Help Julia win her fight with cancer
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**UPDATED- I NEED A THIRD OPERATION**
My name is Julia, I am 21 years old. I’ve lived in Limerick, Ireland for the majority of my life, I am now enjoying living in Cork as a dentistry student. I love dancing, long walks and sleeping in on Sunday mornings. I’ve always been the happy-go-lucky girl with a positive outlook on life, but lately I’ve lost a part of that spark.
In October 2020 I found out that I have cancer. A few weeks prior, the tumour I had sticking out from my shoulder blade was operated on, the lab report was completely unexpected. I received the diagnosis of chondrosarcoma, which is a very rare cancer that produces cartilage. It's exceptionally rare both at my age and in this location. When I found out, I was terrified. I had no idea what’s next for me.
After being advised by my GP, my family and I made the decision to pursue treatment in my home country. On December 3rd I had another operation, this time much more radical. The tumour was removed along with bone fragments from my shoulder blade and collar bone. I was in a brace for a month, I had to teach my right hand to do basic functions all over again. I started physiotherapy and I was ready to recover and more on.
I prayed and hoped that that will be the end of my cancer treatment.
In January 2021, I was hard hit by reality; my pathology report showed that the fragments that were removed this time had more dangerous cancer cells (higher cellular malignancy), and that despite a very large surgery, not all cancer tissue was removed. It has gone in deeper than predicted.
I need a third operation which will have a huge impact on my body. Even more bone is to be removed to ensure this unpredictable form of cancer is fully gone. I will be back to square one, with all my progress after the second operation undone and ruined.
This time, it won't just be a few months of physiotherapy. I'll need an extensive amount of care and rehabilitation.
My name is Julia, I am 21 years old. I’ve lived in Limerick, Ireland for the majority of my life, I am now enjoying living in Cork as a dentistry student. I love dancing, long walks and sleeping in on Sunday mornings. I’ve always been the happy-go-lucky girl with a positive outlook on life, but lately I’ve lost a part of that spark.
In October 2020 I found out that I have cancer. A few weeks prior, the tumour I had sticking out from my shoulder blade was operated on, the lab report was completely unexpected. I received the diagnosis of chondrosarcoma, which is a very rare cancer that produces cartilage. It's exceptionally rare both at my age and in this location. When I found out, I was terrified. I had no idea what’s next for me.
After being advised by my GP, my family and I made the decision to pursue treatment in my home country. On December 3rd I had another operation, this time much more radical. The tumour was removed along with bone fragments from my shoulder blade and collar bone. I was in a brace for a month, I had to teach my right hand to do basic functions all over again. I started physiotherapy and I was ready to recover and more on.
I prayed and hoped that that will be the end of my cancer treatment.
In January 2021, I was hard hit by reality; my pathology report showed that the fragments that were removed this time had more dangerous cancer cells (higher cellular malignancy), and that despite a very large surgery, not all cancer tissue was removed. It has gone in deeper than predicted.
I need a third operation which will have a huge impact on my body. Even more bone is to be removed to ensure this unpredictable form of cancer is fully gone. I will be back to square one, with all my progress after the second operation undone and ruined.
This time, it won't just be a few months of physiotherapy. I'll need an extensive amount of care and rehabilitation.
I may qualify for prosthetic appliances one day but that will be a question of a few years' wait.
Financially, my family has been hard-hit by my diagnosis, especially now in the middle of a pandemic. Travel costs, medication, my medical equipment, the cost of counselling that I really need now, have all really built up. After every time one or both of my parents accompanied me to Poland for my operations, consults, reviews, we had to quarantine upon our return to Ireland. This meant they couldn’t, and still can't, work for months. They are currently with me in Poland for the next month and a half and thus can't work.
The latest lab report, I'll be honest, has broken me. My life and future as I knew it is in danger, not to mention the awareness that despite two operations the cancer is still in my body. I want to believe that one day my life will return to normal again, but I need your help.
If you decide to support me it will mean the world to me and I thank you in advance.
Financially, my family has been hard-hit by my diagnosis, especially now in the middle of a pandemic. Travel costs, medication, my medical equipment, the cost of counselling that I really need now, have all really built up. After every time one or both of my parents accompanied me to Poland for my operations, consults, reviews, we had to quarantine upon our return to Ireland. This meant they couldn’t, and still can't, work for months. They are currently with me in Poland for the next month and a half and thus can't work.
The latest lab report, I'll be honest, has broken me. My life and future as I knew it is in danger, not to mention the awareness that despite two operations the cancer is still in my body. I want to believe that one day my life will return to normal again, but I need your help.
If you decide to support me it will mean the world to me and I thank you in advance.
Fundraising team (2)
Julia Banasiak
Organizer
Anna Banasiak
Team member