Natasha’s Biggest fight against the Big C

Facing and beating cancer can be a life-changing and traumatic experience, much more so for a three-year-old little girl.

Facing cancer for a second time is enough to break the strongest of spirits but not for 24-year-old Natasha Bigge.

When Natasha was three-years-old she was diagnosed with a vicious form of Leukaemia (blood cancer) and her young body and mind was confronted with all the horrors associated with radiation and chemotherapy. For seven years she bravely fought the illness and and by the time she was 10 she stood victorious having beaten her cancer.

Natasha went on to enjoy the typical healthy, happy life of a teenager and eventually young adolescent.

Six months ago though a lump started developing behind her left ear, but it was dismissed by a doctor as not being serious. The lump eventually grew to the size of a golf ball and after a surgeon did a biopsy he referred her to an oncologist. The oncologist in return had to refer her to one of just six professors in the country who could perform the surgery since it could affect her facial nerves.

The cancerous tumour that she was diagnosed with is a salivary gland cancer known as Mucoedipermoid carcinoma, in her case in the left parotid. One of the sad facts is that the development of the tumour could have been prevented with the right treatment of a simple bout of mumps that she had as a young girl.

On 24 March Professor Joseph, of whom Natasha only speaks with the highest regard, removed the tumour in layers in order to avoid infection of the facial muscles, but sadly more tumours was discovered and Natasha now faces another operation.

Owing to her history of Leukaemia, no medical aid fund is willing to allow Natasha to join and the family faces huge financial bills.

“The operation will cost R70 000, the anaesthetist R12 000, the three- to four-day hospital stay R80 000 and 30 sessions of radiation a further R147 000,” says Natasha. Joseph wants to start the series of radiation sessions on 2 May.

The family and especially Natasha’s little sister Roxanne Bigge (22) has decided not to sit back waiting for funds, but has started raising funds proactively with the help of their website and the Northridge Ladies Circle No 7 – a ladies charity organisation that is part of Ladies Circle International.

“My sister is my backbone and my ultimate support. She has sacrificed her own life and time to help raising funds,” says Natasha.

She says that although this journey is traumatic, she tries to stay positive. She admits to having her ‘down days’, but says that her faith also keeps her going on fighting.

If anybody wants to get involved in the fundraising events or want to help Natasha financially to carry her medical bills, they can contact Cynthia Masson, the facilitator of Natasha’s fundraising campaign known as ‘Help my sister’ on 073 693 9761. Alternatively they can visit their website regularly at www.helpmysister.co.za to see upcoming events.