Linda’s osteosarcoma battle
Donation protected
Linda is a 35 year-old mum of two wonderful children, Luca aged 6 and Eloise aged 3. In May 2015, she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer in her right leg. That month she underwent extensive limb salvage surgery, resulting in her knee and part of her leg being removed and replaced with a metal prosthesis. This left her permanently disabled and unable to work.
In 2016, the cancer returned, this time in her lungs. She underwent 6 months of intensive chemotherapy followed by two surgical operations to remove the lung tumours.
In 2017, the cancers were back in the lungs again. This time, chemotherapy and an immunotherapy drug trial were unsuccessful.
2018 has been tough - she has struggled with multiple infections in her prosthesis, resulting in many hospital stays.
Linda’s cancers are no longer treatable with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.
In May this year, she received devastating news that she has a 6-18 month life expectancy, but she continues to hold onto her determination to fight.
Sadly, there is only one option left – an immunotherapy drug called Keytruda. that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help fight and detect tumour cells. Unfortunately it’s a very costly drug, $60,000 for the first four months of treatment, and it’s not subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Having cancer is expensive, and with Linda unable to work, the burden of surgeon bills, gap payments, medications, x-rays, CT scans and such all add up quickly for a single income family.
It’s a last chance treatment, but with so much to live for, Linda has to do it. But it puts a serious financial strain onto a household already dealing with more than is fair.
We need to help Linda and her family ease this burden so she can focus on fighting cancer once and for all.
It can be hard to know how to help in such circumstances, but you can by donating, sharing this message or just leaving a heart felt message.
Not only does fundraising help, but we want to raise awareness of the cost to access immunotherapy treatment which isn’t covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and try to get this changed.
It would mean EVERYTHING to her knowing that she has a great community of family and friends supporting her.
Lots of love from her dearest friends, family, Nicolas, Linda and her children Luca and Eloise.
You can follow her cancer journey on Instagram @lindaguiraldenq
Video we made for Linda in 2016
In 2016, the cancer returned, this time in her lungs. She underwent 6 months of intensive chemotherapy followed by two surgical operations to remove the lung tumours.
In 2017, the cancers were back in the lungs again. This time, chemotherapy and an immunotherapy drug trial were unsuccessful.
2018 has been tough - she has struggled with multiple infections in her prosthesis, resulting in many hospital stays.
Linda’s cancers are no longer treatable with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.
In May this year, she received devastating news that she has a 6-18 month life expectancy, but she continues to hold onto her determination to fight.
Sadly, there is only one option left – an immunotherapy drug called Keytruda. that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help fight and detect tumour cells. Unfortunately it’s a very costly drug, $60,000 for the first four months of treatment, and it’s not subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Having cancer is expensive, and with Linda unable to work, the burden of surgeon bills, gap payments, medications, x-rays, CT scans and such all add up quickly for a single income family.
It’s a last chance treatment, but with so much to live for, Linda has to do it. But it puts a serious financial strain onto a household already dealing with more than is fair.
We need to help Linda and her family ease this burden so she can focus on fighting cancer once and for all.
It can be hard to know how to help in such circumstances, but you can by donating, sharing this message or just leaving a heart felt message.
Not only does fundraising help, but we want to raise awareness of the cost to access immunotherapy treatment which isn’t covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and try to get this changed.
It would mean EVERYTHING to her knowing that she has a great community of family and friends supporting her.
Lots of love from her dearest friends, family, Nicolas, Linda and her children Luca and Eloise.
You can follow her cancer journey on Instagram @lindaguiraldenq
Video we made for Linda in 2016
Fundraising team: Team Linda (6)
Linda Guiraldenq
Organizer
Melbourne VIC
Juliee Aherne
Team member
Kerri Aboujaber
Team member
Michael Ngo
Team member
Nicolas Guiraldenq
Team member
