Incurable Cancer Cant Keep Student Down

http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/teammaunder My name is John Maunder, and I come from Wallumbilla, which is a small rural town near Roma in Queensland and on the 14 December 2012 I received some life changing news. A recent removal of an enlarged lymph node was discovered to be pathological in nature. I was eventually diagnosed with a rare, incurable, blood cancer, specifically Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The treatment has begun, and involves 8 treatments of fortnightly ABVD chemotherapy and a fortnightly dose of an antibody called Rituximab (which targets the cancerous cells). This will most likely be followed with involved-field radiotherapy. This process will continue for a couple of years. The treatment is expected to get the cancer into remission; however, the nature of this cancer is that relapse (of a more aggressive -- perhaps untreatable -- blood cancer) is inevitable, so finding a cure for blood cancer is the only long-term option. Two weeks into my treatment, I began studying Medicine at the University of Queensland. Whilst there are benefits of cancer, like the money I save on alcohol... and haircuts, the cocktail of chemotherapy drugs is best described as horrible. I get bleeding noses, headaches, bone pain, fatigue and nausea, just to name a few. For each week following treatment, I feel like I am fighting the worst hangover of my life... whilst being seasick... with the flu... To top it all off, I know that due to my dying blood cells, I am severely prone to infection which will immediately place me in hospital. This makes university slightly difficult. Today, 31 Australians will get the news that they have blood cancer. With the support of my loving family and friends, I am coping, and am determined to beat this, but I am now aware of how hard it must be for others. With this in mind I decided that I would do what I could to make a difference. The Leukaemia Foundation supports people with blood cancer, as well as investing in research to cure this horrible disease. Each year in March they conduct "The Worlds Greatest Shave", where they raise in surplus of $15million. My hair is falling out as I write this, and as you can't shave or color a bald head, I pledge to wear a mullet wig to university for a day - Andre Agassi style. Some of my other friends have already pledged to shave their head for the cause as well. So, what I ask of you is that you support this cause. You can donate to my team in person, or online. Every dollar brings us closer to a cure, so I urge that you help me meet my fundraising goal. If you feel that you would like to join me, you can sign on to my team if you wish! Share this with your friends! Thanks in advance! http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/teammaunder Best wishes, John.