Australian Story: May 8

Monday’s Australian Story report “Your Money or Your Life” profiles the remarkable Dr Danielle Tindle, who has been diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma, after having already survived Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Twelve years ago Danielle Tindle came back from the brink of death to survive Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. By extraordinary coincidence, it was her own father’s groundbreaking stem-cell research which ultimately saved his daughter’s life.

“I hate the term cancer sufferer; it’s such a disempowering, victimising word… I’ve been through hell and back but I’m strong and I can be beautiful.” – Dr Danielle Tindle (PhD)

Since Danielle was given a second chance at life, this inspirational young woman has made it her mission to advocate for improved services and care for other adolescent and young adult cancer patients. She’s become a world leader in the field.

“I’ve already faced my own mortality, so I had no fear of death. I wanted to focus on something which was meaningful, which was helping others.” – Dr Danielle Tindle (PhD)

Unfortunately, mid-way through her PhD, the now thirty-six year old Danielle Tindle was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma, a completely new tumour. Doctors think it’s a consequence of the toxic treatment she was given in her early twenties.

“That she’s got it is almost entirely the result of the draconian treatment she had … for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.” – Prof. Robert Tindle, father

With all conventional therapies ineffective against the cancer, once again Danielle, her father and her medical team are in a race to find the next life-saving breakthrough. It’s come in the form of ground-breaking drugs which are subsidised for melanoma under the PBS, but for rare cancer patients like Danielle, are cripplingly expensive.

“If you are a melanoma patient and your chemotherapy happens to be one of these antibodies, you’ll be paying about $6.50 a shot, and in the adjacent cubicle there’ll be someone like Danielle, who is paying $5000 a shot.” – Prof. Robert Tindle, father

“Nobody thinks it’s fair… the lottery says she got a rare cancer, and our system doesn’t respond in that circumstance.” – Richard Vines, CEO Rare Cancers Australia

Australian Story has followed this extraordinary woman who never gives up right from the beginning.

“I can’t not hope… I’m just unstoppable.” – Dr Danielle Tindle (PhD)

Monday, May 9 at 8pm on ABC.