Julie Psilopati has her fingers crossed for some good news this week.
Her 17-year-old son Dimitris was diagnosed with the rare cancer embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in June and has undergone 12 weeks of chemotherapy.
This week they will find out if the tumour, in his prostate, has reduced.
“Hopefully there will be clear signs that the tumour has shrunk, or shrivelled up and died,” Ms Psilopati said.
Dimitris developed symptoms in March while the family was living in Greece. He was eventually diagnosed with the rare cancer in June and told his prostate and bladder would need to be surgically removed.
“What kind of life would he have removing those vital organs? He won’t be able to have any personal life. A plastic bag he would be peeing into,” Ms Psilopati said.
She and her husband Periklis sought a second opinion.
The specialist recommended returning to Australia for treatment, so Ms Psilopati and Dimitris packed up their bags and in August came to live with relatives in Leura.
“It’s hard being away from his friends, dad and sister. But he has to make that sacrifice to get better,” Ms Psilopati said.
“[Here] there are specialists in the field and better equipped to treat him.”
Dimitris has been having treatment at the Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre at Westmead Hospital. Without a car, it’s a long and tiring journey by train.
In November he’ll start a six-week course of radiation.
Ms Psilopati has thrown her support behind the charity Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) and their October initiative called Sick or Treat, encouraging people to host Halloweeen-themed fundraisers.
All funds raised go directly to fund RCA’s work to improve the lives and outcomes for those living with a rare or less common cancer.
For more information visit the website: www.sickortreat.org.au.