenues over the years, to eliminate the tumours. However, sadly, the tumours have stopped responding significantly to previous treatments.

 

Unfortunately, a scan in February of 2022 revealed a visible tumour 1cm bigger than reported in September 2021, alongside her tumour markers doubling after a year of being 'stable.' 

 

This resulted in her pain significantly increasing again. 

Carmel has been told for the last eight years that GCTs are resistant to chemotherapy however, the team is now considering her trying it as they grapple to find a successful treatment.

 

Recently, her multidisciplinary team has advised her that she is currently at the stage where they are assessing whether the tumours may be inoperable. 

Last year Carmel was told that due to the advanced nature of the cancer, and the difficulty in finding a successful treatment, she could be classified as terminal. 

Despite this, Carmel is very determined to beat it.

 

If she does have further surgery, she may again be almost confined to her bed for many months. However, if this is the only other option, Carmie will do whatever is required.

 

So, Carmel is now trying additional alternate treatments to give her the best quality of life possible and spend every minute with her children during these most important years of all of their lives.

 

To this end, and with the awareness of her treating team, Carmel has very recently added another treatment from overseas and is feeling very encouraged with the results.

 

This, however, is adding a further strain on her finances and depleting what little reserves she has. 

 

The new treatment costs upwards of $3,000 a month, which far exceeds her income and other financial commitments necessary for providing for her family.

Even though Carmel knew there was one tumour that was being watched, she thought she was stable for the last three years, so it was a shock to learn otherwise recently.

She recently met with a surgeon in Sydney and is returning shortly to determine whether he thinks he could carry out an extensive operation to remove some of the larger tumours.

If he thinks he cannot help her, or that surgery was too risky for any reason, the family may need to look at treatment options in America, where they have hundreds more immunotherapy and other treatment options. 

Since COVID hit in March 2020, Carmel has also had to isolate herself, including needing to isolate from her two eldest children and other family members at times to minimize the risk to her.

 

Carmel needs to order almost everything she needs online.

 

The costs of this ongoing battle, especially during COVID, are starting to prove quite difficult for her and her young family.

 

I know that we are all facing the most significant financial crisis we've likely known in our lifetimes and that many of us are also struggling right now.

 

I also know that this community rallies together when one of us is facing difficulties like this.

 

And Carmie is so grateful to her family and those groups and individuals in our community who are already making such a difference to her and the family in various ways.

 

I have helped Carmel set up this Go Fund Me page to ask for some extra support from whoever feels able to give it. 

 

If you cannot help financially, that is completely understandable.

 

If you can help in any way, though, whether that be with a donation to the Fundraiser, through delivering groceries, cooking meals, or just simply a friendly (socially distanced) cuppa or phone call so that Carmie doesn't feel so alone and isolated it would mean the absolute world to this fighter.

 

Thank you for whatever help you can give to Carmie and her children.

 

Carmie is determined to be here for a long time to see her children and family grow.

And to be there for any of you who will need her support in the future.