Upon receiving her diagnosis, Stephanie entered treatment
immediately. She was not even given time to go home, tell the rest of her
family, and pack a bag.
Leukaemia is a form of cancer that impacts approximately
3000 young Australians. A new teenager receives a leukaemia diagnosis every
day. The disease causes a rapid increase in immature blood cells, and this
makes bone marrow unable to produce healthy cells. Patients require immediate
treatment to stop the rapid progression and accumulation of malignant cells.
Researchers at Westmead are working on important
breakthroughs in leukaemia as well as HIV, diabetes, kidney and liver disease,
other forms of cancer, and many other diseases.
The claim that medical research saves lives is an
indisputable fact. The survival rate for leukaemia is now 80 percent. Not too
long ago, it was only 20 percent. To Stephanie, the doctors at Westmead who
treated her and the researchers behind the technology they used are heroes
beyond price.
Stephanie is now healthy and happy. The likelihood that she
will ever be sick with leukaemia again is less than 5 percent. That’s a
whole new life, ready to be lived.
Stephanie is planning to
take part in the City to Surf this year on Sunday August 8, as a fundraiser for
the Westmead Medical Research Foundation.
Visit her profile and sponsor Stephanie.
Megan Williams
Megan Williams is a success story and an inspiration. At
just 22 years old, she faced the devestating diagnosis of breast cancer and
coming to terms with what it would mean for her life.