Let’s Help Sam Hobbs Kick Cancer's Butt!
Donation protected
In March 2021 our whole world came crashing down. If you know Sam, you love Sam. Her energy is contagious. She becomes your family, engrained in your life from day one. Her stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis and subsequent debilitating treatment has forced her to put her entire life on hold. Just one week before receiving the devastating news, Sam was in preseason training with her beloved Horsham Saints, playing with her niece, being the worlds best friend, sister, daughter, planning a future with her partner, renovating her home and training for a marathon. At just 30 years old, Sam has been left unable to work and is now facing an expensive treatment that is not fully covered by Medicare. As a Registered Nurse, Sam has a natural caring and empathetic nature but now, it is our turn to help support her and her family through one of the most traumatic experiences anyone could ever go through.
Here is a little of Sam's journey so far, as told by the legend herself...
On the 5th of March 2021 I was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. I was told by the doctors that I had an aggressive form of cancer that had started in my bowel and spread into my liver. 90% of my liver have been taken over by cancerous tumors. At that stage surgery to remove the tumors was not an option so chemotherapy was my only chance. On the 12th of March I started chemotherapy at Peter Mac in Melbourne and was advised I would have chemotherapy every fortnight forever or until the cancer was under control.
On the 20th of April I had a check-up appointment with my oncologist in Horsham. At this check-up I became very unwell. I had a temperature, my heart rate increased significantly and I was experiencing shortness of breath. I was rushed to Horsham Emergency Department. While in emergency I had bloods taken and scans done to find out what was wrong. The scans showed that the current chemotherapy I was receiving was not working. The tumors in my liver had grown and some new ones had appeared. I spent 3 days in hospital which I would have to say, was the hardest three days of my life. I was told that with no treatment I would only have 3 months to live if that and the doctors decided to make me not for resuscitation. Hearing that was a shock! All I could think was "I am 30 years old, I am not ready to die. I have so much more to do and see and why wasn’t the chemotherapy working?" One of the hardest parts of this was watching my partner, family and friends find out the news. Despite all this I decided to remain positive. The oncologist said we can try a different chemotherapy drug and see how my body responds. I was not giving up that easy.
I started the new chemotherapy on the 27th of April. After round 1 my bloods were stable which means, my body had responded to the new chemotherapy. I had round 2 on the 11th of April and the oncologist was happy with how everything was progressing. As a result, the next round of chemotherapy would be increased and another chemotherapy drug added to hopefully start shrinking the tumors.
I have also been in contact with a doctor in Melbourne who has said he can perform a SIRT procedure (Selective Internal Radiation Therapy). It is a treatment for liver tumors that delivers millions of tiny radioactive microspheres directly to the liver tumors. The SIRT is not a common procedure and has a large cost attached to it. It is administered through the private system and is only partially covered by Medicare.
This experience has shocked me to my very core, but it has also made me feel so loved and grateful for the amazing people that I have in my life. If you would like to donate through this page to help out with some of the expenses, I would really appreciate it. I will use the money raised to help pay for the SIRT procedures, cost of travelling, medication for pain relief and any ongoing medical costs associated with beating cancer.
Here is a little of Sam's journey so far, as told by the legend herself...
On the 5th of March 2021 I was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. I was told by the doctors that I had an aggressive form of cancer that had started in my bowel and spread into my liver. 90% of my liver have been taken over by cancerous tumors. At that stage surgery to remove the tumors was not an option so chemotherapy was my only chance. On the 12th of March I started chemotherapy at Peter Mac in Melbourne and was advised I would have chemotherapy every fortnight forever or until the cancer was under control.
On the 20th of April I had a check-up appointment with my oncologist in Horsham. At this check-up I became very unwell. I had a temperature, my heart rate increased significantly and I was experiencing shortness of breath. I was rushed to Horsham Emergency Department. While in emergency I had bloods taken and scans done to find out what was wrong. The scans showed that the current chemotherapy I was receiving was not working. The tumors in my liver had grown and some new ones had appeared. I spent 3 days in hospital which I would have to say, was the hardest three days of my life. I was told that with no treatment I would only have 3 months to live if that and the doctors decided to make me not for resuscitation. Hearing that was a shock! All I could think was "I am 30 years old, I am not ready to die. I have so much more to do and see and why wasn’t the chemotherapy working?" One of the hardest parts of this was watching my partner, family and friends find out the news. Despite all this I decided to remain positive. The oncologist said we can try a different chemotherapy drug and see how my body responds. I was not giving up that easy.
I started the new chemotherapy on the 27th of April. After round 1 my bloods were stable which means, my body had responded to the new chemotherapy. I had round 2 on the 11th of April and the oncologist was happy with how everything was progressing. As a result, the next round of chemotherapy would be increased and another chemotherapy drug added to hopefully start shrinking the tumors.
I have also been in contact with a doctor in Melbourne who has said he can perform a SIRT procedure (Selective Internal Radiation Therapy). It is a treatment for liver tumors that delivers millions of tiny radioactive microspheres directly to the liver tumors. The SIRT is not a common procedure and has a large cost attached to it. It is administered through the private system and is only partially covered by Medicare.
This experience has shocked me to my very core, but it has also made me feel so loved and grateful for the amazing people that I have in my life. If you would like to donate through this page to help out with some of the expenses, I would really appreciate it. I will use the money raised to help pay for the SIRT procedures, cost of travelling, medication for pain relief and any ongoing medical costs associated with beating cancer.
Organizer and beneficiary
Anna Tess Tepper
Organizer
Horsham, VIC
Samantha Hobbs
Beneficiary