Savanna Griechen knows a clinical trial can be the difference between life and death.
At just 32 years old, Savanna was told her gastric cancer would kill her in 12 months.
In August 2019, Savanna started having back pain that wouldn’t go away. Just weeks later, Savanna’s symptoms worsened and she was rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital’s emergency department, where doctors confirmed she had a 2cm adenocarcinoma tumour in her stomach.
After being told this, Savanna went home and spent a day planning her own funeral. With only 31 percent of patients surviving a gastric cancer diagnosis beyond five years, Savanna had every right to feel helpless.
Thankfully, Savanna was put in contact with one of the top gastric cancer specialists in Western Australia, who arranged for her to access a ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment being used in a clinical trial.
“They told me I had no hope of seeing my 34th birthday. But I started the clinical trial in late September and by December I was in remission and there was no sign of cancer. It saved my life.”
Breakthroughs like Savanna’s are only possible thanks to the generosity of people like you. Will you give a generous gift today to help fund more discoveries?
With your help, we can ensure more clinical trials are available to West Australians like Savanna. Please send your gift today so, together, we can unlock the answers to a future without cancer.
