Julie Powell hasn't added a story.
Hi all
10 years ago, at the age of 34 I collapsed on the floor in my
living room in the UK. I was rushed off to hospital and after many
lengthy tests and lots of pain I was diagnosed with low grade
carcinoid tumor .
Having being an extremely fit young person, training in swimming
and leading a healthy, outgoing life this came as a big shock to me
and my loved ones. This was devastating , as I had to give up so
much of the healthy things I enjoy in life like travelling and sport.
At this stage the medical industry had no treatment for my type
of cancer. The only way was to operate and remove the tumors.
I was born with a fused kidney and this kidney was 80% covered
in carcinoid tumors. The operation was a success even though I now
only have 20% kidney function. The doctors were surprised that I
survived after giving me the devastating news that I wasn’t going to
make it. I fought to survive and was victorious, however the
struggle hasn’t ended.
I led a normal life and started to enjoy life again. At the age
of 38 I was in severe pain again and back in hospital. They had to
operate and they removed lymph nodes that had grown in that same
area again.
At the age of 39 the cancer resurfaced in my eye I was in severe
pain .They had to operate again! As the tumor was on the muscle of
my eye they could only de bulk as to remove the whole tumor would be
detrimental to the eye.
Living like this is no way to live a normal life. I am in
constant stress, never mind the day to day stresses. Having lived in
the UK for the past seventeen and a half years I decided to go back
to South Africa with my fiancée.
Ever since living in South Africa my eye has flared up every
year for the past four years. I have been in and out of state
hospitals, as we are not on medical insurance (due to my
pre-existing condition - i was unable to qualify for medical
insurance). The treatment was just anti-biotics and this treatment
thus far has not really led anywhere and has just helped in the
interim and hasn’t got rid of the carcinoid tumors. I’ve tried
starting my own business, but as you know starting a new business
takes a lot of effort and time and with my struggle it has been near
to impossible to keep it a float
I then decided to go the natural route as the medical industry
was not solving anything. I started to treat myself with cannabis
oil. It wasn’t a guarantee but our last resort. It seemed to be
helping especially for the pain. My eye did flare up in the past
year and I just stayed at home and treated myself naturally with the
cannabis oil. It was successful and my eye went down.
Having the medical history I have we have been told that to
conceive a child would be highly impossible. All of a sudden a
miracle happened and my wife fell pregnant. We were overwhelmed with
such joy that we were blessed with such a miracle.
Our baby girl is 5 months old now and I am still living with
severe pain. Recently the pain was too much to tolerate and I was
rushed off to hospital. We had scans done and to our devastation the
results were not good. The carcinoid tumors are now on my liver,
bulk masses are around my lower spine and groin area as well as the
remaining ones behind both my eyes.
I thankfully have an excellent oncologist; Dr Marais has now
informed me that in the last two years cancer researchers have found
treatment for carcinoid tumors. This is the best news I have ever
heard. To be able to live without this disease would be a dream come
true! Dr Marais has informed us that the treatment is so successful
that it has even healed some patients completely.
The treatment is a hormone injection that I have to have
administered every month. The cost of one of these injection is
approximately R20 000. Medical insurance does not cover this and
it is not guaranteed through a state hospital. I may even have to
travel to Pretoria from Durban for numerous tests to get the treatment.
Having my own business that is bringing in a very low income
does not help. We are struggling to get by just with day to day
living costs. At the moment each day is a struggle. I am on morphine
for pain as the pain is just so severe, this has made me bed ridden
and unable to provide for my family. My greatest dream would be to
see my daughter, Savannah walk her first steps and to be able to
reach all her milestones with her, I would really appreciate any
monetary aid from anyone that is reading this and who is able to
assist me in reaching my dreams.