Cancer survivor has attitude to burn

There's not much Cherie Barrie from New Plymouth won't take on. Her mother, Linda Batten, describes the 12-year-old's attitude to life as an inspiration.

For nearly half her life, Cherie has faced cancer and it doesn't faze her.

A typical youngster, Cherie is a keen soccer and volleyball player and she even ran the school cross-country.

All this despite being diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer in 1998. The cancer meant doctors at Starship Children's Hospital had to amputate Cherie's left leg in 1999 - she was just six.

Cherie also faced 10 months of gruelling chemotherapy.

Now the family is about to meet a milestone. In September it will be five years since Cherie completed her chemotherapy treatment, and five years of being cancer free.

Linda Batten said five years clear was very positive and the chance of the cancer returning was less likely.

In 1998, Cherie complained of a sore leg, and when it would not go away and got worse, she was taken to her doctor.

The doctor ordered tests, but when the pain became unbearable she returned, and was taken to Starship for more tests. It was two weeks before osteosarcoma was diagnosed. Doctors hoped that chemotherapy would shrink the small-grapefruit sized tumour in her left hip, but after three months it had grown.

Doctors decided they needed to take Cherie into surgery and the family was given three possibilities of what might happen - do nothing, remove Cherie's hip bone and keep her leg, or amputate her leg. It was a very long day.

While the decision to amputate was rough, it was far better than the 'do nothing' option, Mrs Batten said.

After surgery, another seven months of chemotherapy followed. Finally in September 1999, Cherie was allowed to go home.

"Things have progressively got better and better" These days, an agile Cherie gets around with the aid of crutches.

Mrs Batten said that during the months of Cherie's treatment, the Child Cancer Foundation was amazing. As well as a grant and practical help, support from members was provided. Now Linda is involved in the Taranaki Branch of the Child Cancer Foundation. In addition to working on the local committee, she has been asked by the doctors and nurses to talk with families facing cancer, offering support and helping them on the journey she herself has traveled. When visiting Starship twice a year, she makes a point of catching up with other families on the Ward, and especially those with the same rare disease that Cherie had.