The diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumour in June completely shattered the life of otherwise healthy Cooroy Mountain woman Faith Wild and led her to adopt an array of natural treatments and a positive attitude in a bid to beat the cancer.
So rare is her cancer, known as pineal parenchymal tumour of intermediate differentiation (PPTID), it was only classified by the World Health Organisation in 2000 and accounts for only a fraction of central nervous system tumours. Because of the small number of people affected only limited studies on the cancer and potential treatments have been conducted.Before her diagnosis Faith had worked hard for the past 25 years in her Barkbusters dog behaviour business and had a five-year plan to pay off the mortgage on her home.
She went to see a doctor because she “was feeling a bit off and dizzy“.
The doctor suggested a brain scan.
“An hour and a half after, the doctor rang and said you have to get to hospital now,“ she said. She went to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital on the Friday and they operated on the Monday. They drilled a hole in her head to release blocked cerebral fluid but were unable to remove the tumour, she said.
Faith said the doctors suggested radiation but she decided radiation was not for her and she couldn’t risk the severe potential side effects that included blindness.
“If I had the money I would have run straight to (brain surgeon) Dr Charlie Teo,“ she said.
“I thought this is no good I’ll have to do my own research and come up with a treatment.“
Nine years ago Faith was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a lumpectomy doctors told her the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and she needed more surgery but she decided instead to beat it on her own.
Faith said she worked hard to beat the breast cancer, using a combination of yoga, acupuncture, diet and supplements. She gained advice from doctors overseas, developed a protocol and beat the cancer.
“When I got the brain tumour I thought that was the training ground,“ she said. “But brain tumours do not behave normally. This is rare.“
Faith has stopped work, is selling her house to find somewhere cheaper and more accessible and her car as she is now unable to drive. She is investing all her time and money into getting well.
“It takes five hours a day to do the protocol,“ she said. “That includes meditation from the minute I open my eyes.“
Faith’s range of heath treatments include skin brushing to remove toxins, coffee enemas, exercise, yoga, red light therapy, pulsed electro-magnetic field therapy, specialised supplements and a clean, organic, vegan diet. She takes advice from a homeopath and an expert doctor in India and is constantly researching new treatments.
Last week she had an episode of extreme nausea and dizziness and rang an ambulance.
She said a brain scan showed an improvement in her condition and she will have an MRI at the end of the month. Faith praised her doctors and oncologists for their support despite her not progressing with their recommended radiation treatment.
“They’ve been fantastic. They are keeping an eye on it,“ she said.
She worries about her pet dogs who are very important to her and sometimes wonders how this could have happened to her when she was so healthy.
Faith is now on a pension and has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to help pay for her treatments.
“I am dedicated and single minded and making all the necessary changes to get well,“ she said.
“It’s all very daunting but I am determined to get on top of this and I will need assistance to pay for treatments, moving costs and any related expenses whilst dealing with this new life. This is uncomfortable for me to ask for help, but at this time, I am putting my story out there and hope one day to report I am cancer free.“
For more information or to help visit www.gofundme.com/f/faith-has-a-rare-brain-tumour
