Friends raise funds for woman with cancer

Over 240 people united to help raise funds for their dear friend who is living with cancer.

Debbie du Plessis with her husband, Casper.

Debbie du Plessis (39) was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and her friends came together to help raise funds for her medical treatment.

The fund-raising event was held on September 9, in Pomona.

Her friends and family hosted a donkey derby horse-betting themed evening to raise the funds.

They also auctioned off cooler boxes and beauty products and everyone danced and played games the whole night.

“Everyone had so much fun. We are extremely grateful for all the wonderful help. The money raised will help pay for about six months’ worth of medical costs,” Debbie said with joy in her voice.

Debbie, a Benoni resident, was first diagnosed with melanoma cancer, a form of skin cancer, in 2014.

“We found a mole on my back and I had surgery to have it removed,” Debbie explains.

Since then, the mother of two boys has undergone several operations.

“A year after the diagnosis, I had radiation done under my left arm to remove some of the lymph nodes, then in 2016 the cancer spread again and this time I had one of my adrenal glands removed.”

Then in February this year, Debbie found a lump in her chest/ shoulder area, a sure sign that cancer had returned.

“The doctor found five cysts in my brain. I went through 15 sessions of full brain radiation which helped to an extent to shrink the tumours. I was given about six to 12 months to live.”

Determined to keep fighting for her life, Debbie and her husband, Casper, sought a second opinion.

“That’s when we found Dr Daniel Vorobiof of Sandton Oncology Centre, who put me on new medication, which I have been taking for the past three months.”

The medication was imported from overseas and since then it has worked so well for her.

It has reduced the size of the tumours in her brain by half the size.

Debbie and her family are over the moon about her progress since she’s been on the treatment, but it has not been without side effects.

“The side effects I experience are quite bad and include vomiting, diarrhoea, skin irritation and hair loss.

I have been unable to work since February and had to take medical boarding.”

She also can’t drive a vehicle anymore because she might get a seizure while on the road.

Because of the high cost of the medication, the money raised will go a long way in helping Debbie and her family with the costs.

“The medical expenses are about R120 000 a month and medical aid only pays about 80 per cent of those fees.”

Debbie and Casper have been married for 11 years and have two boys, Leon (8) and CJ (10).

“I would like to thank my husband and our boys for all their support as well as my close friends Francois and Madelain Uys and Pieter and Elsabe Steyn, who helped arrange everything for the event.”