Layla’s Brain-Tumour Recovery

The Diagnosis

On Thursday, April 10th, Layla met with her Neurosurgeon, a Radiation Specialist from Sunnybrook and an Oncologist from St Mike's Hospital to discuss her post operative results and pathology. We would like to say that her surgery went well and Layla has been a champ in recovery. Her Neurosurgeon was blown away by her strength and she is leagues ahead of where he thought she would be at this stage, 4 weeks post-op. Layla has been working hard towards gaining her strength back since surgery and we are all proud of how she has pushed herself throughout recovery. That being said, the pathology results came back last Thursday and the tumor cell pathology results determined the tumor was an Anaplastic Astrocytoma, a Grade 3 Malignant Tumor. This rare malignant brain tumor affects 2% of brain tumor diagnoses and are difficult to fully extract through brain surgery. While she has been fighting hard, the fight is not over. Layla  will undergo 12 rounds of Chemotherapy and an intensive 6 week daily radiation treatment to eradicate remaining cancer cells surrounding the tumor site in her brain. We have been informed that this type of cancer cell "roots" into the brain and will overtime, continue to grow. Currently, there are no treatments to cure Anaplastic Astrocytoma. The plan therefore is to eradicate as many of these cancer cells as possible. The specialists at the Odette Cancer Center at Sunnybrook Hospital believe this is the best shot at longevity of life. She will undergo Radiation at Sunnybrook Hospital and her first appointment date is April 17th. It will take 5 to 10 business days for the specialists to determine a start date for the Chemo/Radiation treatments  but the prognosis remains that this will shorten her life.  Her specialists cited 5 years as an average but can go so far as ten or more years given her age and the advancements to medicine and future treatment options. 

Next Steps 

 While Layla has a strong family support system, who will be by her side throughout this process, she will need additional financial assistance beyond what the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) will provide.  This funds only objective is to allow Layla to continue paying her rent, bills, cost of living expenses and medical expenses throughout her radiation and chemo treatments which will span the course of one year. Your generosity, support, and well-wishes are appreciated by both Layla and her family, during what will prove to be a difficult time.