Neil Thomas and Family’s ongoing battle against cancer

Please take the time to read Neil’s cancer journey below, it is long but you can only imagine what it has been like for Neil and his family.

They have taken one knockdown after another but they continue to get back up ready for the next challenge. Giving up is not an option.

Neil and Amanda decided early on in this “cancer journey” that keeping life as normal as possible for their 4 kids was their number one priority. With lots of help from family and friends, life has remained busy as usual amongst Neil’s appointments, treatments and surgeries.

So many have asked “how can we help?” Well now is your chance..

Neil’s cancer journey began in October 21 with the first myxoid sarcoma being discovered in his right thigh. Obviously a major shock to all involved. These cancers are quite rare, aggressive and are very much a muscle and bone cancer.

This cancer was removed successfully followed by 6 weeks of radiation to the area.

Mid 2022, unrelated to the above Neil had a basal cell carcinoma removed from next to the left eye which unfortunately also needed radiation resulting in quite bad facial burns.

Approximately a year later in a follow up scan, a tumour on Neil’s spine was found. Once again to all involved, specialists and family alike there was a common feeling of disbelief. Specialists had never seen a cancer travel such a distance and the location could not be more complicated. It was decided at this time that his cancer was now terminal and Neil had about 36-48 months before cancer would take its toll.

6 weeks of planning and putting together a “super” team of surgeons to take on 2 surgeries to remove this cancer ensued.

In July 23, over 2 weeks, and 2 surgeries, the cancer was removed along with his T3 vertebrae. His spine was supported by a number of rods and screws. A long recovery ensued including another 6 weeks of radiation and months of rehabilitation followed.

Basically from this point in time Neil had to shut down his property maintenance business as at this point he was unable to work. As the months went by he built up his strength again but when he felt strong enough to go to work again he started to get new pains. Scans of these pains discovered that more cancers had begun to grow in several locations in his abdomen and the best solution was intensive chemotherapy which took place at specialist cancer centre, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney.

Neil’s chemo journey was very intensive which took place over 18 weeks. It took a major toll on him but he came out the other side with some of his cancers showing a reduction and his most aggressive cancer had stopped growing for now.

This break from cancer allowed him some time to do the things he loved like coaching his daughters’ netball team which he has done for the last 3 years and has been something he has used to take his mind off everything that is going on.

Everyday, Neil continued to live with pains and restrictions from both his spine and thigh surgeries. Whilst in pain he didn’t want to spend his days under a cloud of pain relief so for the most of it he decided to go without pain medications. During this time Neil continued with “chemo maintenance” which was a treatment of tablets on a 3 weekly basis.

In September, it was decided by his oncology team that they would begin a treatment of chemotherapy again as the cancers had begun to be active again in the recent scans done in August. This was booked in to start when Neil returned from a family holiday.

Unfortunately, within days of returning from holiday, Neil was in severe pain in his back and on day 4 of being back from holidays, he lost feeling in his abdomen and legs. Some quick scans and fast action from neuro surgeons at the Mater and John Hunter Hospitals showed the cancer that was removed from his spine in July 23 had begun to grow again on the back of the spine and this time was pushing on his spinal cord causing the paralysis to his body.

Once removed, Neil has begun the slow process of building back the connection between his brain and legs, bowel and bladder and is on the wait-list to go into the spinal rehab unit at the John Hunter.

If that wasn’t enough to worry about he is unable at this stage to begin chemo on his abdomen cancers which continue to grow and cause pain on a daily basis. Until Neil is strong enough and infection free he is unable to start chemo as this will only set him back further.

Thank you for taking the time to read Neil’s cancer journey. All money raised will go towards ongoing quality of life for Neil post hospital. What this looks like is very much unknown at this stage but any help will be greatly appreciated.