Urgent Medical appeal for Ovarian Cancer

Message from Amanda

Hi, my name is Amanda Buchanan. I was asked by my family in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to start a gofundme fundraiser for my Aunty Eilleen who has cancer is unable to be treated in PNG. My PNG family are unable to open a go fund me campaign themselves as PNG is not one of the 16 countries currently supported by the program. Fortunately Australia is a supported and we can raise money for people and family in unsupported countries so they can get the care the need. My Aunty is one of the most giving and beautiful women I have known and I am really hopeful we can raise the funds required to get the treatment she needs, sadly through facebook messenger video conversations I have seen a marked physical decline in her health and wellbeing as the cancer attacks her from within.

The profile image provided is my Aunty being take to hospital by her son Ray Hope, unfortunately there is a long road ahead. Alyanna Kolma my cousin (Aunty Eileens daughter) has provided the information below and will provide updates and responses to the fundraising campaign for my Aunty.

Message from Alyanna

I am making this appeal on behalf of our family for our mother Eileen Tugum. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 3a in May 2021 and is in urgent need of treatment overseas as the treatment is not available in country. She has been accepted at St Lukes Hospital in the Phillippines. The funds would help cover treatment costs for six cycles of chemotherapy as well as acommodation. Current estimated duration of the medical stay is 6 months but this could change depending depending on pre-treatment tests including PET and CT scan to accurately type the cancer.

Our mother’s cancer staging is based on the histology of the biopsoy samples taken during surgery and there are no facilities available in country (PNG) to further test and accurately type her cancer. And any chemotherapy drugs are not current, and outdated.

Just after monthers’ day, our mother went to the hospital to check what appeared to be a distended abdomen, and feeling of pelvic pressure and shortness of breathe. She was treated for acid reflux but a week later the abdominal distention had worsened and the pelvic pressure and shortness of breathing more severe. We brought her back to the hospital and they did an ultra sound that showed a massive growth on her left ovary measuring 15 x 17cm. She was referrred to a gynacologiest whose announcement shocked us. He said the mass may be cancerous and recommended immedate surgery.

Mum had major surgery, total hysterectomy, on 31 May where they removed both her ovaries, the uterus and cervix, part of the omentum and the appendix. The biopsy results came back five days later confirming she had high grade serous ovarian cancer in both ovaries. The doctors described the cancer as “aggressive” and would therefore need urgent chemotherapy. The results shocked us. This healthy and fit woman of 56 who never indulged in family weekend cakes and always went for the garden salad instead of lagsana had cancer!

This strong woman came back from surgery fighting. Her scars from surgery healed beautifully and we had three good months of healing and rest. Unfortunately, she has not been able to commence chemotherapy, or radiation or any kind of treatment due to availability of current chemo drugs in the country. Both her treating hospital and the country’s primary referral hospital did not have current drugs and both referred her overseas for treatment. This has provided arduous given international travel restrictions related to Covid 19 challenges. While awaiting acceptance by a hospital overseas, our mothers condition has progressively deteriorated. In late August the horrible symptoms of abdominal distenstion came back . The cancer was causing ascites (fluid build up in the abdomen) which made it difficult to eat, sleep and breathe, walk. She has lost all her weight since and has had three tapping, a surgical procedure to remove fluids from the abdomen. Doctors tell us the the fluids will keep coming back after tapping and the only cure is chemotherapy.

She has been experiencing increasing pain and discomfort. We have a long journey ahead, made complicated by Covid 19. But we remain hopeful that we will be able to get our mother to the Phillippines soon.

What we need now mostly urgently is your help to raise enough funds to take our mother to the Phillippines for the help she needs. The money raised will go towards pre-treatment tests, treatment, any surgery, inpatient, accommodation, and any other costs including post treatment follow up checks. We can do this. We need your help. We are grateful for any donation you can make.

We have raised some money locally but that money has gone quickly towards ongoing high hospital bills for tests, and surgical procedures for the ascites. We had planned several other fundraisers, but are unable to do them now with our country currently in lockdown for the month of October due to increased in the delta variant of the corona virus.

Time is of the essence and we do not have any other option but to take her overseas for chemotherapy and whatever help she can get.

Our mother is a loving, kind, generous woman who has always put the needs of others above her own. Professionally, she has worked tirelessly in the aide and development sector trying to make a differnece in the lives of the underserved. She will never ask for help herself, so we are making this appeal on her behalf. We would appreiate every gift that you give and honour your gift by making sure it is used for this purpose.