Labor pledges millions for adult cancer ward in Canberra, as kids like Freyja travel for treatment
5 years, 9 months ago

Labor pledges millions for adult cancer ward in Canberra, as kids like Freyja travel for treatment

ABC  

She made headlines last year when Melbourne surgeons used a robot to remove a tumour from her head, and seven-year-old Freyja Christiansen is still fighting the aggressive form of rare cancer that first appeared three years ago. Key points: Freyja Christiansen requires palliative care, a specialised medical care for people living with a serious illness for people living with a serious illness The seven-year-old had life-saving surgery last year but is still fighting the aggressive cancer This week, Labor committed to an inpatient palliative care ward in Canberra for adults with cancer, but not for children The Canberra girl's mother, Lizzie Christiansen Young, was initially told her daughter's clear-cell sarcoma was inoperable and incurable, but the mother of three chose not to give up in her search for treatments. But Freyja's health remains fragile, and she requires palliative care — aimed at giving her the best quality of life possible — in addition to her cancer treatment. Ms Christiansen said the recent funding commitment towards adult palliative care by federal Labor was disappointing in that it did not make a similar commitment for children with cancer. Palliative cancer ward central to Labor funding commitment ACT Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris welcomed the funding promise from federal Labor.

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