Connie Sturgess needs Immunotherapy
Donation protected
Immunotherapy is her final treatment hope.
For her particular cancer, immunotherapy is not yet paid for under our health care system. Her extended health plan doesn’t cover it either.
She must do the treatments privately, and the clinic providing the treatment is having great success with it.
To start, she requires up to six treatments at $4000.00 each. This may be adjusted up or down depending on how the tumours respond. The need for ongoing care beyond 6 treatments is unknown at this time.
Connie has stage 4 metastatic Squamous Cell anal cancer. The anal tumour was discovered in May 2015. She completed 6 weeks of radiation therapy with oral chemotherapy and months later the cancer was undetectable.
In April 2017 during an associated procedure, a biopsy was taken revealing the cancer had returned. The only option was major surgery to remove not only the tumour, but all nearby internal and external parts. The pathology indicated the margins were clear of cancer. Follow up scans showed no cancer - until an April 30 PET scan.
On May 10, 2018 (her daughter Sydney’s 19th birthday) Connie, with the support of her son Liam, received the devastating news that the cancer had returned, and had metastasized throughout her pelvis and abdomen. Her cancer had reached stage 4, the final stage prior to death without intervention.
Chemotherapy failed to affect the tumours. They grew despite an aggressive treatment regime that has left Connie with tinnitus and neuropathy to name just a couple of things that may be permanent.
Sydney and Liam need their mom for years to come, and she’s got so much more to contribute. Thank you for reading our story, and please kindly share.
Organizer
Connie Sturgess
Organizer
West Vancouver, BC