Cassandra Nascimento was a young schoolgirl when her life changed forever three years ago.
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It was late in August 2010 that her parents Joe and Gloria rushed her to Wollongong Hospital suffering nausea, back pain and double vision.
However, a registrar refused her a brain scan, believing the symptoms were stress-related, and she was sent home. An inquiry later found she was improperly treated.
Her parents organised a private scan which uncovered a massive brain tumour, which was removed by high profile neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo less than a week later.
But within six weeks the tumour had grown back and spread down her spine. After intensive chemotherapy and radiation, Dr Teo operated again.
Told there was nothing more to be done, Cass’s parents travelled with her to Texas where she underwent an alternative cancer treatment at the Burzynski Clinic.
But, back home, symptoms returned and early this year tests revealed the tumour was growing again. Dr Teo operated for the last time on February 13.
Again Cass turned to an alternative cancer treatment which had only recently been introduced to Australia – oncothermia – and, in an interview with the Mercury, Cass and her family had told of their renewed hope.
‘‘We are really hopeful – and while we don’t know for sure that it’s going to work, at least we’ve got the chance to try something different,’’ Mrs Nascimento said at the time.
Cass herself spoke of the lack of side effects of the treatment, claiming: ‘‘I feel better than I have in years’’.
Tragically, Cass’s journey ended on Monday – but not before she had brought love and laughter to the lives of her family and friends, and inspiration to so many more.
