Lee Wallace, 26, had to travel to Birmingham from Ireland for treatment
A GoFundMe has been launched for Irishman Lee Wallace, who is battling an extremely rare form of cancer that some doctors have never seen before.
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Wallace, a native of Mullingar in Co Westmeath, is facing staggering medical expenses as he's had to travel to Birmingham to meet with specialists.
A GoFundMe launched by relative Dawn Wallace is seeking €250,000 to help Wallace travel abroad for additional medical expertise, as well as surgery to amputate the right side of his pelvis and leg.
As of Wednesday morning, just two days after its launch, the GoFundMe has raised €155,565 from just over 4,000 donors.
The GoFundMe page explains that last August, Wallace went to the emergency room complaining of pain in his groin and leg, but only thought he may have pulled a muscle.
X-rays and blood tests, however, revealed Wallace had a very rare and very large bone sarcoma of his right pelvis.
The Irishman was referred to The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham as there is neither an oncology sarcoma specialist nor an orthopedic oncologist who specializes in pelvic sarcomas in Ireland.
In October, Wallace began chemotherapy in Ireland to shrink the tumor, but it has instead grown and spread to his lungs, making the immediacy for treatment all the more urgent.
Wallace began chemotherapy last fall
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On the GoFundMe, Dawn Wallace writes: “Friends and family of Lee Wallace (26) need your financial help and support to help Lee beat cancer, he is currently suffering from a very rare bone sarcoma in his pelvis.”
“Financial aid will help with Lee's ongoing treatment which will include traveling abroad for additional medical expertise and surgery to amputate the right side of his pelvis and leg.”
“Bone sarcomas, are very rare, particularly so in young adults. Lee's tumor is so rare it has never been seen by leading specialists in the UK or China."
"It is a mixture of an Osteosarcoma, an Ewings sarcoma, and a spindle cell sarcoma, therefore a definitive diagnosis has not been possible.”
“In terms of treatment, this his been a massive barrier, as the doctors are unsure how to proceed.”
“To further complicate things Lee's cancer has now spread to his lungs. Having done a lot of research we are aware of treatment options in other countries, but unfortunately, these treatments carry a large price tag.”
“Your financial support will give Lee the best chance of finding a cure and a chance to live.”
Lee with his sisters and mother
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Dawn adds: “If anyone reading this knows of any Medical Oncologist anywhere who has expertise in the treatment of sarcomas, particularly of the pelvis. We would be delighted if you could give us details.”
You can support the GoFundMe for Lee Wallace here.
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