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Daina Elliott

2026 Summer Ocean Swim

Medical research saved my husbands life - so I'm going to SWIM 2.3km around SHARK ISLAND to raise more funding for cancer research

~100 people in Australia get diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia every year, this year, my husband Paul was one of them.

APML is a very aggressive blood cancer, and he was probably 2 - 3 weeks away from death, had he not been diagnosed.  
Luckily, while one of the most aggressive, it’s also currently the most treatable Leukaemia with ~ 85 - 90 % cure rate.  That cure takes its toll though.  He spent nearly 7 weeks in hospital and was in treatment for another 7 months at the Cancer Centre at RNSH as an outpatient.  That included 106 infusions of Arsenic Trioxide, yes, Arsenic!!!.  
It’s a very long journey and that will continue for at least 5 years of monitoring once he’s in “Negative Minimal Residual Disease Remission”
This isn’t my first CanToo program but its definitely the most meaningful as I’ve seen first hand how cancer research has saved his life.  
Cancer will touch all of us at some stage, but hopefully with the continued breakthroughs in medical research survival rates will continue to increase and your friends and family will have the same positive outcome that Paul's had.

Donate today to help me reach my goal

Raised

$1,318

My Goal

$1,200

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My Updates

He's in remission!!!

Friday 12th Dec
Its been a very long journey, but we found out recently that Paul's last bone marrow biopsy was negative and he is now officially in "Negative Minimal Residual Disease Remission" (Which basically means that they can't detect any genetic mutations at the molecular / DNA level in his blood cells) !!!!!
After 9 months of daily, then weekly blood tests, his next blood test isn't for 3 months!! 
He is no longer on any medication and is central/PICC line free for the first time since early February so he can finally take a proper shower and submerge himself in water again!!
He still has a lot of side effects, fatigue and brain fog probably still having the most impact and his medical team have advised him it will take a few months to recover and to not even start thinking about work until Feb or March next year, but he is alive thanks to Medical Research!!!
Funding for medical research in Australia isn't great, so any donation you are able to spare would be greatly appreciated - Thank you

Thank you to everyone who has made a donation towards my goal

$106.12

Fleur And Tom Griffiths

Go Daina xxxxxx

$106.12

Nicole @ Millie Herrmann

Go for it Dains! You are amazing.

$100

Helen Turrall

$158.25

Dave

$54.12

Rosa Abbruzzo

Go Daina !!!

$106.12

Julie Rowe

Slay it baby!!

$54.12

Dwight Lovlin Lovcos

Great Cause Daina. Enjoy your Canztoo adventure.

$106.12

Dellanie Burke

What a year you have had! So proud of you and your never wavering resilience and commitment to all that you do.

$106.12

Caroline Beggs

Well done lovely! Love Care and Neil

$106.12

Gail Jessup

$54.12

Jane Dodd

So glad to hear this great news!! Good for you Daina!!

$106.12

Katie & Red

Good on you Daina you little champion. You will smash it.

$54.12

Sarah Jones

Good on you Dains! So stoked Paul’s in remission!

$100

Joy Snodgrass

Stay away from those sharks please

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