By KATRINA BRANDON
NURSES are there to help at the lowest of times, but who is there for them?
Belinda Bright was a nurse who, on placement, had a seizure and later found she had a glioma – a brain tumour that cannot be treated.
For the past 20 years, Belinda has had three surgeries to remove parts of the tumour, which has led her to receive an acquired brain injury.
According to the Brain Tumour Research website, a glioma patient’s survival rate varies, but is generally five years. Gliomas are a type of brain tumour that can vary in their aggressiveness, and not all gliomas are fatal.
The management of glioma can be dealt with by radiation, surgery and targeted therapy (chemotherapy). Belinda has gone through all three treatments and has been told that a long-term treatment medication, which costs $50,000 a year, is her best shot. The medication isn’t yet on the PBS (the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme), but there are hopes it will be in a few years.
Belinda’s friend, Andrea McNamara, told the Express that if they are unable to raise enough for the medication, they hope to still help Belinda by keeping her comfortable in her own home, providing in-home care, and staying with her two dogs, cat, and chooks.
“Belinda has had three surgeries so far to remove as much of the tumour as they could. The first surgery that she had went well, and she got lots of years of relatively normal life, and she had another one a couple of years ago to remove it again, then in September (2023) she had another surgery,” Ms McNamara said.
“After the last surgery, the doctors, because she has also had chemo and radiation throughout that whole time and other surgeries like in the shunt – she has had a shunt put into her brain to release fluid from her brain… since the last surgery, Lou (Belinda) has had another big seizure because the tumour has made her have epilepsy, so she is on medication for epilepsy. The seizures and the surgery have left her with a brain injury, so she has trouble with concentration, memory and getting around.
“In January, we (Ms McNamara, Maureen and Allison Bright – Belinda’s mum and sister) started a GoFundMe for Belinda to access the treatment or at least help her because she can’t work now.”
Now, unable to work, let alone get into a car on bad days, Belinda’s friend, sister, and mother help her regularly when she needs support. Due to her epilepsy, Belinda is also unable to drive.
In addition to everyday expenses, Belinda has to account for paying money to get to and from appointments in Melbourne.
To help Belinda, go to gofundme.com/f/help-belinda-fight-brain-cancer??modal=share
For more information on gliomas, go to braintumourresearch.org/en-au/blogs/types-of-brain-tumour/glioma
