The family of a woman from Trois-Pistoles is calling for generosity. The 69 -year -old lady has extremely rare cancer. She will have to go to Philadelphia to receive a radiotherapy treatment that does not exist in Canada.
“The last operation was quite hard, and I hope to be able to remarcher one day,” says Annette Gagnon, who was hospitalized last June. His legs then completely paralyzed.
“These are back pain, we told ourselves that it will pass, it just has to stop working a little. Finally, it is picked up in chordoma, ”says his granddaughter, Mérédith.
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After several tests, the doctors finally found a very rare malignant tumor on a vertebra of its spine. “It is one person in a million who is diagnosed with a chordoma. It’s very rare as a cancer, ”explains her daughter, Katia Talbot.
The 69 -year -old woman had to undergo two important operations to withdraw the mass almost completely. It has no metastasis and its chances of survival are 90%, provided that it undergoes an eight -week proton therapy. This very targeted radiotherapy avoids damaging other organs.
“Health is due to a hair, you never know what can happen,” says his 20-year-old granddaughter.
“I stopped working on June 15, and on June 20, I returned to the hospital,” said Ms. Gagnon.
Vital treatment, but expensive
His doctors advise him to undergo this treatment in the United States as soon as possible. However, the health system in Quebec will only pay part of its expenses.
The woman will have to make two round trips by plane in Philadelphia, being accompanied by a caregiver. The invoice may exceed US $ 30,000 with travel and accommodation.
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“We are not used to asking for help. We usually get better … But there, my mother gave the others so much, so helped the elderly, “said Katia Talbot, emotional.
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Solidarity momentum
One of his two granddaughters launched a socio-financing campaign. For her, it is essential that her grandmother feels supported in this test.
“I wanted to help her in all of this, that she feels supported by others, so that she does not feel alone in there, that she sees that we believe in her,” says Mérédith the Italian.
“Throughout her life, she was a pillar for many people. She did cleaning in private residences, accompanied by the elderly at their appointments, prepared meals for those in need and, even more. [..] Today, it is she who needs our help, ”we can read on the GoFundme page.
“I would have managed by myself, but I thank those who have given now. It touches a lot, ”says Ms. Gagnon.
Like her, dozens of Quebecers must go to the United States every year to receive this radiotherapy. This is why the family challenges the Minister of Health.
“It is not everyone who will have the money to go to Philadelphia. If the machine could be here, it would help a lot of people, ”says Annette Gagnon’s granddaughter.
