Race against time for kids with brain cancer
In Australia parents are having difficulties at finding treatment for their children with brain cancer. Six months ago 12 year old Bailey Jensen was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and was told he had a year to live. Bailey has gone through more than 30 radiotherapies which has not helped his illness. Last week new experiments for brain cancer were launched that consist of doing a biopsy to the brain tumour that allows doctors to determine which of three trial drugs to use in treatment. the treatment is taken at 22 different places all over Australia but few are eligible for it. Many parents of children with with brain cancer are considering going to Mexico for trial treatments. So why is it that these experimental treatments are not easily accessible for Australians? The Daily was joined by Dr. Benjamin Kong from Sydney University to discuss this and more.