Emily Lahey, a 32-year-old battling NUT carcinoma, (a cancer) is using her remaining time to make a powerful statement through an art performance called ‘Time to Live.’ This weekend, she will auction parts of her remaining time to strangers in Sydney, with a large projection counting down from three minutes to emphasize the fleeting nature of time.
Lahey, diagnosed at 27, faces a grim prognosis of only six to nine months due to the aggressive nature of her rare cancer. Despite a history of peak health, including running daily, her symptoms began with chronic sinusitis and headaches before doctors discovered a large mass in her sinuses and skull.
The standard treatments, including chemotherapy, are ineffective for her condition. Genetic testing opened the door to experimental treatments like BET inhibitors, though she had to wait for her condition to deteriorate to qualify for special access.
In her acceptance of the uncertain future, Lahey has learned to appreciate each day. She describes her journey as a rollercoaster of emotions and expresses gratitude for the additional time provided by experimental treatments. “Time is incredibly valuable,” she said, reflecting on her experience. “Cancer can take too much of it.”
Lahey’s initiative aims to draw attention to the emotional toll of terminal illness and the importance of continued cancer research. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), which supports innovative cancer research, is behind this poignant event. Carly Du Toit, ACRF’s General Manager of Fundraising and Marketing, emphasized the need for ongoing support, noting that survival rates have improved from just over 50% in the early 1990s to nearly 70% by the late 2010s. “We hope this event underscores the critical need for funding groundbreaking research,” she said.
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