Coaldale woman takes her fight with cancer across the border
Global News
A woman in southern Alberta is in a fight for her life as she battles a rare cancer in her digestive system.
Katie Norman has been battling cancer for almost four years.
It began with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour, also known as GIST, a rare cancer that forms in the digestive system.
Norman, 34, found out about her diagnosis after an MRI found a large tumour obstructing her bowels had grown into her pancreas. She underwent emergency surgery in February 2021.
While she dealt with major complications after the procedure, doctors informed her the cancer wasn’t receptive to chemo or radiation.
Her body eventually started to reject the oral medication she was prescribed. By May 2023, the cancer returned — this time, in her liver.
“Since then, I was able to get into a brand new trial that came to Canada, there is just under 500 people in the world on this trial and I was the first one in Alberta, so I was kind of the guinea pig here for it,” said Norman.
But lately, Norman’s scans show the cancer is still progressing — even on the trial medication.
“So, we’ve had to stop,” she said.
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